Top 18 Anime Places in Tokyo: Stores, Museums & Cafes

As the capital of Japan, Tokyo is home to both the country's traditional culture and modern technology. Tokyo is not just a popular travel city in Japan; it is also the global capital of anime culture. Are you familiar with anime and manga from Japan, such as One Piece, Naruto, Spirited Away, Doraemon, and more?

There are so many things to do in Tokyo, and countless anime places to visit. Imagine browsing the latest merchandise at anime stores and enjoying immersive experiences at themed cafes.

Get ready to embark on a Tokyo anime adventure! In this Tokyo anime guide, we will help you explore the top places to go in Tokyo for anime fans and step into the vibrant world of Japanese pop culture, from the most iconic Akihabara to the fairy-tale Ghibli Museum.

Top 5 Tokyo Districts

For anime and manga fans, traveling to Tokyo is not only a vacation but also an anime pilgrimage. Where to start exploring otaku culture in Japan? Here are 5 recommended places, which are definitely the best destinations for anime fans.

Akihabara: The Electric Town

Akihabara is the ultimate destination for Tokyo otaku. Akihabara is known as a world-famous center of anime, manga, and electronics. There are numerous electronic shops, anime stores, and maid cafés.

Ikebukuro: A Paradise for Female Fans

The second Tokyo animation paradise is Ikebukuro, a popular female otaku culture hub. It specializes in products and merchandise mainly targeted at women, such as Shōjo manga, BL (Boys' Love genre), idol merchandise, and male seiyuu, etc.

A must-visit street is Otome Road, lined with shops dedicated to female anime and manga, and otome games. You can find the K-Books BL Store and Mandarake Complex.

Besides Tokyo anime, you can also find all kinds of electronics, household goods, and cosmetics at Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro offers themed cafes and butler cafes, which are more female-oriented.

Animate Flagship Store: Besides anime merchandise, there are cafes, exclusive merchandise shops, various events, and exhibits.

Anime Tokyo Station: a vibrant new hub for Japanese animation, which is ideal for anime fans of all ages.

Sunshine City is the massive landmark of Ikebukuro and is located near Otome Road. This complex boasts an aquarium, observation deck, shops, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, and more. Sunshine City houses famous anime-themed attractions, like Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo.

Nakano Broadway: Otaku's Paradise

Nakano Broadway is a shopping mall selling many anime and manga merchandise on the second and third levels of Nakano Broadway. You can discover vintage, rare, and second-hand anime, manga, figurines, toys, idol goods, and video games. This place is more than sufficient for your exploration of Japanese animation.

On the ground level, you can shop for other items, like clothing and secondhand goods. In the basement, there is a grocery marketplace. In addition to anime and shopping, you can also find many coffee shops and restaurants to choose from at Nakano Broadway.

Mandarake is the top recommended store. Within Nakano Broadway alone, there are over 30 retail chain stores.

You can walk to Nakano Broadway from Nakano Station. If you start at Shinjuku, you can reach Nakano Broadway in a few minutes by train.

Shibuya Parco

Shibuya PARCO offers a mixed experience of high-end fashion, anime and game shops, galleries, and themed cafes. The anime center of Shibuya Parco is Cyberspace Shibuya, located on the sixth floor. Anime, manga, and game enthusiasts will fall in love with this place.

Animation and game enthusiasts should not miss the Nintendo shop, Pokémon flagship store, and the Capcom store. Nintendo TOKYO in Shibuya Parco is the first official Nintendo store in Japan, where you can purchase the latest game consoles and character merchandise.

The Pokémon Center would undoubtedly be suitable for families with kids. When children are attracted to anime, adults can shop at beauty, clothing, and fashion stores. If you're hungry, there are also many delicious foods on the 7th floor, such as revolving sushi and other Japanese cuisine.

Exit Shibuya Station and walk northwest for 5 minutes to reach Shibuya PARCO.

