Sunshine Aquarium

Sunshine Aquarium sits atop the World Import Mart Building in the busy Ikebukuro district, combining indoor marine exhibits with a dramatic outdoor rooftop section that floats above the city. The indoor section covers Pacific and tropical ocean zones with rich coral reef tanks, a penguin feeding area, and a dark jellyfish passage that kids find both calming and mesmerizing. The real showpiece, however, is the rooftop — where an elevated glass cylinder called the Sky Jellyfish tank lets jellyfish appear to float against the open sky, and an overhead ring allows sea lions to swim directly above visitors in a transparent tunnel.

Otters play in a sunny habitat with skyline views in every direction. The Sea Lion Show on the outdoor deck is a family highlight, running multiple times daily. Indoor and outdoor sections connect via elevator, so rainy days simply mean skipping the rooftop.

The building is inside Sunshine City, a massive urban complex with a planetarium, theme park, and food court, making it easy to fill a full day. Nursing rooms and stroller access are well maintained throughout Sunshine City. On clear days, the rooftop offers views of Ikebukuro's skyline that make for extraordinary photos alongside the marine exhibits.