The three neighborhoods that matter
| Area | Best for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Akihabara | Flagship anime and manga stores, figures, trading cards, retro games, electronics | Shops open around 10:00–11:00; upper floors hide the specialist stores |
| Nakano Broadway | Second-hand and vintage collectibles, rare figures, older manga, cels and artbooks | A short ride west on the Chuo line from Shinjuku; many shops open around noon |
| Ikebukuro | Sunshine City’s character shops, the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, Otome Road | Otome Road focuses on titles and goods aimed at female fans |
Akihabara
Akihabara began as an electronics market after the war and became the world’s best-known anime district. Today its main street, Chuo-dori, is lined with multi-story stores selling new figures, manga, Blu-rays, model kits and character goods, while side streets and upper floors hold specialist shops for trading cards, retro games and second-hand collectibles. On Sundays, part of Chuo-dori is usually closed to traffic in the afternoon, which makes for a relaxed walk.
- Go up. Many of the best shops are on the fourth or seventh floor of narrow buildings, signposted only in Japanese.
- Compare. The same figure can vary noticeably in price between new and second-hand stores a block apart.
- Check condition notes. Second-hand goods are graded, and box damage is described in Japanese. Mario translates and explains.
Nakano Broadway
Above a covered shopping street a few minutes from Nakano Station, Nakano Broadway is a 1960s complex whose upper floors have become a labyrinth of collector shops: vintage toys, older manga, figures, idol goods, watches and animation cels. It is quieter than Akihabara and rewards patient browsing. Mario usually plans it after lunch, when most shops are open.
Ikebukuro: Sunshine City and Otome Road
Ikebukuro is Tokyo’s other anime hub. Sunshine City, a large complex east of the station, houses the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and many character shops. Nearby Otome Road, literally “Maiden Road,” concentrates stores aimed at female fans, with manga, novels and goods from popular series. Large anime chain stores have flagship branches here too.
The Ghibli Museum: booking basics
- Where: Mitaka, on the edge of Inokashira Park in western Tokyo, about 20 minutes from Shinjuku by train plus a walk or short bus ride.
- Tickets: sold online in advance only, for a specific date and entry time. Tickets for the following month are usually released on the 10th and popular dates sell out quickly. There are no tickets at the door.
- Closed: usually on Tuesdays, plus maintenance periods. Check the official calendar.
- Inside: photography is not allowed in the exhibition rooms. Allow about two hours.
- Combine with: a walk through Inokashira Park and Kichijoji.
Mario does not sell museum tickets, but he tells you when sales open and plans the day around your entry time.
A sample anime day with Mario
- 10:30 Akihabara: flagship stores, then the specialist floors for figures and cards.
- 13:00 Lunch in Akihabara.
- 14:00 Train to Nakano Broadway for vintage and second-hand finds.
- 16:30 Ikebukuro: Sunshine City and Otome Road.
- 18:30 Back to your hotel; tax-free checks and packing tips for boxed figures.
Anime in Kansai
Kansai has a scene of its own. Den Den Town in Osaka’s Nipponbashi has anime, figure and card shops along and around Sakaisuji, and Kyoto has a manga museum and many real-world locations from anime. Mario is based in Kansai, so these days carry no guide travel cost. See Den Den Town.
Shopping tips for collectors
- Bring a soft bag or packing cubes; boxed figures travel better in hand luggage.
- Keep receipts and tax-free paperwork together.
- Ask about shipping for large purchases; many stores and post offices can send parcels abroad.
- Respect shop rules: some stores ban photography inside.
Visitors can shop tax-free on purchases of ¥5,000 or more (before tax) per store per day at participating shops; bring your passport, not a photocopy. Japan has been moving its tax-free system to a refund model from November 2026, in which tax is charged at the till and refunded after customs confirms the goods leave Japan with you. Ask each store how it handles tax-free sales, and keep tax-free purchases unopened and with you until departure.
Rates
Full day ¥69,600, half day ¥45,600, per private party. Mario is based in Kansai: for Tokyo, his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost.
