Things to Do in Tokyo for Anime Lovers: The Ultimate Adventure

By Akira Shimizu

I've been living in Tokyo for over a decade, and I still get that familiar rush when I spot a new figure in a shop window or stumble across a location I recognize from my favorite series. Tokyo isn't just a city for anime and manga fans — it's a living, breathing extension of the stories we love. Whether you're hunting for rare collectibles or want to walk through scenes that jumped from screen to real life, this guide covers the essential things to do in Tokyo for anime lovers.

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The Akihabara neighborhood remains the beating heart of otaku culture, earning its nickname as Tokyo’s "electric town" for its vibrant, entertainment-focused atmosphere. While you’ll still find the massive electronics stores, the real magic happens in the smaller spaces tucked between the main drags.

Head to Radio Kaikan first thing in the morning when it’s less crowded. The building houses multiple floors of specialized shops, each with their own personality. Floor three has some of the best vintage figures I’ve found anywhere, including rare pieces from series that never made it big overseas. Many stores here also offer anime related goods, from character merchandise to collectibles.

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Don’t miss the back alleys behind the main Chuo-dori street. There’s a tiny shop called Mandarake Complex that locals know about, it’s where serious collectors go for doujinshi and limited edition manga that you won’t find in the big chains. The owner, an elderly man who’s been there for twenty years, knows the backstory of practically every item in his cramped store. Maid cafes are also a unique part of the Akihabara neighborhood experience, offering visitors a chance to enjoy themed dining and interact with staff dressed as maids, which has become a cultural landmark in electric town.

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka deserves more than just a quick visit. I recommend booking your tickets well in advance through Lawson convenience stores — they often sell out weeks ahead. The museum captures that whimsical feeling of stepping into a Miyazaki film, with original sketches, interactive exhibits, and displays that let you learn about the animation process behind Ghibli's iconic films, making you feel like a kid again.

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What most visitors miss is the small café on the second floor. They serve themed meals that change seasonally, and sitting there while sketching in one of the provided notebooks feels like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. The museum celebrates fans' favorite movies through themed exhibitions and attractions, and its gift shop offers exclusive merchandise only available at the museum.

After the museum, take a walk through Inokashira Park. The pond and surrounding paths appear in several Ghibli films, and during cherry blossom season, the resemblance to animated scenes becomes almost uncanny.

Pokémon Centers are dedicated merchandise stores that serve as the ultimate shopping destinations for Pokémon fans, with multiple locations across Tokyo, each offering something unique beyond the standard merchandise. The Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is located in Sunshine City, a shopping center that houses a wide range of specialty stores and themed attractions. Here, you’ll find exclusive plushies and limited-edition items that rotate monthly.

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The Pokémon Center Skytree Town, located near Tokyo Skytree, focuses on regional Pokémon and often has special events tied to whatever’s happening in the games or anime. I’ve caught some of my best finds here during their monthly clearance sales.

My personal favorite is the smaller Pokémon Center in Shibuya. It’s less touristy, and the staff often have insider knowledge about upcoming releases. Plus, you can combine your visit with a trip up to Shibuya Sky for those iconic Tokyo views.

For Sailor Moon fans, Tokyo offers a treasure trove of real life locations from the series. Azabu-Juban, where Usagi supposedly lived, still retains much of its charm from the early 90s when the manga was first set there.

The Hikawa Shrine in Akasaka serves as the real-world inspiration for Rei's shrine. It's a functioning shrine where locals still come to pray, but Sailor Moon fans will immediately recognize the distinctive red torii gates and stone steps. Early morning visits feel especially atmospheric.

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Azabu-Jūban itself has embraced its Sailor Moon connection. Several shops display character goods in their windows, and there's an annual Sailor Moon festival each August where local businesses participate with themed decorations and special menu items.

Don't forget to stop by the Azabu-Jūban shopping street. Game Machine Man, the arcade where the girls often hung out, was based on several real arcades in the area. While the specific arcade doesn't exist, you can find similar retro game centers that capture that same nostalgic feeling.

While Akihabara gets all the attention, Nakano Broadway offers a different kind of anime and manga hunting experience. The mall feels like a time capsule from the 80s, with narrow corridors packed with independent dealers selling everything from vintage manga to rare animation cels. On the ground floor, you'll find a variety of shops offering toys, second-hand goods, and accessible entry points to the rest of the building.

Mandarake’s main Nakano location spans multiple floors and specializes in harder-to-find items. The basement level focuses on adult-oriented manga, while the upper floors house vintage toys and collectibles that you won’t see anywhere else. Prices here tend to be more reasonable than in Akihabara’s tourist-focused shops.

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For manga specifically, Book Off’s mega-stores in Shibuya and Shinjuku offer incredible selections of used volumes at fraction of retail prices. The ground floor of these stores often features a wide range of second-hand books and media, making it easy to browse for bargains as soon as you enter. I’ve completed entire series for less than what a few new volumes would cost. The Shibuya location has an entire floor dedicated to anime-related books and magazines, including rare publications from the industry’s early days.

Tokyo serves as the backdrop for countless anime series, and tracking down these real world locations featured in anime has become a hobby of its own. Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa) made the Suga Shrine in Yotsuya famous overnight, but the shrine maintains its peaceful atmosphere despite the increased foot traffic.

The stairs leading up to the shrine offer that iconic view of Tokyo’s skyline, especially beautiful during sunset. Local shrine keepers have embraced the anime connection, selling ema (wooden plaques) with Your Name designs.

