Labels

An Anime Otaku Guide and Itinerary For Tokyo

If you're an anime fan, then a visit to Tokyo is not just a visit to Japan, but a bit of a pilgrimage to the heart of Anime Culture or a visit to the dreamlands of your imagination.  Anime or Japanese animation is a distinct art form that often showcases Japanese culture, locations around Japan (with a fair bit of Tokyo), and builds on Japanese history and myth.

Neon MegaTokyo

Some of this animation becomes popular enough begin crossing over from the 2D to the 3D real world.  The most accessible and visible artifacts are signage, advertising, and posters featuring anime characters found throughout public spaces.  Then there are stores full of all kinds of anime character goods, toys, videos, magazines, books, manga (Japanese comics), and soundtrack CDs.  It's on par with the immersion you get at a giant Disney Store for their characters on a city-wide scale.  In Akihabara, you get an entire city neighbourhood devoted to anime stores, maid cafes, video arcades, and electronics.  There are also events with the voice actors, art exhibits, toy exhibits, fan and anime industry conventions, giant robot statues, life-size character figures, and cafes featuring various anime-themed food.

The first time an anime fan steps off the plane in Japan, they begin an odyssey in which everything they saw as animated frames begins to relate to real-life locations and experiences.  This journey usually brings a smile as they try food they saw in the anime, ride the crowded and efficient train system, wait at a train crossing with its distinctive warning bells, see real world locations that were replicated in animation, or visit their first konbini (Japanese convenience store).  It's just a lot of fun to visit Japan for the first time for real, but for the second time in their mind, as they have already had so much exposure to it from animation.

This article is an example itinerary for an otaku visit, but there is lots in it for any visitor as there is a great deal of crossover if you're interested in contemporary culture, shrines, or history.

If you found this article helpful, please leave a comment here or on social media or check out my guidebook, Tokyo Intro.

Tokyo Intro - Stories, Pop Culture, and Places is my unique pop culture storytelling approach to show you what makes modern Tokyo cool and experiences you can enjoy. Consider purchasing a paperback or ebook copy of my Tokyo Intro guidebook f you found this article helpful. You are supporting an independent creator.
Tokyo Intro on Amazon.com
Tokyo Intro on Amazon.ca

Related Japan/Tokyo Posts

Some updates / new stuff for 2024

  • The TeamLab Borderless Exhibit is open at Azabudai Hills!
  • A new Harry Potter Studio Tour (like the one in the UK) opens in the first half 0f 2023 and there is now a Harry Potter Cafe in the Akasaka Biz Tower.
  • There are new anime goods superstores called Bandai Namco Cross Store! There is one in the Yokohama's World Porters Building.  Also nearby are the Pokeman Center Yokohama and the Nissin Cup Noodle Museum nearby - make a half day excursion!
  • The Ikebukuro Toranoana flagship store remains after the Akihabara store closed for doujinshi.
  • There is now a giant DAISO superstore connected to Ikebukuro Station.
  • There is now a giant Bandai gashapon store in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City.  Along with this there is a new Bandai Namco Cross store next to it on the same floor.  You can shop a lot here!
  • The Animate Mega store in Ikebukuro is in full swing.  This is their flagships store, bigger than the expanded store in Akihabara.
  • AmiAmi now has a new AmiAmi Akihabara Figure Tower. Eight floors of figure in this new building in addition to the Radio Kaikan store.
  • Shinjuku Ninja Live Show, A new stage show, is running in Shinjuku and it is run in conjunction with the Japan Ninja Council.

Kabukicho / Red Light District

 Day 0
  • After arrival, you usually have a half day at best if you are coming from North America.
  • Once you exit the aircraft, you will have to get through customs and immigration and claim your luggage (about an hour in total usually).
  • Get a PASMO or SUICA Card for local train travel or purchase Narita Express tickets if you are taking this train.
  • Take the train in from Narita or Haneda Airport.  Narita Express usually from Narita to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Shinagawa.  If you are taking the Narita Express, it takes an hour to Tokyo Station, despite the name, so stop at your first Japanese convenience store at the airport or use your first Japanese vending machine.  You could also do the Skyliner to Nippori Station from Narita and transfer trains to the Yamanote Line unless you are staying near the Skytree.  If coming in from Haneda, your transit is shorter and you can take a local Tokyo Monorail train.  No food or drinks on the local trains.
  • You will likely have luggage and be a little tired, but probably will be pretty excited too.
  • Check into your accommodation.
  • Go out and get some dinner.  Ramen makes a great first meal of comfort food.  If you are in a trendy area like Shibuya or Shinjuku you can walk around and check out the evening crowds, shop, or have a drink.
  • Crash after staying up a bit and set your alarm to get up early the next morning to start getting over jetlag.
Akihabara / Anime Paradise
Day 1
Sensoji Thunder Gate / Traditional Buddhist Temple

