Sunshine Aquarium
By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: August 24, 2026 · Facts verified: August 24, 2026

- Area
- Ikebukuro / Toshima
- Best For
- Families, Couples, Rainy Days
Visiting Sunshine Aquarium
Sunshine Aquarium is a rooftop and high-rise aquarium occupying the top three floors and rooftop of the World Import Mart Building, one part of the larger Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The aquarium is built around an "oasis in the sky" concept: exhibits set on a building's upper floors rather than at ground level, with the rooftop Sky Journey zone offering tanks viewed against the open Tokyo skyline rather than indoor walls.
It is worth being clear about one common point of confusion early. Sunshine Aquarium is not the same thing as Sunshine City. Sunshine City is the entire multi-building complex, a mostly free-to-enter mix of shops, restaurants, an indoor amusement park, an observation deck, and a Pokemon Center. Sunshine Aquarium is one specific, separately-ticketed facility inside that complex, with its own admission and its own hours. Sunshine City has its own separate guide covering the complex as a whole.
The aquarium opened in October 1978, not long after Sunshine City itself. It closed for a major renovation in September 2010 and reopened in August 2011 with an updated layout, and it is a member of JAZA (the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums), a credibility marker shared with Japan's other major zoos and aquariums.
Exhibits are organized into three zones across the building's upper floors: Sky Journey on the rooftop, Waterfront Journey on the 2nd floor, and Ocean Journey on the 1st floor. Sky Journey is the aquarium's signature area and the one most visitors come specifically to see, anchored by the donut-shaped Sunshine Aqua Ring, also marketed as Penguins in the Sky, where the tank's overhead loop makes penguins appear to swim above visitors' heads against the open sky.
The Sunshine Aqua Ring tank was closed for inspection and maintenance from January 2026 into the spring, with the official site posting a resumption notice in April 2026 and presenting Sky Journey as a normal, active exhibit since. Because aquarium tanks do occasionally close again for maintenance without much advance notice, it is worth checking the official site's current notices immediately before a visit if seeing this specific tank is the main reason for the trip.
Independent reviewers and family-travel writers who cover the aquarium consistently frame it the same way: a solid family outing or rainy-day option rather than a must-see Tokyo highlight, with several naming Sumida Aquarium near Tokyo Skytree as a preferred alternative for anyone choosing between the two. That is a fair characterization. Sunshine Aquarium works well as an add-on to a wider Sunshine City or Ikebukuro day, especially with young children, but it is not the kind of attraction worth building an entire day around on its own.
Things to Do at Sunshine Aquarium
Sky Journey and the Sunshine Aqua Ring (Penguins in the Sky)
Sky Journey is the aquarium's open-air rooftop zone and its single most photographed feature. The Sunshine Aqua Ring, marketed as Penguins in the Sky, is a donut-shaped tank suspended overhead so that its resident penguins appear to swim above visitors against the Tokyo skyline, a genuinely distinctive setup not found at most other Tokyo aquariums.
This tank was closed for maintenance for part of 2026 and reopened in April 2026; check the official site's current notices before a visit if seeing it specifically is the goal. Sky Journey also includes sea lion and otter habitats, and because it is a rooftop zone, it is open-air and exposed to the weather, unlike the rest of the aquarium.
Kurage Kuukan (Jellyfish Area)
Kurage Kuukan, meaning roughly "jellyfish space," is a dedicated jellyfish exhibition area on the Waterfront Journey floor, built around a wide, 14-meter tank added in July 2020. Softly lit tanks of moon jellyfish and other species make it one of the aquarium's most visually striking and popular stops for photos.
Sunshine Lagoon
Sunshine Lagoon is a large central tank, roughly 240 tons, used for sea lion and other animal performances on the Waterfront Journey floor. It is one of the aquarium's main draws for families with children and typically runs on a scheduled show-time basis; check the current schedule posted at the aquarium on the day.
Sunshine Coral Reef
On the Ocean Journey floor, Sunshine Coral Reef is described as Japan's first permanent coral reef reproduction, a secondary but genuine highlight for visitors interested in reef ecosystems rather than only the rooftop penguins and jellyfish.
How to Get to Sunshine Aquarium
Sunshine Aquarium sits on the rooftop and top floors of the World Import Mart Building within Sunshine City, reachable from two different Ikebukuro-area stations.
The Higashi-Ikebukuro route stays fully underground and covered the whole way, a genuinely useful detail on a rainy day, while the Ikebukuro Station route is only partially covered.
From Higashi-Ikebukuro Station
Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, is the closer and more weather-proof option. From Exits 6 or 7, a direct underground passage leads into Sunshine City in about 5 minutes without needing to go outside at any point.
From Ikebukuro Station
Ikebukuro Station, served by the JR Yamanote Line and multiple other lines, is the larger transit hub. From the East Exit, it is about a 10-minute walk to Sunshine City via Sunshine 60 Street, a route that is not fully covered the whole way.
Reaching the Aquarium Once Inside Sunshine City
Sunshine Aquarium occupies the rooftop and top three floors of the World Import Mart Building, not the main tower. Once inside the complex, follow signage to the World Import Mart Building and take the elevator from the 1st floor up to the aquarium's entrance on the rooftop level; this is not always obvious to first-time visitors, since the aquarium is not visible from ground level.
For IC cards, tickets, and full transit basics for Tokyo, see the complete transportation guide.
See the Tokyo Metro Guide →Best Time to Visit Sunshine Aquarium
Weekdays for a calmer visit; book ahead online for weekends and holidays, when a numbered-ticket system manages crowding.
Entry Fee & Hours
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (high school age+) | ¥2,600-3,200 | ~$17-21 |
| Child (elementary/JHS) | ¥1,300 | ~$9 |
| Preschooler (age 4+) | ¥800 | ~$5 |
| Visitors with disabilities (with documentation) | 50% off | 50% off |
Prices shown are current as of this page's factVerificationDate, sourced from the official Sunshine Aquarium ticket page. Admission uses a dynamic, date-based price calendar, so check the official ticket page for the exact price on your specific visit date rather than relying on this range alone.
- •Admission uses a dynamic, date-based price calendar; the ¥2,600-3,200 adult range above reflects the operator's own current pricing, but check the official ticket page for the exact price on your specific visit date.
- •Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, per the official site.
- •Advance reservation is recommended and may be required on weekends, public holidays, and other designated busy dates; a numbered-ticket system manages crowding during peak times.
- •Re-entry is not allowed once you leave.
- •Wheelchairs are welcome, with priority elevators and accessible restrooms; there is no on-site wheelchair or stroller rental at the aquarium itself, though Sunshine City offers rental separately. Strollers are permitted but discouraged at peak times.
- •Personal photography is allowed, but tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, drones, and remote-controlled devices are prohibited, and flash or strong lighting is restricted in specified areas.
- •Coin lockers are available near the entrance, and an on-site Tully's Coffee is accessible with aquarium admission. The aquarium is non-smoking and offers free WiFi.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Sunshine Aquarium on the same day
Suggested Itinerary
Pair Sunshine Aquarium with these nearby stops for a full day in Ikebukuro / Toshima.
Frequently Asked Questions

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