Interactive otaku map

Super Potato Akihabara

Akihabara 3 floors mapped

The most famous retro game shop in Japan, with Famicom, Super Famicom and Game Boy titles stacked to the ceiling.

Retro games, Arcades

Tip: Take the stairs, the lift is tiny. Boxed games are cheaper on floor 4 than in the glass cases on floor 3.

1. 3FPremium boxed games, consoles and glass case rarities
2. 4FLoose cartridges, Game Boy, accessories and strategy guides
3. 5FRetro arcade with 80s and 90s cabinets and snacks

Akihabara Radio Kaikan

Akihabara 7 floors mapped

Ten floors of specialist shops right outside the station. A perfect first stop to see everything at once.

Figures, Trading cards, Gachapon, Gunpla

1. 1FGachapon machines and new releases
2. 2FK-Books character goods
3. 3FKaiyodo and figure showrooms
4. 4FYellow Submarine and card game shops
5. 5FVolks hobby and model kits
6. 6FCard sleeves, supplies and TCG singles
7. 7F-8FSecond hand figures and rental showcases

Mandarake Complex

Akihabara 7 floors mapped

Eight floors of second hand anime goods in a black tower. Great for out of print figures and manga.

Figures, Doujinshi, Trading cards

1. 1FNew arrivals and trading figures
2. 2F-3FManga, doujinshi and art books
3. 4FCel art, posters and anime goods
4. 5FTrading cards and character goods
5. 6FCosplay and idol goods
6. 7FRetro games and vintage toys
7. 8FCollectors floor with rare figures

Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan

Akihabara

Around 500 capsule toy machines on one floor, restocked constantly.

Gachapon

Tip: Bring 100 yen coins. There is a change machine at the back.

Card Labo Akihabara

Akihabara 2 floors mapped

Big singles selection for Pokémon, One Piece and Dragon Ball Super card games, plus play tables.

Trading cards

1. 2FSingles showcases and sealed boxes
2. 3FPlay space and tournaments

Yodobashi Akiba hobby floor

Akihabara 1 floors mapped

Huge electronics store with one of the most reliable Gunpla stocks in Tokyo.

Gunpla, Figures

Tip: New Gunpla restocks often hit shelves at opening time.

1. 6FGunpla, model kits, toys and TCG boxes

GiGO Akihabara

Akihabara 3 floors mapped

Multi floor arcade with crane games full of exclusive prizes, rhythm games and purikura.

Arcades

1. 1F-2FUFO catchers with anime prize figures
2. 3F-4FRhythm and card based arcade games
3. 5FFighting games

Mandarake Nakano

Nakano Broadway 3 floors mapped

Over 25 small Mandarake branches spread across the building, each with its own specialty.

Figures, Doujinshi, Retro games, Trading cards

Tip: Most shops open around noon, so come after lunch.

1. 2FMandarake main, manga and doujinshi
2. 3FVintage toys, sofubi, cards and retro games
3. 4FFigures, cel art and rare collectibles

Nakano retro game stalls

Nakano Broadway 1 floors mapped

Independent stalls selling boxed Famicom games, Game & Watch and vintage Pokémon goods.

Retro games, Gachapon

1. 3FRetro game dealers and gachapon corner

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo

Ikebukuro 1 floors mapped

The largest Pokémon Center in Tokyo with exclusive plush, cards and a giant Mega Charizard.

Trading cards, Figures

Tip: Tax free counter available with your passport.

1. 2FSunshine City Alpa, Pokémon Center and Pokémon Café nearby

Animate Ikebukuro flagship

Ikebukuro 5 floors mapped

The biggest Animate in the world with nine floors of new anime goods, manga and events.

Figures, Doujinshi

1. 1FNew releases and limited goods
2. 2F-3FManga and light novels
3. 4F-5FCharacter goods by series
4. 6F-7FMedia, CDs and Blu-ray
5. 8F-9FEvent hall and collaboration café

Otome Road shops

Ikebukuro

K-Books, Lashinbang and Mandarake branches lined up along one street, focused on doujinshi and character goods.

