Photo: Kentin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Iheb · Nakano Broadway
Nakano Broadway: the collectors’ mall, floor by floor
Vintage toys, rare figures, manga and trading cards in one building, many of them in the Mandarake shops. Here is how it works.
Nakano Broadway is a shopping arcade about 5 minutes on foot from the north exit of JR Nakano Station, west of central Tokyo. Its upper floors are packed with shops for collectors, above all the Mandarake shops: around thirty small specialist stores (manga, anime, figures, vintage toys), including the Card-kan for trading cards on 2F. Mandarake opens every day from noon to 8 pm. From Akihabara it is about 30 minutes by train, so the two fit in the same day. Iheb, a private guide in Tokyo who specializes in anime and Pokémon card collecting, can plan it for your group: +81 80 8015 5322.
Mandarake, floor by floor
- 2F: most of the Mandarake shops, including the Card-kan (trading cards), plus toy, figure and cosplay shops.
- 3F: the Mandarake buy counter and the main shop.
- 4F: the Anime-kan and other specialist shops, and the service counter.
Remember that in Japan 1F is the ground floor, so 2F is one floor up. The ground floor is mostly everyday shops and food; the collectors’ world starts upstairs.
Practical info
- Address: 5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo.
- Getting there: JR Chuo Line to Nakano Station, north exit, then about 5 minutes on foot through the covered shopping street.
- Mandarake hours: noon to 8 pm, every day; the buy counter takes items until 7:30 pm.
- Best time: arrive around noon, when the shops open, and leave time to go back to a shop after you have compared prices.
What collectors come for
Akihabara has the biggest choice of new goods and card shops; Nakano is where older and rarer items turn up. Think vintage toys, out-of-print manga and art books, figures from series that ended years ago, and single trading cards at the Card-kan. Each Mandarake shop has its own specialty, so it pays to know what you are looking for before you go up the escalator.
Prices and condition notes are mostly in Japanese. Iheb reads them for you, explains the grading words, and asks the staff the questions you would not know how to ask: whether a box is complete, whether an item can be taken out of the case, whether the shop ships abroad.
Nakano and Akihabara in one day
- Morning in Akihabara: cards, figures, retro games.
- Lunch on the way (halal-friendly options on request).
- About 30 minutes by train west to Nakano.
- Afternoon at Nakano Broadway, from noon opening onwards.
Prefer something else in the afternoon? Ikebukuro has the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and the Animate flagship.
Shop etiquette
- Many shops in Nakano Broadway do not allow photos of their cases. Look for the sign or ask first.
- Ask staff to take items out of locked cases; do not open boxes yourself.
- Keep every receipt for the tax refund at departure (passport needed, from 5,000 yen before tax per store per day).
- Big purchases: shops pack figures well, and you can post large boxes home by EMS or send your suitcase ahead to the airport.
Why go with Iheb
Iheb lives in Japan and works with anime and Pokémon cards professionally. In a building where everything is small, upstairs and labeled in Japanese, that saves real time. The tour is private (just your group), in English, and also available in French and Arabic. Fans from the US, Canada, the UK, India and Europe get the whole day planned for them, trains included.
FAQ
How do I get to Nakano Broadway?
Take the JR Chuo Line to Nakano Station, use the north exit and walk about 5 minutes. From Akihabara it is about 30 minutes by train.
What time does Mandarake open in Nakano?
The Mandarake shops in Nakano Broadway are open from noon to 8 pm, every day.
Can I find Pokémon cards at Nakano Broadway?
Yes, in particular at Mandarake’s Card-kan on 2F, which specializes in trading cards.
Is Nakano Broadway worth it if I already did Akihabara?
Yes, for collectors: Akihabara is stronger on new goods and card shops, Nakano on older and rarer items. They complement each other well in one day.
Sources: Mandarake Nakano: shop map (official). Opening hours change: check the official site before you go.
Also on this site: the complete otaku guide to Tokyo · this page in French.
Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK; other names belong to their owners. This is an independent private tour, not affiliated with them.