JR Akihabara Station Hours: Store hours vary, typically 10:00 to 20:00
Akihabara is the center of gaming, manga and anime culture in Japan. With its electronics shops, maid cafes and anime stores, it is a paradise for any self-proclaimed otaku.
JR Nakano Station Hours: Store hours vary, typically 12:00 to 20:00
Nakano Broadway is a shopping mall with a large concentration of stores specializing in anime goods, including numerous specialized branches of the Mandarake store. Items on offer include a wide selection of figures, toys and costumes.
Pokemon Centers and Pokemon Stores
Ikebukuro hours: 10:00 to 20:00 Lalaport hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (until 21:00 Fridays and weekends) Skytree Town hours: 10:00 to 21:00 Nihonbashi Takashimaya hours: 10:30 to 21:00 Shibuya hours: 10:00 to 21:00
Selling all things Pokemon like trading cards, stationery, toys and games, including some exclusive items. They also have areas for playing with Pokemon cards. There are five Pokemon Centers in Tokyo, one in Nihonbashi's Takashimaya, one in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City, one in the Lalaport Tokyo-Bay shopping mall in the eastern suburbs of Tokyo, one in Tokyo Skytree Town and one in the Parco building in Shibuya. Additionally, there are Pokemon Stores at Tokyo Station and Narita Airport. Unlike Pokemon Centers, Pokemon stores do not have card playing areas.
5 minute walk from Daiba Station Hours: 10:00 to 21:00 Closed: No closing days
This shopping, dining and entertainment complex opened in 2012 in Odaiba and features attractions related to the Gundam anime series, including a large, "life-size" Gundam statue in front of the building and Gundam Base Tokyo, a shop dedicated to plastic models.
Theme Parks
Sanrio Puroland
15 minute walk from Keio Tama Center Station Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (longer hours on weekends) Closed: Irregularly on Thursdays Admission: 3300 yen (weekdays), 3800 yen (weekends)
Centered around Sanrio's most famous creation, Hello Kitty, Sanrio Puroland is a theme park for younger children and features Hello Kitty's house, a boat ride and various theaters and live shows. There are also stores that sell Sanrio products.
Namja Town
In Sunshine City in Ikebukuro Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:00) Closed: No closing days Admission: 800 yen (entry only), 3500 yen (entry and unlimited rides)
Namja Town is an indoor theme park by Namco, the creator of Pacman and many other arcade games and leisure products. Namja Town was recently renovated and includes various small rides and attractions. There are two food corners specialized in gyoza and desserts, in a nice Showa Period town setting with recreated old alleys.
20 minute walk from Mitaka Station Requires advance reservations (more details)
The Ghilbi Museum is home to the favorite characters from Ghibli Studios films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. The museum features special animation exhibits and exclusive short films.
Fujiko F. Fujiyo Museum (aka Doraemon Museum)
10 minute bus ride from Noborito Station Requires advance reservations (more details)
The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, informally known as the Doraemon Museum, show the work of manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio, creator of the influential and long running Doraemon series. The museum features a short film, life sized characters, and original artwork from Doraemon and several of Fujiko F. Fujio's other series.
Suginami Animation Museum
25 minute walk from Ogikubo Station Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (entry until 17:30) Closed: Mondays (or Tue if Mon is national holiday), New Year holidays Admission: Free
This museum is located in Suginami City Ward, a center of Japanese anime production. It features hands-on activities such as a dubbing booth and a digital workshop where you can bring your own creations to life.
Toei Animation Museum
15 minute walk from Oizumi Gakuen Station along the Seibu Ikebukuro Line Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30) Closed: Wednesdays, New Year holidays Admission: Free
The Toei Animation Museum consists of a single, spacious exhibition room with a small number of displays. Toei is a leading producer of anime series and movies, including animated versions of popular manga such as Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon.
Tokyo Anime Center
A few steps from Ichigaya Station Hours: 11:00 to 20:00 Closed: Tuesdays, New Year holidays Admission: varies by exhibition, typically free or up to 1000 yen; entry to the shop is free
Formerly located in Akihabara, the Tokyo Anime Center can now be found in the basement of the DNP Plaza near Ichigaya Station. Besides a small shop featuring anime-related goods and an event space, the center hosts rotating temporary exhibitions about works of anime.
Late March Venue: Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 Admission: 2300 yen
Formerly known as the Tokyo International Anime Fair, AnimeJapan is the world's largest anime exhibition. It is held every spring at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. In addition to the traditional trade fair, there are stage exhibitions, film showings and awards ceremonies.
Comiket
Twice a year in late December and mid August Venue: Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba Admission: Free
Comiket (an abbreviation of Comic Market) is the world's largest comic convention and is held twice a year, once in winter and again in summer, at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. It is the premier place to purchase dojinshi (self-published or unofficial works) and rare or limited items.