Doujinshi, Figures

Super Potato Osaka

Den Den Town 1 floors mapped

Osaka branch of the famous retro shop, usually calmer than Akihabara.

Retro games

1. 3F-4FRetro consoles, cartridges and a small arcade

Joshin Super Kids Land

Den Den Town 5 floors mapped

Five floors of toys and hobby goods with one of the best Gunpla floors in Kansai.

Gunpla, Figures, Trading cards

1. 1FToys and TCG boxes
2. 2FGunpla and plastic models
3. 3FRailway models
4. 4FFigures and collectibles
5. 5FRadio control and tools

Mandarake Grand Chaos

Den Den Town

Osaka's biggest Mandarake in Shinsaibashi, a short walk north of Den Den Town.

Figures, Doujinshi, Retro games

Pokémon Café Tokyo

Tokyo

Pikachu themed dishes and a live Pikachu appearance in Nihonbashi Takashimaya.

Theme cafés

Tip: Reservations open 31 days ahead at 18:00 Japan time and sell out in minutes.

Mugiwara Store Shibuya

Tokyo 1 floors mapped

Official One Piece store in Shibuya Parco with exclusive merchandise.

Figures

1. 6FShibuya Parco Cyberspace floor, next to Pokémon Center Shibuya

Jump Shop Shibuya

Tokyo

Official Shonen Jump goods for Dragon Ball, One Piece and more.

Figures

The Gundam Base Tokyo

Tokyo

Official Gunpla flagship in Odaiba with exclusive kits and a life size Unicorn Gundam outside.

Gunpla

Club Sega Ikebukuro

Ikebukuro

Big crane game floors with anime prize figures and Pokémon Mezastar machines.

Arcades

Capcom Store Osaka

Den Den Town

Official Capcom store with Street Fighter and Monster Hunter goods in Umeda.

Arcades, Figures

Suga Shrine stairs

Tokyo

Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)

The final scene where Taki and Mitsuha pass each other on the red railed stairs.

A quiet residential staircase in Yotsuya that became one of the most visited anime spots in Japan.

Anime pilgrimage

Tip: Be quiet, it is a residential area. Morning light matches the film best.

Kanda Myojin

Akihabara

Love Live! School Idol Project

Nozomi works here as a shrine maiden and the girls train on the nearby stairs.

A 1,300 year old shrine five minutes from Akihabara that sells anime themed ema and charms.

Anime pilgrimage

Washinomiya Shrine

Saitama

Lucky Star

The Hiiragi twins' family shrine seen throughout the series.

The shrine that started the modern seichi junrei boom, about an hour from Tokyo.

Anime pilgrimage

Kamakurakokomae crossing

Kanagawa

Slam Dunk

The Enoden railway crossing by the sea from the opening sequence.

Iconic seaside level crossing on the Enoshima Electric Railway.

Anime pilgrimage

Tip: Do not stand on the road. Local police patrol on busy days.

Chichibu Bridge

Saitama

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

The red bridge and riverside where the friends gather.

Mountain town with several Anohana locations and a pilgrimage map at the station.

Anime pilgrimage

Former Toyosato Elementary School

Shiga

K-On!

The music club room and the turtle statues on the staircase.

Vories designed school building with a recreated club room open to visitors.

Anime pilgrimage

Numazu harbour

Shizuoka

Love Live! Sunshine!!

Aqours' hometown, with themed buses, manhole covers and shops.

Seaside town fully embracing the series with a free pilgrimage map.

Anime pilgrimage

Oarai town

Ibaraki

Girls und Panzer

The tank battles through the shopping street and the Oarai Isosaki shrine gate.

Shops display character panels and the Oarai Marine Tower is a must.

Anime pilgrimage