Sunshine 60
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Higashi-Ikebukuro Station · 3 min walk (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Hours
- Observatory (Tenbou Park): 11:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30); complex shops 10:00–20:00, restaurants 11:00–22:00
- Admission
- Complex entry free; Tenbou Park: ¥700 (weekdays, adults), ¥900 (weekends/holidays, adults), ¥500–¥600 (children), free (under elementary school age)
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Late afternoon on clear winter days when visibility is highest for viewing Mount Fuji before sunset and transitioning into the illuminated night cityscape.
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Once Asia's tallest skyscraper, Sunshine 60 is the centerpiece of the massive Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro. It is a vertical entertainment hub featuring the Sky Circus observation deck, a rooftop aquarium where penguins swim overhead, and themed indoor parks like Namjatown. It is an ideal, weather-proof destination for families, anime fans, and shoppers looking for a diverse mix of retail and panoramic Tokyo views.
What Japanese guides note
While commonly associated with Ikebukuro Station, accessing the complex via Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line provides an underground connection that bypasses outdoor crowds and weather. Visitors walking from Ikebukuro Station should exit via Exit 35 and follow Sunshine 60 Dori to the escalator leading into the moving-walkway tunnel. Visitors wanting high-floor views without purchasing observatory tickets can reserve dining at the Sky Restaurants situated on floors 58 and 59.
Details from local sources
- Sunshine 60 stands on the site of the former Sugamo Prison, where executions of convicted Class A war criminals took place in December 1948. [source]
- The adjacent Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park contains a stone memorial monument inscribed 'Permanently for Peace' marking the prison's execution site. [source]
- The direct elevator ascends from the B1 floor to the 60th-floor observation deck in 35 seconds at a speed of 600 meters per minute. [source]
- The observation deck was rebuilt from Sky Circus into Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou Park on April 18, 2023, featuring an artificial indoor turf hill. [source]
- The underground 1,800-space parking facility connects directly to the Higashi-Ikebukuro exit ramp of Shuto Expressway Route 5. [source]
- The pedestrian approach Sunshine 60 Dori is frequently confused with Sunshine Dori, an entirely separate street running parallel one block to the north. [source]
Insider Tip
Visit the Sunshine Aquarium on a weekday morning to avoid the heavy crowds of families and school groups that pack the venue on weekends.
Frequently asked
Is the Sky Circus observation deck still operating at Sunshine 60?
No. Sky Circus closed and was thoroughly remodeled, reopening on April 18, 2023, under the name Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou Park. The interior replaced previous VR attractions with an indoor grassy lawn space called Tenbou no Oka, seasonal flora, and panoramic windows situated 251 meters above sea level.
How do you reach Sunshine 60 from Ikebukuro Station without getting lost?
From JR Ikebukuro Station, exit through the East Exit via Exit 35 and proceed down Sunshine 60 Dori. At the end of the pedestrian street, an outdoor escalator descends into a moving-walkway underground passage leading directly into the B1 level of the Sunshine City complex.
Can you see Mount Fuji from the Sunshine 60 observation deck?
Yes. On clear days, particularly during morning hours and winter afternoons when atmospheric visibility is highest, Mount Fuji is visible looking southwest across the Tokyo metropolitan area from the 60th-floor windows at 251 meters above sea level.
Are there free viewing areas in the Sunshine 60 building?
While Tenbou Park on the 60th floor requires a paid ticket, the 58th and 59th floors house the Sky Restaurants. Patrons dining at these establishments or visiting public elevator transfer lobbies on select upper levels can view parts of the Tokyo skyline without observatory admission fees.
What historical site was replaced by Sunshine 60?
Sunshine 60 was constructed on the former grounds of Sugamo Prison, a facility requisitioned by Allied forces after World War II to hold War Crimes trial detainees. The adjacent Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park marks the former execution area with a memorial stone dedicated to permanent peace.
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