Odaiba: Futuristic Mecca

Odaiba is renowned for its entertainment, stunning seaside views, and a life-sized Gundam statue. The must-see landmark is the life-sized Gundam statue. At different times of the day, the Gundam statue will display lighting and transformation performances at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. The shows in the evening are from 7 pm to 9:30 pm.

DiverCity Plaza is a major shopping and entertainment complex. Here, tourists can explore various fashionable and high-end brands and enjoy a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline. You can taste cuisine from different countries around the world, including Japanese, Asian, and Western flavors, at the food court. Gundam Base shop is a paradise for Gundam fans, where you can buy Gundam model kits and build your own Gundam masterpieces.

To gain more immersive experiences, teamLab Borderless takes you to embark on a digital art journey. This museum features interactive exhibitions that immerse you in the works.

Top 5 Tokyo Anime Museums & Theme Parks

In addition to the bustling Akihabara and Nakano Broadway, Tokyo also boasts numerous world-class anime museums and theme parks, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of Tokyo animation. Here are the 5 best places to go in Tokyo for anime fans that you shouldn't miss on your Tokyo tour.

Ghibli Museum in Mitaka

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is a must-visit during your time in Tokyo. The Ghibli Museum is a wonderful place designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself. This is not an ordinary museum, but a magical Tokyo cartoony world, where the art and spirit of Studio Ghibli are vividly presented. You can reveal the animation production process from the workspace exhibitions.

Some exclusive Ghibli animations will be played at the Saturn Theater on the first floor. At the Catbus Room, kids can have fun with the massive Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. Kids can discover surprises through exploration. Every corner of the Ghibli Museum is worth observing carefully.

Please note that photography is prohibited inside the museum. It is difficult to purchase tickets for the Ghibli Museum, so it is necessary to book in advance. You can expect some special souvenirs to take home, such as character plum toys and exclusive merchandise.

Toei Animation Museum

Toei Animation Museum is a Japanese studio of Toei Animation. Here, you can step into the worlds of legendary series like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Saint Seiya. Museum exhibitions can help you learn about the history and works of Toei Animation.

You can try voice acting and see original sketches and character design. There are life-size statues of the iconic characters, and you can take photos with them. Don't forget to visit the museum's gift shop, where you can find exclusive items that are only available at the museum.

Fujiko F. Fujiyo Museum

The Fujiko F. Fujiyo Museum is also known as the Doraemon Museum. It features the work of Fujiko F. Fujio. Apart from Doraemon, the museum also exhibits other works, such as 21-emon and Kaibutsukun. Doraemon is a blue robot cat in Fujiko F. Fujio's work. There are English audio explanations in the Fujiko F. Fujiyo Museum, where you can learn about the author and his works.

Fujiko F. Fujiyo Museum immerses visitors in animated works through interactive exhibitions, making visits more enjoyable. The museum also has playrooms and a manga reading room suitable for young children. In addition to the permanent Doraemon exhibition, there are also special exhibitions featuring different roles and themes.

Visiting the museum requires advance reservation. But photography is not allowed inside the museum.

Suginami Animation Museum

Suginami Animation Museum showcases the history and works of Japanese animation from the early days to the present. An audio tour in English of the Suginami Animation Museum helps you understand better.

Suginami Animation Museum offers interactive activities. One of the main attractions is a detailed display of the animation production process, including video demonstrations of steps such as scriptwriting, character design, layout, editing, and more.

You can try simple production steps, such as drawing and coloring. You can record a voiceover for an animation scene. There is an Anime History Library, which collects manga, books related to animation, magazines, etc.

Sanrio Puroland

Sanrio Puroland is full of kawaii (cute) things! This is a family-friendly indoor theme park with four floors, especially for younger children. The indoor space allows you to enjoy in any weather.

Sanrio Puroland is centered around Sanrio characters. The most famous one is Hello Kitty, and it also includes My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin, and more. You can meet and interact with your favorite Sanrio characters here and enjoy a variety of attractions, parades, and live shows. The Sanrio Character Boat Ride takes you to different scenes of Sanrio characters.

