The Anime Stores to Check Out in Akihabara

Nakano Broadway is a shopping centre dedicated to all things manga and anime
Nakano Broadway is a shopping centre dedicated to all things manga and anime | © Shiitake Creative
Alicia Joy

Tokyo Writer

While the tourism industry has certainly changed the place, Akihabara nevertheless continues to live up to its reputation as a place for anime culture to flourish and thrive. Add these shops to your must see list next time you are in Tokyo. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Tokyo Anime Center

Romantic Anime of All Time

An obvious choice, Tokyo Anime Center was established for the sole purpose of bringing anime and its fans together. It is mainly used as a venue for anime related events, but their permanent shop also carries a selection of goods from the more popular series.

Akihabara Gamers (Akiba Gamers)

Animate

Animate is a popular one stop shop for anime and manga fanatics. They have floors stocking music, books, merchandise, DVDs and more. Be warned that Animate mainly carries whatever is fresh and popular, and isn’t known for carrying goods from classic series.

Radio Kaikan

Radio Kaikan is nine floors of individual vendors and shops, all carrying goods relating to gaming, electronics, manga, anime and more. This includes collectable figurines, a popular souvenir for visitors to Tokyo’s Electric Town.

Gachapon Kaikan

Group of Japanese men in suit and women wearing traditional kimono next to a vending machine.

Akihabara’s Gachapon Kaikan is quite possibly the largest concentration of gachapon, the plastic bubble and toy vending machines, in Tokyo. If you’re running low on cash but don’t want to leave empty handed, Gachapon Kaikan will be happy to help you out.

Liberty

Liberty specializes in collectible figures, and this location (#8) carries their biggest selection of gaming and anime models. If you’re looking to swell your collection of anime related merchandise besides Blu-rays and DVDs, this is the place you should head to.

Mandarake

Akihabara’s enormous Mandarake building is sure to have what you need. With floors dedicated to everything a digital otaku could want, from games and anime to manga and doujinshi, Mandarake is one of the pillars of otaku culture in Akihabara.

Akihabara Cultures Zone (Akiba Cultures Zone)

Another multi-level shopping complex, Akihabara Cultures Zone is one of the district’s newer additions. It’s filled with small shops selling everything from anime figurines to card games. One of Animate’s smaller locations, carrying the latest anime goods, occupies the first floor.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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