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Shibuya Crossing appears in practically every anime set in modern Tokyo, but experiencing it in real life still feels surreal. The best viewing spot isn’t from street level, head to the Shibuya Sky observation deck or the Starbucks overlooking the crossing for that elevated perspective you see in anime establishing shots.

For Tokyo Ghoul fans, the areas around Shinjuku, particularly the narrow alleys of Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho), capture that urban atmosphere perfectly. These cramped yakitori stands and tiny bars create the same dense, layered cityscape that makes Tokyo feel so alive in anime.

Tokyo's themed café scene goes far beyond the obvious maid cafés. Gundam Café in Akihabara feels like stepping aboard a mobile suit, with detailed cockpit-inspired seating and menu items named after famous machines and pilots.

The temporary pop-up cafés deserve special attention. Tokyo regularly hosts limited-time themed cafés tied to new anime releases or anniversaries. These pop up in different neighborhoods and usually run for just a few months.

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One of my favorite discoveries is a small café in Koenji that doesn't advertise its anime connections. The owner, a former animator, has filled the space with original production materials and sketches from shows he worked on in the 90s. It's the kind of place you stumble across rather than search for, and conversations with the owner often reveal fascinating industry stories.

Both Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree are popular tourist attractions that appear constantly in anime as symbols of the city, but they offer different experiences for fans. Tokyo Tower maintains that retro charm that appears in older series, while Tokyo Skytree represents modern Tokyo’s skyline.

Tokyo Tower often hosts anime-themed events and illuminations. During my last visit, they were running a special Sailor Moon lighting display that transformed the tower into a magical girl wand after dark. The tower’s main observatory provides that classic Tokyo view that appears in countless anime establishing shots.

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Tokyo Skytree’s higher observation decks offer a more modern perspective of the city. The view from here helps you understand Tokyo’s massive scale — something anime sometimes struggles to convey. On clear days, you can spot Mount Fuji in the distance, creating that perfect anime backdrop.

Both towers sell exclusive anime merchandise in their gift shops, often featuring collaborations with popular series. The items here tend to be unique location-specific goods that you can’t find elsewhere.

Tokyo’s arcade scene connects directly to anime and manga culture, with many games featuring popular characters and storylines. Taito Station locations throughout the city offer different specialties, the Shibuya branch focuses on rhythm games, while the Akihabara location emphasizes UFO catchers filled with anime prizes.

Round1 Stadium in Ikebukuro spans multiple floors and feels more like an entertainment complex than a traditional arcade. The upper floors house private karaoke rooms where you can sing anime theme songs, while the lower levels feature the latest arcade games and prize machines. Big Echo Karaoke is another popular karaoke venue in Tokyo, known for its themed karaoke rooms and wide song selection.

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For retro gaming, Super Potato in Akihabara preserves gaming history with rare cartridges and vintage consoles. Many classic anime tie-in games that never left Japan can be found here, along with the original systems needed to play them.

Even anime fans need breaks from the city’s intensity. Hakone, just 90 minutes from Tokyo, is famous for its natural hot springs and mountain scenery that appears in numerous anime series. The Hakone Open-Air Museum features sculptures set against mountain backdrops that feel like they could be from a Miyazaki film.

Several ryokan (traditional inns) in Hakone specifically cater to anime fans, with rooms decorated in anime themes and communal baths that overlook the same mountain views you see in series like Yuru Camp. Many ryokan also offer an open air bath, allowing guests to relax outdoors while enjoying the mountain scenery.

https://www.cityunscripted.com/japan/tokyo-tours

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Kamakura, with its famous giant Buddha statue and bamboo groves, serves as inspiration for many anime backgrounds. The train ride there passes through landscapes that look like they’re straight out of slice-of-life series, and the coastal views provide a peaceful contrast to Tokyo’s urban density.

Tokyo’s street food scene offers tastes that appear constantly in anime. Takoyaki (octopus balls) from festival scenes become real when you visit actual matsuri throughout the year. The Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival, both official Tokyo events, recreate those lively festival atmospheres complete with food stalls offering local snacks and traditional games.

Shibuya’s Center Gai has evolved into a street food paradise after dark. The narrow alleys pack dozens of tiny stalls selling everything from imagawayaki (filled pancakes) to yakitori and other local snacks. It’s the closest real life equivalent to those late-night food adventures you see characters going on in anime.

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Ameya-Yokocho Market near Ueno Station maintains that old Tokyo atmosphere where vendors still shout to attract customers. The market appears in several anime series, and walking through it feels like stepping back in time to post-war Tokyo.

Tokyo Dome hosts major concerts and events that often tie into anime culture. Many voice actors hold concerts here, and anime music festivals regularly take over the venue. The surrounding Tokyo Dome City includes attractions like the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster, which offers unique views of the city while racing between buildings.

Attending a baseball game at Tokyo Dome is a must for visitors seeking a true Japanese cultural experience. The vibrant atmosphere during baseball games is unlike anywhere else, with passionate fans, coordinated cheers, and unique traditions. Even if you don't speak Japanese, you can still enjoy the excitement and energy of a live baseball game, soaking in the local spirit and camaraderie.

Tokyo Dome City’s shopping complex houses several anime-focused stores, including a large Pokémon Center and multiple floors of character goods. The area works well as a central hub for planning other Tokyo experiences, with easy access to multiple train lines.

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