The Hidden High-Altitude Views You Didn’t Know Existed Above Tokyo’s Skyline

Rich in transit options, Ikebukuro is lined with fashion outlets, department stores, and cinemas, bustling with a constant stream of young people every day of the week. Among them is SunshineCity, a massive commercial complex that combines multi-level retail, restaurants, an observation deck, and a hotel. Operating since 1966, it has long been Ikebukuro’s most vibrant attraction. Inside Sunshine City lies a high-rise aquarium that opened alongside the complex over 30 years ago. Starting in 2010, the aquarium underwent a major renovation project lasting about a year and reopened in the second half of 2011, drawing three months of long queues. Upon taking the elevator to the 10th floor at the aquarium’s entrance, a rare splash of blue and green appears under Ikebukuro’s sky. As the name suggests, Sunshine Aquarium is designed as an “oasis in the sky.”

Unlike its previous design, which primarily targeted children, the new Sunshine Aquarium was created as a healing space for urban adults.

 

Inside the softly lit venue, specially designed natural light filters through to cast beautiful shadows on the tanks. Colorful coral reefs, gently swaying aquatic plants, and a variety of marine life—including tropical fish, giant octopuses, and schools of silvery barracudas—swim among them. The main large tank holds nearly 240 tons of blue seawater, where large groupers and tropical fish coexist in a world of white sand and coral, leaving visitors awestruck. The jellyfish tunnel, illuminated by colorful LED lights, along with playful otters and manta rays, are among the aquarium’s most beloved animal stars. During the day, families and kindergarten groups fill the space, but come evening, the main visitors become weary office workers and couples on dates, bringing a calm and mature atmosphere to the venue.

On the outdoor side of the aquarium, a completely different lively vibe awaits. Under the blue sky, sea lions and penguins bask in the sun within uniquely designed, two-and-a-half-meter-high transparent circular waterways. The sea lion show, held four times a day, allows visitors to interact up close with these intelligent creatures and is a favorite among children. In addition to marine animals, the space is also home to fennec foxes, lemurs, armadillos, peacocks, and more, making it a small rooftop zoo.

 

An oasis in the sky, a zoo in the sky, and an ocean in the sky. These magical places remind us that our imagination of urban life can truly stretch beyond limits.

 

The rise of Roppongi Hills symbolized the official arrival of the high-rise mixed-use building era. Within just a few years, both Roppongi Hills and Midtown were completed, transforming Roppongi into one of the most dazzling fashion hotspots. A relatively dense collection of public artworks and three distinctive art museums—the Mori Art Museum, the New Museum, and the Suntory Museum of Art—further enrich the area with diverse cultural charm.

Established alongside Roppongi Hills, the Mori Art Museum is situated on the 53rd floor of Mori Tower and could rightly be called Japan’s highest art museum. At the entrance on the 52nd floor, wooden slats highlight the warmth and intricacy of the lofty space, while the interior exhibition areas change according to the three to four different themed shows held each year. “So each different exhibition completely transforms the look of the museum,” explained Ms. Takizawa, PR representative for the museum.

 

Focusing on contemporary art, the Mori Art Museum also dedicates a permanent space called “MAM PROJECT” as a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work. From 10 AM to 10 PM, the museum offers a warm beacon of art for night owls in the Roppongi high-rises. When asked about the best way to enjoy the museum, Ms. Takizawa smiled and said whether you’re just passing through or taking the time to read the descriptions, contemporary art is open to all viewers to explore in the most comfortable way possible.

 

The observation deck on the 52nd floor of Mori Tower and the Mori Art Museum share a joint ticket, so if you’ve bought a ticket to the museum, don’t forget to also visit the rotating TOKYO CITY VIEW observation deck. Since Roppongi is geographically located at the center of the circular Yamanote Line, TOKYO CITY VIEW truly lives up to its name with breathtaking panoramic views of Tokyo in all directions. Through its large floor-to-ceiling windows, you can admire the layered cityscape and the nearby Tokyo Tower during the day, and enjoy a romantic and enchanting atmosphere when the city lights come on at night.