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If you enjoy reading Japanese manga (comics) or watching anime (animation), there is no better city on earth to explore than Tokyo as it has everything to satisfy even the most demanding fans. Whether it is a figure of your favorite anime character, a vintage manga you have always wanted to have, or museums dedicated to anime, Tokyo has it all. In this article, we will explore popular areas in Tokyo that no manga or anime fan should miss, some of the best stores to shop at, as well as museums that would be exciting to visit.
If your dream is to become a manga artist or you are interested in studying animation design, be sure to check "Manga / Animation Design Schools (Professional Training Colleges) in Japan". We also have many other articles covering living in Tokyo including top places to shop in Shibuya, outlet shopping malls, English book stores, international supermarkets, volunteer opportunities, as well as English-speaking pharmacies, hair salons, and more.
While there are many great manga and anime-related stores located throughout Tokyo, visiting specific areas that are considered as "Mecca" for otaku would provide you with the most options to choose from and can be a fun experience. Please note that while some shops such as Pokemon Center may be a great place to visit for families with children, some other stores may have adult-oriented content.
You can also purchase anime-related goods, manga, etc. on Amazon. For second-hand goods, Mercari is definitely worth exploring. To learn how to shop on Amazon and Mercari Japan in English, please check the following articles: "Amazon Japan: How to Shop and Order in English" and "Mercari Japan: How to Shop in English".
If you have to choose only one area to explore for everything manga and anime-related in Tokyo, it should be Akihabara, also affectionately called "Akiba". The sheer variety of stores makes it an exciting area to visit for any manga or anime fan. While Akihabara is considered "the Holy Land of Otaku", it has also long been known as "Electric Town". It a fantastic place to purchase electronics with the shops ranging from the massive “Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba Store” to small electronic stores specializing in second hand products.
Akihabara is also home to numerous maid cafes, which are themed eating establishments served by waitresses dressed in maid costumes. The first permanent cafe opened in Akihabara in 2001, and numerous others followed in the footsteps, so nowadays there are over 200 maid cafes throughout the area. One of the most popular chains is maidreamin, which has numerous locations in Akihabara, making it possible to choose one best suited to your preferences.
Getting lost in Akihabara while visiting various stores can be an enjoyable way to explore this unique area. However, to make the most out of your trip to Akihabara, you may consider visiting the following well-known shopping centers and stores.
Located just outside of JR Akihabara Station’s "Electric Town Exit", Akihabara Radio Kaikan can be a great starting point for your journey. It is a 10-story high shopping center with many of its stores selling anime-related products. In the basement floor, there is "Ginza Lion" beer hall which is a nice place to relax and enjoy some beer after shopping.
Animate has more than 120 stores throughout Japan. In Akihabara, it consists of building 1 and 2 as well as "animate Akihabara ANNEX", making it a must visit place for manga and anime fans wishing to purchase anime character goods, comics, etc.
Akiba Cultures Zone is located just a 4-min walk from JR Akihabara Station's "Electric Town Exit". It is home to various shops, a performance venue, and even "at-home cafe", which is a popular maid cafe. For a list of shops, please check here. In terms of variety, few places can compete with Akiba Cultures Zone, making it a great place to visit when exploring Akihabara area in Tokyo.
This large shop has 8 floors, with each one dedicated to a certain category of products. It has a variety of goods including anime figures, vintage manga, doujinshi (self-published works created by fans), cosplay costumes, and more.
Akihabara Gamers Main Store is another popular shopping destination in Akihabara. As you navigate through different floors, you will encounter various comics, anime-related goods, games, and more.
Located just a 3-min walk from JR Akihabara Station, this popular store has a few floors dedicated to anime related goods, etc.
While not as famous as Akihabara, Ikebukuro is also definitely worth a visit, especially for female fans of manga and anime. Compared to Akihabara, there are many stores that cater to female audience who enjoy reading manga of "boys' love" genre. Ikebukuro is home to Otome Road, which means Maiden Road. As its name suggests, the street is popular among female otaku and there are well-known stores such as Mandarake, K-BOOKS, etc. as well as a popular butlers cafe "Swallowtail". Below, we will list some of the popular stores located in Ikebukuro area.
Animate is one of the most popular anime-related shops in Japan and its flagship store is located in Ikebukuro. If you only have time to visit one store, it should probably be this one. Near the store, there is Naka-ikebukuro Park, which serves as a gathering spot for anime fans and is also home to Animate Café Stand Hareza Ikebukuro.
Located near Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store, it boasts more than 120,000 character goods, making it a fantastic place to visit for any anime fan.
Tokyo is home to a number of Pokemon Centers, and one of them is in Ikebukuro. From plush toys to accessories, this store is a dream-come true for Pokemon fans. There is also a cafe, where you can purchase take-away Pikachu-themed sweets.
K-BOOKS has numerous stores in Ikebukuro dedicated to cosplay, doujinshi for women, etc. For a list of stores, including their specializations, please check their website.
If you are looking for comics or doujinshi featuring boys' love, this store is definitely worth a visit. It also sells dolls, male idols products, goods, etc.
If you are a fan of One Piece and happen to visit Ikebukuro, this store can be a great spot to purchase some goods. Besides Ikebukuro, the store has other locations in Tokyo including Shibuya, Odaiba, etc.
Nakano may not seem as a place to visit for anime and manga enthusiasts, but it is only till you come to Nakano Broadway, which is a shopping complex with many stores selling anime related goods.
Located just a 5-min walk from the North Exit of Nakano Station, this shopping complex is easily accessible. While there are many great stores, the most popular anime and manga related store in Nakano Broadway is Mandarake, which was founded in this shopping complex. Nowadays, it has more than 30 stores dedicated to various products in Nakano Broadway!
Besides shopping, Tokyo has a lot to offer to manga and anime fans including a number of museums that would be interesting to explore. Please check the museums' websites for information on business hours, tickets, exhibitions, etc.
(Source: https://tokiwasomm.jp/en/)
Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum is a reconstruction of an apartment building that used to have legendary manga artists as its tenants including Tezuka Osamu. It was also the place where many manga artists worked hard to develop their skills. At this fantastic museum, you can not only see how young manga artists lived and worked, but also attend interesting exhibitions.
(Source: https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/)
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is the place to immerse yourself in the world of Studio Ghibli's animation. The museum itself is not only an exciting place to explore, but there are also special exhibitions. In the basement, there is a theater for 80 guests that screens a short animated movie. Children under the age of 12 can enjoy riding a cat bus. Please note that you cannot purchase tickets on the spot and an advance reservation is required. For more information, please check their official website.
(Source: https://animetokyo.jp/en/)
Anime Tokyo Station has a community space for visitors to talk about anime, an exhibition space with periodically changing displays, permanent exhibits teaching the process of animation, workshops, and more. The admission is free of charge.
(Source: https://sam.or.jp/english_home)
At this museum, you can learn the history of anime, how it is made, experience anime production, and more. There are also anime theater and library in Suginami Animation Museum. The admission is free of charge.
(Source: https://museum.toei-anim.co.jp/)
The museum is operated by Toei Animation, which is known for making many famous anime including titles such as One Piece, Sailor Moon, etc. At Toei Animation Museum, you can learn about animated films produced by this company, explore the process of making anime, and more.
(Source: https://fujiko-museum.com/english.html)
This museum is dedicated to Fujiko・F・Fujio, famous for creating Doraemon. Although the museum is located in Kawasaki-shi, it is still easily accessible from Tokyo. It is a must-visit place for a fan of Doraemon.
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