Top 5 Tokyo shops to get all things gaming and anime

When it comes to anime and games, Tokyo is a Mecca among Meccas, and Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and Nakano are its holiest sites. Whether it be a super-rare game console or vintage anime and manga, rest assured it’s lurking somewhere in the city just waiting to be discovered by an intrepid fan such as yourself!

Yodobashi Akiba 6F (Game Floor) (ヨドバシAkiba　6Fゲームフロア)

One of the largest electronics stores in Tokyo, just mentioning the words “Yodobashi Akiba” is enough to make a game enthusiast squeal. Its direct connection to the JR and Tsukuba Express stations ensures that the place is always teeming with gamers searching for the hottest new titles.

One look at the game section, with its rows and rows of merchandise seemingly stretching into infinity, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to geek heaven. If you need a break from all the stimulation, check out the plaza just in front of the building – you just might make some new gamer buddies!

Address: 1-1 Kanda Hanaokacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0028

Tel: +81 3 5209 1010

Website

Opening hours: 9:30am – 10pm

Sofmap Akihabara Amusement Store (ソフマップ　秋葉原アミューズメント館)

Games? Check. Anime? Check. Pop idol collectibles? You betcha! Sofmap is an eight-floor behemoth with a staggering selection of both new and used merchandise. If you’re on a treasure hunt for old and rare games, mark this place on your map with a huge ‘X’! Oh, and did we mention that the top floor regularly hosts events for fans? You just might snag a limited-edition photo album of your favourite idols.

Address: 1-10-8 Soto-Kanda, Hiraoka Building, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021

Tel: +81 3 3253 3030

Website

Opening hours: 11am – 8pm

Retro Game Camp (レトロげーむキャンプ)

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little nostalgia now and then. Famicom, Super Famicom, Neo Geo, Sega Saturn – you name it, they’ve got it! And don’t worry about duds; all hardware and software is thoroughly tested before being put up for sale. Remember that boss you just couldn’t beat as a kid? Now’s your chance to get sweet, sweet revenge.

Address: 4-4-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021

Tel: +81 3 3253 7778

Website

Opening hours: 11am – 8pm

Mandarake (まんだらけ本店)

Located in Nakano Broadway (no relation to the New York version), this place is like one long love letter to every manga fan ever. A pioneer in the used book trade, Mandarake has a plethora of valuable relics populating its shelves. From rare volumes to old magazines from a completely different era, you can almost feel the history radiating from the aisles. But as the cosplaying clerks demonstrate, there’s a touch of the modern as well.

Address: 5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano Broadway 2F – 4F, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0001

Tel: +81 3 3228 0007

Website

Opening hours: 12pm – 8pm

Animate (Main store, Ikebukuro) (アニメイト　池袋本店)

Anime fans, this is it: the largest anime store in the entire country. This naturally gives Animate major influence in the industry. In fact, it has exclusive deals with publishers that enable it to stock merchandise you can’t find anywhere else.

The 9th floor hosts tons of events, from anime concerts to signing events to voice actress appearances and much, much more. It also has one of the countries’ biggest collections of fan comics aimed at women, not to mention exhibitions and photo corners featuring characters from your favorite series! So why are you still reading this? Hurry and get going!

Address: 1-20-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Tel: +81 3 3988 1351

Website

Opening hours: 10am – 9pm

Tokyo is the world’s number one provider of anime and games, and there’s simply no end to the variety of goods available. If you have even a passing interest in Japanese pop culture, why not indulge in a bit of escapism during your trip?