Day 2
  • Tokyo Skytree is a good one to visit early in the morning as they open before 8 AM.  This beats the crowds that will show up later.  However, seeing Tokyo transition from evening to night from the super tall tower is amazing too.
  • The Tokyo Solomachi Mall around the base of the tower has some great shopping.
    • Visit the 8th floor Chiba Institute of Technology Robot Museum to see a life-size Macross Valkyrie in Gerwalk mode.
    • http://tokyoexcess.blogspot.com/2015/05/tokyo-skytree-and-giant-macross-valkyrie.html
    • Pokemon Center.  There is a nice sized Pokemon Center here  for your Pokemon needs.  It even features a giant statue of Rayquaza.
    • http://tokyoexcess.blogspot.com/2018/03/hokusai-museum-skytree-and-pokemon.html
    • NHK TV Character Store.  All kinds of character goods in a big store.  I always find something interesting here.
    • Jump Store for Shonen Jump character goods like Naruto, Bleach, Dragonball, My Hero Academia, Fairy Tail, Black Clover, etc.
    • Donguri Kyowakoku Store for Studio Ghibli character goods.  There is a big Totoro in the window display.
    • Hello Kitty Store for all kinds of cuteness.
    • The main floor also has a mall with local goods and there is a great food court here.  One of the coolest things about eating at the food court is that you are served on real dishes and you need to return them to the shop you bought the meal from.  You can get ramen, curry, tempura, and more here.
  • In the afternoon you can visit nearby Asakusa where Sensoji Temple, Kitchen Street, and Nakamise Dori shopping street are.
    • Sensoji is the oldest temple in Tokyo and the major attraction in the Asakusa area for itself and the Nakamise shopping street that leads up to it.  The Kaminarimon or Thunder Gate is a very popular photospot.  On the opposite side of the street is a very good tourist information center with an observation deck up top.
    • http://tokyoexcess.blogspot.com/2018/05/sensoji-temple-and-nakamise-dori.html
    • http://tokyoexcess.blogspot.com/2018/01/asakusa-tori-no-ichi-shrine-festival.html
    • The shrine is large and the area around the shrine is full of small shops and restaurants.  You can see an older style district here and even take a rickshaw tour or walk along the Sumida River.
    • Visit the Samurai Ninja Museum here.
    • If you're into cooking and need Japanese cooking implements, visit the relatively close Kitchen Street ( Kappabashi Street).  They sell the food models here too.
  •  In the late afternoon or early evening go out for dinner or see another part of Tokyo when the city lights are on.
Giant Gundam / Odaiba Museums and Tech

Day 3
Shibuya Crossing / Starbucks View / Tsutaya Anime Lounge
Day 4
Nakano Broadway / Classic Anime Shopping

Day 5
  • This is a bit of a field trip day to see some famous anime sights and to see the other place to shop for anime goods.  There are also other anime museums in the area, but they are more work to get to and you may find your time better spent elsewhere.
  • The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is a must visit if you have never been there.  There are exhibits about the process of animation, a cool building with Ghibli characters, giant catbuses you can enter, and a short film you will have never seen before.
  • Nakano Broadway Mall has that old school Akihabara feel with lots of shops crammed into a small space.  There is plenty to shop and look at here.  It is an easy visit on the way to or fromd the Ghibli Museum if you are coming from Shinjuku.
SEIBU Ikebukuro / Anime Shopping / Sunshine City
Day 6
  • Ikebukuro is famous area in anime circles due to the show Durarara!  You can find most of the areas in the show east of the station like the Russia Sushi location, Higashi Ikebukuro Central Park, the owl statue, the musical note statue and where the main characters first meet.  The area is a big hub and full of entertainment and shopping.  The penguins at the aquarium at Sunshine City were shown in the anime Penguindrum.  It is a bit of the way out though, so it is judgement call to visit if you have already seen a bunch of anime stuff already.  Otome Road is out here too though.
    • Pokemon Mega Center at Sunshine City. This is a big store, but if you've seen the Skytree store and the one in Nihonbashi with the restaurant, then don't worry too much about visiting, but if your mission is to see all of the life-size Pokemon statues then do visit!  Pokemon Go Lab store here now too!  Also is the Pokemon bake shop (take out only).
    • Animate Main Store - Flagship.  This is the Animate store to visit if you can, but if you are skipping Ikebukuro, then don't worry too much if you've seen one or more of the other stores.
    • Toranoana.  For doujin mainly aimed at women.
    • Evangelion Store in P'Parco Annex 2nd Floor (decent size, but not huge)
    • Donguri Garden Stores for Studio Ghibli character goods at Sunshine City.
    • One Piece Mugiwara Store in Sunshine City.
    • Sanrio Store for Hello Kitty, etc.
    • The biggest Bandai gashapon shop in Japan is at Sunshine City mall and there is a large Bandai Namco Cross hobby store on the same floor.  Lots of anime shopping! 
    • The biggest DAISO is in Ikebukuro is on the 6th floor of the TOBU Department Store and it is connected to the station via walkway.
    • The first Tokyo Kit Kat Chocolatory store opened here.  It is now just a little stall.  The big Chocolatory stores all closed during COVID.
Yokohama Ramen Museum / Great Noodles!
Optional
For even more detail about my guidebook, visit the Tokyo Intro page here.


Follow me on Twitter or Instagram at @Tostzilla or my feedburner. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

My Tokyo Guidebook Now In Print and Ebook

My Tokyo Guidebook Now In Print and Ebook