There is a wide range of dining options at Sanrio Puroland, including character-themed Japanese curry, ramen, desserts, etc.

Please note that Sanrio Puroland is not open every day. It may be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Top 6 Tokyo Anime Cafés & Restaurants

As the largest anime city in Japan, Tokyo offers a vibrant array of themed cafés and restaurants, so that you can immerse yourself in the worlds of your favorite anime and manga. Here are six great locations that perfectly blend delicious food, creative decorations, and exclusive merchandise.

Pokémon Café

For Pokémon fans, dining at the Pokémon Café is one of the most wonderful experiences. The Pokémon Café located in Nihonbashi is a magical destination suitable for families with kids to visit, with charm exuding from everywhere. The menu is filled with cute dishes inspired by popular Pokémon, such as Pikachu omelets, Snorlax latte, and colorful desserts.

You can meet the Pokémon character and create exclusive memories. You surely don't want to miss out on limited-edition merchandise, which is sold only in the café! It is very important to reserve the restaurant. Online reservations usually open one month in advance.

Kirby Café

Kirby Café features beautiful decorations, creatively crafted dishes, and exclusive Kirby souvenirs. This café is a paradise for fans of the small pink creature and its friends. After entering the café, you will be welcomed by a vibrant and dreamlike scene. The interior is decorated with familiar characters, playful themes, and soft pink colors, as if you were in the Pupupu Land. There is a gift shop nearby where you can purchase exclusive items such as Plush Toys, Stationery, and Mugs.

You need to make a reservation in advance to dine at Kirby Café. It is recommended to book as early as possible to ensure that you can secure your spot.

Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory

Are you a Ghibli fan or a My Neighbour Totoro lover? That café is definitely one you should consider. Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory is a café bakery, which is the only official shop of Studio Ghibli. This is also known as a cute Totoro Café.

You can relax at the cozy café and enjoy a cup of tea, the cream Totoro puffs. The bakery offers Totoro cookies, and you can purchase them. Remember to make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, by the time you arrive at the shop, the cream puffs might have already been sold out.

Final Fantasy Eorzea Café

If you love Final Fantasy games, you won't regret going to Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara. Come to the world of "Final Fantasy XIV" and you will taste delicious food that is themed around the characters and dishes from the game.

This café offers an English menu, making it easy for you to order even if you don't speak Japanese. This café also requires a reservation, and you only have two hours to enjoy yourself in the café, but that's enough.

Pompompurin Cafe Harajuku

Have a meal with adorable Pompompurin in the comfortable atmosphere of Sanrio. It has the most "kawaii" food and decor. Both adults and children are easily pleased by it.

You can savor pudding-shaped desserts, delicious curry, drinks, etc. After enjoying your meal, you can visit the merchandise shop and select some limited character items, like key rings, toys, clothes, and crockery.

Cafe Mugiwara

Want to immerse yourself in the cool world of Luffy? Head for Cafe Mugiwara, the One Piece Cafe! Enjoy a coffee, snacks, or simple dishes. Then you can visit the One Piece Museum. You can read manga here. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance to avoid queuing.

2 Famous Tokyo Spots Featured in Japanese Anime

Sensoji Temple

Asakusa Sensoji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo, known for its striking red lantern, historic architecture, and traditional Edo period culture. Demon Slayer is a popular manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. In  Demon Slayer, there is a scene depicting the bustling scene of Nakamise Street. Although the temple and the street today are different from those in the anime, you can still feel the atmosphere from the anime when visiting.

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is the busiest crossroad in the world, surrounded by neon screens and bustling shopping areas, reflecting the vibrant and modern heart of Tokyo. Shibuya Crossing is famously depicted in countless anime, including Tokyo Ghoul.

Plan Your Anime Trip to Japan with Hi Five Trip

Whether you want to sip coffee with Pikachu or explore the world of Ghibli, Tokyo anime offers magical experiences. Enjoy your Japan anime tour in these incredible and delicious dreamlands! Plan your ultimate family trip to Japan and discover the iconic and hidden treasures with your kids.