Ikebukuro Station

The world’s third busiest station

JR Line platforms

There are three different JR lines that are serviced at Ikebukuro Station. As they are part of the Japan Railways travel network, these lines are all covered by the National Japan Rail Pass. 

JR Yamanote Line

• JR platforms 5 and 6 go towards Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shinagawa
• JR platforms 7 and 8 go the opposite direction towards Tabata, Ueno, and Tokyo Station.

JR Saikyo Line

• JR platform 1 goes to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Osaki
• JR platform 4 goes to Akabane, Omiya, and Kawagoe

JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line

• The JR platform 2 goes to Shinjuku, Yokohama, and Ofuna. Also at this platform is the Narita Express out to Narita Airport.
• The JR platform 3 goes out to Omiya.

Tobu Tojo Line platforms

There are five Tobu Tojo Line platforms at Ikebukuro Station. This is the terminal station for the line

• All departing trains go towards Narimasu, Shiki, Kawagoe, Sakado, and Ogawamachi.

Platforms 3 and 5 are typically for disembarking passengers. Though, on occasion, platform 5 is used for the TJ Liner at night. 

Seibu Railway platforms

The Seibu Ikebukuro Line departs from Ikebukuro Station and goes out to Saitama Prefecture. This line grants easy access to the Belluna Dome, where the Seibu Lions baseball team plays.

• There are 7 platforms for Seibu Railways, with 1, 4, and 6 mostly just for disembarkments.

Tokyo Metro Platforms

There are three separate island platforms for the Tokyo Metro lines at Ikebukuro Station

Marunouchi Line

• Platforms 1 and 2 go out to Otemachi, Tokyo, Ginza, Shinjuku, Ogikubo, and Honancho. 

Yurakucho Line

• Platform 3 goes towards Iidabashi, Nagatacho, Yurakucho, and Shin-Kiba
• Platform 4 goes towards Kotake-mukaihara and Wakoshi

Fukutoshin Line

• Platform 5 goes towards Shinjuku-Sanchome, Meiji-jingu Mae (Harajuku Station), and Shibuya.
• Platform 6 goes towards Kotake-mukaihara and Wakoshi

Main exits at Ikebukuro Station

There are dozens of exits that branch off of Ikebukuro Station, but primarily, the station is divided into an East Exit and a West Exit. 

• East Exit

The East Exit at Ikebukuro Station opens to an area with more shopping with a strong presence for anime and hobby culture. 

Out this exit, the famous Sunshine City mall is accessible, with the largest Pokemon Center store inside.

There is also the Animate multi-level anime goods store with the Toho Cinemas movie theater nearby. 

Stores selling things like trading cards along with J-pop and K-pop merchandise are also prevalent. 

There is also a large BIC Camera nearby the main exit along with the Seibu Department Store. Down the street is the East Exit Ikebukuro Don Quijote 

• West Exit 

The West Exit at Ikebukuro Station has more restaurants and entertainment. Countless izakayas and ramen shops line the streets. 

There is also a prominent scene for authentic Chinese restaurants and markets that are frequented by Tokyo’s Chinese immigrant population. 

There is also the Tobu Department Store that is connected to the station with restaurants on the upper floors. Also on this side of the station is another Don Quijote location. 

Not far away is the campus for Rikkyo University, one of the city’s most established educational institutions.

History of Ikebukuro Station

Ikebukuro Station first opened in 1903 and the opening of two major universities in the area made it a hub for students. 

The station and surrounding area further grew to prominence following the end of World War II, when black markets began to operate on both sides of the station. 

For the JR Yamanote Line, the station jingle changed to the theme song for the BIC Camera corporation in 2024. The major electronics retailer has its head office in the area and has become synonymous with the neighborhood.