Source: Danny Choo
How is it possible to have a Tokyo trip without visiting the most wonderful Manga and Anime creations. Most of us have been the crazy fans of Japan’s most demanding comic series Manga and its animated versions called Anime. Visiting such merchandisers, shops, theme parks and museums related to Manga and Anime will take you back to your childhood’s memories. Tokyo is one of the bustling cities where you can enjoy fantabulous sights and activities designed with the Manga or Anime themes. Let’s have a look at top 7 of such places:
1. Animate – The Dream Comic Book Store:
Are you a die-heart fan of Manga/Anime? Do you want to immerse in the fun of popular characters? In the busy streets of Akihabara, you will find it difficult to decide where you should stop by. But Anime is the top priority for every tourist and local resident. This mega chain store is a great place for comic books, figurines, key chains, cushions and a lot more accessories purely designed with the theme of Manga/Anime. The store has 7 floors with each floor filled up with creative and attractive collectibles.
Information
- Name: Animate
- Address: 4-3-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021
- Access: From Narita Airport Station, take Keisei Skyliner to Nippori Station. Then ride JR Yamantoe Line towards Akihabara
- Opening hour: 10:00 hours
- Closing hour: 21:00 hours
- Website: http://www.animate-world.com/
2. Gundam Front Tokyo:
Do you remember the famous cartoon series Mobile Suite:Gundam? A very old cartoon series but it is so much popular in the country (and internationally as well) that you can witness a 40 m high life-sized statue of the character Gundam. In fact Gundam Front Tokyo is a complete entertainment facility designed on the 7th floor of Drive City Tokyo Plaza. The place is designed to entertain visitors with the scenes from the series as well as with the giant statue. Just next to this statue is Gundam cafe that is a must visit place to have sips of Gundam topped coffee.
Information
- Name: Gundam Front Tokyo
- Address: Diver City Tokyo Plaza, 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 5 minutes walk from Daiba Station or Tokyo Teleport Station
- Price: In Advance: 1,000 JPY (Adult/College/High School students) | 800 JPY (Middle/Elementary school students)
At Gate: 1,200 JPY (Adult/College/High School students) | 1,000 JPY (Middle/Elementary school students)- Opening hour: 10:00 hours
- Closing hour: 21:00 hours
- Website: http://gundamfront-tokyo.com/
3. Tacoche in Nakano Broadway:
東京・中野のタコシェさんで、夕タンさんの「よっちシリーズ」の展示が大展開中です！トマソン社刊『よっちの本』は1・2巻ともサイン入で販売中！ pic.twitter.com/cbZ2bX7dTY
— トマソン社 (@tomasonsha) May 20, 2016
In order to explore something really different in terms of manga books, Tacoche is a worth visit place. The shop is less crowded and located on the 3rd floor of Nakano Broadway shopping complex. The manga enthusiasts would love the place with a huge stock of books. Some of the books are available in English that will serve the visitors who do not know the Japanese language.
Information
- Name: Tacoche
- Address: 3F Nakano Broadway, 5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
- Phone: +81-3-5343-3010
- Access: Through Nakano Station (by JR Chuo, Sobu and Tozai lines)
- Website: http://tacoche.com/
4. Mandarake Store in Shibuya:
Although located at different locations around Japan, but the Mandarake store in Shibuya is something really amazing to visit. Mandarake is the biggest store for manga and anime enthusiasts where you can find a huge collection of books, collectibles and vintage anime toys and dolls. This sounds like a treasure where you can search for any manga and anime related goods. One floor of the store is dedicated to the cosplay stage where cosplay girls sing on that stage.
Information
- Name: Mandarake (Shibuya)
- Address: Shibuya BEAM B2 floor, Udagawa-cho 31-2, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Phone: +813-3477-0777
- Access: 5 minutes walk from JR Shibuya Station Hachiko Exit
- Opening hour: 12:00 hours
- Closing hour: 20:00 hours
- Website: http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
5. Tokyo Anime Center:
It would be a wonderful experience to see and meet the creators of classic anime series. The Tokyo Anime Center gives you an opportunity, as the place is designed particularly for the exhibitions and events arranged throughout the year. The voice artists, art creators of anime series are invited for interviews. Moreover, AKIBA 3d Theater is also there to entertain people with anime entertainment. In other sections of the center, you can find out the merchandisers selling high-quality anime related goods like key chains, fliers, mouse pads etc.
Information
- Name: Tokyo Anime Center
- Address: 4F Akihabara-UDX, 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Through JR Akihabara Station
- Opening hour: 11:00 hours
- Closing hour: 19:00 hours
- Website: http://www.animecenter.jp/
6. Godzilla-ya Store (Gojira-ya):
Do not forget to visit one of the Tokyo’s oldest toy stores called Godzilla-ya store. Located just near the Koenji station, the store is not only for Godzilla toys and fun. In fact, it has a large collection of other anime and manga related goods. The fun is not limited to this toy store, in fact, there is a Godzilla themed bar downstairs where you can have real exciting venture while having cocktails.
Information
- Name: Godzilla-ya (aka Gojira-ya)
- Address: 3-67-1 Koenji Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Use South exit of Koenji station, turn right and walk along the train line and you will see store’s sign within 5 minutes.
- Opening hour:
- Closing hour: 21:00 hours (Thurs – Mon)
- Website: http://www1.plala.or.jp/GODZILLAYA/
7. J-World Tokyo Theme Park:
For creating an endless fun for manga and anime lovers, an indoor theme park with the name J-World Tokyo is designed on the 3rd floor of Sunshine City shopping mall. The idea behind the park is to showcase the popular serialized work by Weekly Shonen Jump (a famous Japanese comics magazine). Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece are a few of those popular serialized works of this magazine. You can enjoy a variety of attractions related to these serials like a 3D attraction in which you can search for the dragon balls using Dragon Radar. Or can enhance your amusements by becoming a Ninja yourself in the attraction related to Naruto and so on.
Information
- Name: J-World Tokyo
- Address: 3-1-3 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Sunshine City World Import Mart Building 3F
- Phone: +81 3-5950-2181
- Access: By train: From the JR and Tokyo Metro, 8 minutes walk from Ikebukuro Station | By car: Direct from Higashi Ikebukuro exit of Metropolitan Expressway no. 5
- Price: Admission Ticket: 800 JPY (adults), 600 JPY (children from age 4 to 15) | Unlimited attractions Pass: 2,600 JPY (adults), 2,400 JPY (children from age 4 to 15)
- Opening hour: 10:00 hours (last entry: 21:00 hours)
- Closing hour: 22:00 hours
- Holiday: None
- Website: http://www.namco.co.jp/
All the listed Manga and Anime attractions in Tokyo will add real fun to your trip as well as memories. Besides the above ones, you can find other such attractions in other cities of Japan as well.
Have a good trip and travel!
