Tokyo has become a very popular place to visit for foreigners travelling to Japan. There are many reasons that Tokyo attracts international tourists. Tokyo has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, and there many good night clubs, museums, and sightseeing spots as well. If you are an anime and manga lover, you should check out these 10 areas in Tokyo. These are the 10 best areas for fans to visit.
TOKYO ONE PIECE TOWER- Akabanebashi
This theme park dedicated to One Piece boasts nine different attractions spread out over four floors, including a replica kitchen to explore and a mirror maze. You can take photographs with models of your favourite characters, and buy unique souvenirs only be found here. Even if you don’t watch One Piece, it’s a great place to take the kids for a day out. Finally, there’s a live show held every day, so you can see the characters come to life on stage!
Access : Foot Town, Tokyo Tower, 4-2-8 Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearby Station :
Toei Oedo Line : Akabanebashi Station Akabane hashiguchi(gate) 5min
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line : Kamiyacho Station Exit 1 7min
Toei Mita Line : Onimen Station Exit A1 6min
Open : 10:00am-10:00pm
HP : https://onepiecetower.tokyo/news/
Sanrio Puroland – Tama
A famous icon world-wide, everyone knows Hello Kitty! Not to mention Sanrio’s wide variety of cute characters, including the lazy egg Gudetama, and the currently popular on Netflix Aggretsuko. Sanrio Puroland is where you can meet them all, see live shows, and take photos with your favourite characters. It’s like Disneyland but without the rollercoasters. This is a great place to visit with the whole family – and come in the winter months for some awesome night lighting!
Access : 1-31 Ochiai, Tama, Tokyo
Nearby Station :
Keio Line, Odakyu Line : Tama Center 10min
Open : 9:30am-5:00pm
HP : https://en.puroland.jp/
Mandarake Store – Shibuya
If you’re looking for your favourite items and they don’t need to be new-in-the-box, Mandarake is the place to come. This second-hand store deals mainly in anime and manga, as well as related goods, DVDs, etc. There’s always something new (or old and unique) here, so you can spend hours just browsing the shop and seeing what you stumble across.
Access : Shibuya BEAM B2 floor Udagawa-cho 31-2, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Nearby Station : Shibuya Station
Open : 12:00pm-8:00pm
HP : https://en.puroland.jp/
Tokyo Anime Center
This is where to go if you’re looking for keychains, toys, accessories – basically any anime-related merchandise. You can’t walk around reading manga all the time, and if you don’t display the characters you like through a pin badge on your bag then how will other people know? The shop is rather small and maze-like, but that just makes it all the more enchanting.
Access: DNP Ichigayatamachi Bldg. (BF)
1-14-1 Ichigaya-tamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Nearby Station :
Ichigaya Station (Yurakucho Line) 1-minute walk from Exit 6Ichigaya Station (Namboku Line) 1-minute walk from Exit 6
JR Ichigaya Station 5-minute walk
Ichigaya Station (Toei Shinjuku Line)6-minute walk from Exit 1
Open : 11:00am-8:00pm
HP : https://animecenter.jp/en/
Pokemon Center Tokyo DX and Pokemon Café – Nihonbashi
Located inside the famous Takashimaya department store, this is the largest Pokemon Center in Japan. You’ll need to make a reservation for the cafe in advance, but you can check out the store any time. It has a huge range of soft toys, and with some collaborations with traditional shops in the area – so you can find uniquely Japanese souvenirs such as Pokémon-themed chiyogami paper. Definitely worth checking out for anyone who’s a fan!
Access : Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building (5F)
2-11-2 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan Postal code: 103-0027
Nearby Station :
5-minute walk from the Yaesu North Entrance of JR Tokyo Station
B2 entrance of Nihombashi Station of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Tozai Line
4-minute walk from Nihombashi Station of Toei Asakusa Line
Open : (DX) 10:30am-9:00pm (Cafe) 10:30am-10:00pm
HP : https://www.pokemon.co.jp/gp/pokecen/english/tokyodx_access.html
Otome Road – Ikebukuro
This one’s for the ladies. While Akihabara is known for its maid cafes, often aimed at a more male audience, this area is focussed on items that generally women buy. There’s a Butler Cafe located here, as well as an Animate and Mandarake store that stock manga that are popular with women. If you want any goods decorated with your favourite bishounen, here’s where to find them!
Access : Otome Road is 8-10 minutes from the station
Close to Sunshine 60 Street, Sunshine City
Nearby Station :
JR, Maruuchi line : Ikebukuro Station
Open : 10:00am-9:00pm
HP : https://mipon.org/otome-road/
Unicorn Gundam – Diver City Mall
To get a sense of what it would feel like to live in a world with Gundam, visit this life-sized one in Odaiba. Towering above the people below it, you really get a sense of scale – and how scary it would be to get caught in a war fought with Gundam. This one even transforms a bit, from Unicorn Mode to Destroy Mode. ProTip: Visit in the evening to see it lit up. Odaiba also has Joypolis, so there’s more than enough to keep you busy all day.
Access : DiverCity Tokyo Plaza 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku
Tokyo 135-0064
Nearby Station :
Yurikamome Line : Odaibakaihinkouen
Rinkan Line : Tokyo Teleport Station
Day time performance : 11:00／13:00／15:00／17:00
HP : https://mipon.org/otome-road/
Nakano Broadway – Nakano
It’s often said that after Akihabara became more commercialised, Nakano Broadway became the place to go for anime and manga. Make sure not to stick to the ground floor, as most anime stores are on the second and third floors. You can find multiple small Mandarake stores here too, if you don’t have time to visit any of the major ones.
Access : Nakano Broadway is a five minute walk along the Nakano Sun Mall shopping street, which starts just across from the north exit of Nakano Station
Close to Sunshine 60 Dori, Sunshine City
Nearby Station :
JR Chuo Line, Tozai Subway Line : Nakano Station
Open : 12:00pm-8:00pm
HP : https://mipon.org/otome-road/
Nintendo TOKYO – Shibuya
This is the first official Nintendo store in Japan, located inside the newly renovated Parco in Shibuya. Here you can buy unique merchandise, and try out Nintendo’s latest releases for the Switch. As Nintendo also owns Pokemon, there’s Pokémon store on the same floor, so you can visit both at once!
Access : 15-1 Udagawacho Shibuya Tokyo
5 minute walk from Shibuya Station
Nearby Station : Shibuya Station
Open : 10:00pm-9:00pm
HP : https://www.nintendo.co.jp/officialstore/
Ghibli Museum – Mitaka
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS NECESSARY. No, seriously, get in quick. Tickets go on sale the previous month, and you will get a specified day and time. They’re not easy to get, so plan ahead. Once you’ve got your ticket, however, expect an amazing day out! There are original short films, special exhibitions, model rooms from different Ghibli movies, and a reading room. This is a must-see for Ghibli fans.
Access : 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan
Nearby Station :
To JR Mitaka Station, take the JR Chuo Line, approximately 20 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station. From the south exit of JR Mitaka Station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Museum.
Open : 10:00pm-6:00pm
HP : http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/hours-and-directions/