For anime lovers, Japan is heaven on earth– it’s every otaku’s dream to visit Japan because it’s literally where anime originated from! Countless anime shops inside malls, museums, standalone stalls, pop-up exhibits, and even convenience store sells anime merchandise, making it indeed a shopper’s paradise. If you’re in the Tokyo area, then you’re at the perfect place to shop– we’ve listed down the best shopping spots where you can get your dose of all things anime.
Animate Ikebukuro
Animate is the most popular anime retailer in Japan. And in Ikebukuro in Tokyo, you’ll find its flagship store, which is also the biggest anime store in the world. Animate Ikebukuro has 10 floors of anime merch– be it manga, CDs, DVDs, apparel, accessories, books, magazines, and posters. The store also houses a theater and a hall made for fan signs and screenings, as well as an anime-themed cafe for every visiting fan. Currently, Animate has over 100 shops across Japan.
Location: 1-20-7 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 11 am to 9 pm on weekdays, 10 am to 9 pm on weekends
Website: https://www.animate.co.jp/en/
Shonen Jump Shop
Off to Jump Shop you go if you’re looking for your favorite Weekly Shonen Jump characters. From the popular Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, My Hero Academia, Haikyu!!, Death Note, to the classics like Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Slam Dunk, you’ll find all their official merch in Shonen Jump Shop. Aside from the usual anime merch you can buy, you can also get your cosplay items here too.
Location: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 10 am to 9 pm daily
Website: https://www.shonenjump.com/j/jumpshop/
*You’ll be glad to know that Jump Shop has a number of branches across Tokyo and Osaka. Even the famous Tokyo Skytree has its own Jump Shop branch!
Donguri Kyowakoku
Ghibli fans, ready your wallets– if you’re in Tokyo, hoard Ghibli goods at Donguri Kyowakoku, the official shop that sells the cutest Studio Ghibli merchandise you’ll ever lay your eyes on. Come here and see your favorite Ghibli characters from films like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, and a lot more. Take home a piece of Ghibli with you when you buy any of their plushies, stationeries, figurines, and even DVDs!
Location: B1F Tokyo Character Street, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 10 am to 9 pm
Website: https://benelic.com/donguri/
Nakano Broadway
Another well-known anime retail chain in Japan is Nakano Broadway. On the second and third floors is where you’ll find lots of anime stalls selling collectibles to mangas, video and console games, playing cards, anime cels, and more. Nakano Broadway is also your go-to for retro goods or any merch of your favorite anime you loved as a child. It’s a nostalgic trip to Nakano because they even have old-school anime items and classic J-Pop culture items for shoppers of all ages.
Location: 5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: vary per store, usually starts from 10 am to 8 pm
Website: https://nakano-broadway.com/
One Piece Mugiwara Store
One Piece Mugiwara Store exclusively sells official One Piece merchandise, so if you’re an avid fan of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew’s adventures, then this is the place to be. Come here and go crazy shopping for One Piece character goodies from toys to apparel, accessories, stationeries, costumes, snacks, and a whole lot more. You can also take photos with your favorite character statues for a souvenir. Also, don’t miss playing with their gachapon machines to get your little One Piece mementos.
Location: 1-23-10 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 10 am to 9 pm
Website: https://www.mugiwara-store.com/store?hl=en
Akiba Cultures Zone
Long-time otakus know that Akiba Culture Zone is a shopping paradise. Thousands of anime, kawaii, J-Pop, and anime subculture merchandise are found here, as it is the mecca of Akihabara culture. They have very culture-specific items so if you’re looking for collector’s items or hard-to-find anime goods, this might be the perfect place for you. Aside from the usual anime items, they have here trading cards, idol goods, scale models, rental showcases, doujinshi, minicars, and shokugan, among others. On the 5th floor is where you’ll find Japan’s popular Maid Cafe.
Location: 1-7-6, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 11 am to 11 pm
Website: https://www.akibacultureszone.com/en/
Gamers Main Store
For geeks and gamers, head straight to Akihabara Gamers for all your gaming needs. Be it anime merch, video games, CDs and DVDs, manga, novels, and doujin, they’ve got it all. It has eight floors of anime stalls so be sure to check out every floor to see what items they have in here. Aside from merch, they also hold events on the 8th floor for promotional events featuring voice actors and authors.
Location: Chiyoda-ku, 1-14-7, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 9 am to 10 pm daily
Website: https://www.gamers.co.jp/
Pokémon Center Tokyo DX
For all things Pokemon, drop by Pokemon Center Tokyo DX in Japan. It’s a shop and cafe in one featuring your beloved POkemon characters from the quintessential Pikachu to Snorlax, Squirtle, Charmander, and more. It has a lot of official Pokemon merch perfect for gifting. Don’t forget to try their yummy Pokemon-inspired dishes at the cafe to complete your experience.
Location: 5/F Takashimaya SC East Building, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 10:30 am to 9 pm
Website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/en/pokecen/tokyodx/
Sailor Moon Store
Sailor Moon fans, get your merch at the official and first Sailor Moon Store in Tokyo. Located at Laforet Harajuku in Tokyo, it’s where you’ll find kawaii and eye-catching Sailor Moon items from fashion to stationeries. They have here bags, phone cases, make-up, clothes, and even costumes. Relive your childhood dreams of being a magical sailor senshi by shopping in this store.
Location: 1-11-6 Jingumae, Laforet Harajuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Operating Hours: 11 am to 8 pm daily
Website: https://sailormoon-official.com/
The Gundam Base Tokyo
OG anime fans shouldn’t miss seeing Gundam in Tokyo. So if you’re a Gundam fan, head to Gundam Base in Tokyo to see and shop an ultra-cool collection of Gundam merchandise and models in this store. They display limited edition Gundam models, and they even have a giant Gundam statue to take photos with! Shop toys and displays as you roam around the whole Gundam Base Tokyo.
Location: 7F DiverCity, 1 Chome−1−10, Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo
Operating Hours: 10 am to 9 pm daily
Website: https://www.tokyo-odaiba.net/en/genre/
Find more shopping spots and interesting travel experiences in Japan when you visit the KKDay website!
