Tokyo is the world capital of anime and manga. Whole neighborhoods are packed with shops selling figures, manga, games and character goods, from brand-new releases to rare vintage items. Here are the main areas for fans, what each one is best for, and a few tips before you go.
Quick answer
Short on time? Go to Akihabara for the widest choice of new goods, figures, games and arcades.
Collectors: Nakano Broadway is famous for second-hand and vintage items.
Character shops in one building: Shibuya PARCO has Nintendo TOKYO and Pokémon Center Shibuya on the same floor. In Ikebukuro, Animate’s main store and Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo are a short walk apart.
Akihabara: the classic anime and electronics town
Akihabara grew up as an electronics district and is now Tokyo’s best-known area for anime, manga, games and idol culture. Multi-floor shops sell new figures, manga, trading cards and character goods, and there are large game arcades and capsule-toy (gacha) machines everywhere. Akihabara Radio Kaikan, right outside the station, is a good first stop: one building with many floors of hobby shops.
| Getting there | Akihabara Station (JR Yamanote, JR Keihin-Tohoku and JR Chuo-Sobu lines; Hibiya Line; Tsukuba Express) |
| Good for | New goods, figures, trading cards, games, arcades |
| Tip | Many shops open around 10:00 or 11:00, so mornings are quiet. Sundays can have pedestrian-only streets on the main avenue. |
See our Ueno and Akihabara guide for food and other things to do nearby.
Nakano Broadway: vintage and second-hand treasures
Nakano Broadway is a shopping complex next to Nakano Station, only a few minutes from Shinjuku by train. Its upper floors are full of small shops selling used and vintage manga, figures, toys, cels and collectibles, including several branches of Mandarake, a major second-hand anime goods chain. Rare items are not cheap, so set a budget before you go.
See our Nakano guide.
Ikebukuro: Animate, Otome Road and Pokémon
Ikebukuro is home to Animate’s main store in Ikebukuro, a large multi-floor shop for manga, anime goods and new releases. The street nearby, often called Otome Road, has shops aimed especially at female fans. Inside the Sunshine City complex, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is one of the biggest Pokémon shops in Japan.
See our Ikebukuro guide.
Shibuya PARCO: Nintendo and Pokémon on one floor
On the 6th floor of the Shibuya PARCO department store, Nintendo TOKYO sells official Nintendo goods, and Pokémon Center Shibuya is right next to it, along with other shops for anime and game fans. Nintendo TOKYO has sometimes used timed entry tickets when it is busy, so check the official page before you go.
See our Shibuya guide.
More places for fans
Tokyo Character Street (Tokyo Station)
In the underground First Avenue Tokyo Station shopping area, a row of official stores sells goods from popular characters and TV networks. It is handy if you are catching a train.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
The museum of Studio Ghibli, the studio behind My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Tickets are only sold in advance for a set date and time, and they sell out. See our Ghibli Museum tickets guide.
Suginami Animation Museum
A small, free museum about how Japanese animation is made, near Ogikubo Station. It has exhibits, a library of anime DVDs and changing special exhibitions. It is open 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30) and closed on Mondays (open on a Monday holiday, then closed the next weekday) and from December 28 to January 4.
Sanrio Puroland, Tama
An indoor theme park of Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters in Tama Center, about 40 minutes from Shinjuku. See our Tama Center guide.
Tips for anime shopping
- Tax-free shopping: many large shops offer tax-free shopping for visitors. Bring your passport.
- Check the condition: second-hand shops grade items. Look at the label and the box before you buy.
- Photos: many shops do not allow photos inside. Look for signs or ask.
- Luggage: figures in boxes take up space. Pack a soft bag, or send purchases home from a post office.
- Prices: new items usually cost about the same everywhere. Rare and vintage items vary a lot, so compare a few shops.
FAQ
Which is better for anime goods, Akihabara or Ikebukuro?
Akihabara has the most shops and the widest range. Ikebukuro has Animate’s large main store, Otome Road and Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. If you have time, visit both.
Where can I buy second-hand figures and manga?
Nakano Broadway is the best-known place, with many collector shops including Mandarake. Akihabara also has second-hand shops.
Can I still see the life-size Gundam in Odaiba?
No. The Unicorn Gundam statue at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza ended its display at the end of August 2026.
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Sources
Information comes from the official sources below (checked October 19, 2026). Shops, hours and entry rules change, so please check before you go.
- GO TOKYO: Akihabara (Tokyo’s official travel site)
- GO TOKYO: Nakano
- GO TOKYO: Ikebukuro
- Akihabara Radio Kaikan (official, Japanese)
- Nakano Broadway (official, Japanese)
- Mandarake (official)
- Animate Ikebukuro (official, Japanese)
- Pokémon Center (official)
- Nintendo Official Store (official, Japanese)
- Shibuya PARCO (official)
- First Avenue Tokyo Station (official)
- Suginami Animation Museum (official, Japanese)
- Sanrio Puroland (official)
- Tokyo Weekender: Unicorn Gundam statue display to end in August 2026
TODO：店舗の場所・営業時間・入場整理券の有無を年に1回確認。行ったら写真と感想を追加
