Where to Find Anime Merch in Tokyo That’s Not Akihabara

Ikebukuro: The New Anime Hotspot

Forget Akihabara, Ikebukuro is now the heart of the anime scene in Tokyo. This vibrant area, known for its cosplay culture, offers a wide range of anime-related experiences. You might have seen it featured in anime like My Dress-Up Darling.

Sunshine City

Sunshine City is a must-visit mall in Ikebukuro. It’s home to the biggest Pokémon Center in Japan, a One Piece Mugiwara Store, and a massive Bandai facility filled with gachapon machines, card game spaces, and exhibition areas. You’ll also find a Toys ‘R’ Us with anime merchandise and cards, and a charming Studio Ghibli Donguri store.

The mall also hosts regular concerts and anime exhibitions. Even the Sunshine Aquarium and Observation Deck often have anime collaborations. It’s a great place to spend a day exploring.

Animate and Otome Road

Animate, the famous anime store chain, has its headquarters in Ikebukuro. They’ve worked with the local government to make the area even more anime-friendly. Their main store is the biggest anime store in the world! Animate also organizes events like the Animate Girls Festival, celebrating anime for female fans.

Ikebukuro is also known for Otome Road, a street catering to female fans with stores specializing in Boy’s Love comics, cosplay items, and merchandise featuring popular series like IDOLiSH 7.

More Anime Finds in Ikebukuro

Ikebukuro is packed with even more anime-related spots. The Parco department store near Ikebukuro Station hosts anime exhibitions and has shops like an Evangelion store. You can also find a Kyoto Animation shop in collaboration with Sofmap. Don Quijote stores on both sides of the station offer anime goods and unique Kit-Kat flavors. Plus, arcades with crane games and gachapon machines are everywhere!

Nakano Broadway: A Retro Anime Paradise

Nakano Broadway is another excellent destination for anime fans, especially those who love retro items. This mall has a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere and is known for its second-hand anime goods.

Mandarake

Mandarake is the main reason to visit Nakano Broadway. This massive second-hand store has 27 storefronts in the complex, offering manga, figures, production books, toys, and all sorts of pop-culture treasures from Japanese history. You can find rare items like vintage copies of Weekly Shonen Jump and Sailor Moon telephone cards.

Anime Production Materials

Nakano Broadway is also famous for reselling anime production materials. You can find original key animation cels from classic series like Mobile Suit Gundam, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Pokémon. There are even stores dedicated to adult animation art.

While some shops may be closed, the history and unique finds in Nakano Broadway make it a worthwhile visit.

Shibuya: Anime with Style

Shibuya, known for its trendy fashion and culture, is also a great place to find anime merchandise. It offers a more stylish and modern anime shopping experience.

Shibuya Parco

Shibuya Parco is a modern building with a dedicated anime floor on the sixth level. Here, you’ll find the Nintendo Store, Pokémon Center Shibuya with exclusive items, a Shonen Jump store with JUJUTSU KAISEN art, and other anime shops. A JOJO WORLD area and an official SEGA store are also planned to open soon.

Like the Parco in Ikebukuro, this mall hosts anime-related exhibitions. It also has the high-end Evangelion designer brand store, Radio Eva.

Other Anime Spots in Shibuya

Shibuya also has a Lashinbang second-hand store with cheaper prices than those in Akihabara and Ikebukuro. You can also find a Mandarake and Animate in the area, along with maid cafes and arcades.

Tokyo Station Character Street: A Character Wonderland

Located underground in Tokyo Station, Character Street is a mall filled with shops featuring Japan’s most popular characters, including Sanrio, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider. You’ll find a Shonen Jump store, a One Piece Mugiwara store, and a unique Pokémon Store with train-themed merchandise.

Character Street also has TV station-based shops like Fuji TV and Nippon TV, offering merchandise from series like Demon Slayer: Kimitsu no Yaiba and The Apothecary Diaries. It’s a great place to find unique items and pick up gifts for friends.

Book Off: Second-Hand Treasures

Book Off is a large chain of second-hand bookstores across Japan. While they primarily sell books, they also offer anime goods, Blu-rays, video games, figures, trading cards, and even clothing.

You can find rare anime games, physical media like 8-cm CDs and VHS tapes, and complete manga series for low prices. Book Off Super Bazaar stores, located on the outskirts of Tokyo, have an even wider variety of items, including snowboards, microwaves, and kimono.

Beyond Akihabara: A World of Anime Shopping

As you can see, there are many fantastic places to find anime merchandise in Tokyo besides Akihabara. From the modern anime scene in Ikebukuro to the retro charm of Nakano Broadway and the stylish offerings in Shibuya, there’s something for every anime fan. So, explore these alternative locations and discover the anime treasures that await you!

Leave a Comment