Discover the world of Otaku culture in these three towns in central Tokyo 【Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Nakano】

In this article, I will introduce some recommended spots in Tokyo where you can fully enjoy Japan’s otaku culture. “Otaku” are stereotypically people who are hardcore fans of Japanese pop culture, mainly consisting of anime, manga, game and pop idol fans. Nowadays the term is more casually used for anyone who have an interest for Japanese pop culture. In fact, there are many otaku towns in Tokyo where such people gather. These are great for a quirky date full of fun discoveries, as well as for sightseeing.

Akihabara – the original mecca for otaku

ジャパンボックス | Akihabara is a town for electronic, computer, anime, games and otaku goods in Tokyo.

One of the world’s leading electric town

Akihabara, the mecca for otaku, is known as one of the world’s leading electronics districts. The electric town is a shopping district lined with retail stores that sell electrical appliances and electronic parts. In recent years, these stores have been increasingly selling hobby items such as video games and model trains.

With the introduction of the Nintendo Family Computer (a.k.a. NES) in the 1980s, existing electronics stores began to take on more and more roles as video game stores. As a result, many stores specializing in video games are now lined up.

There is also an increase in the number of stores selling computer-related parts, security goods, and audio equipment. Akihabara is a town with a lot to offer that attracts not only anime and idol lovers, but also a variety of enthusiasts.

Numerous stores for otaku

There are so many bookstores and merchandise stores in Akihabara that it is impossible to visit them all in one day. The genres include anime, manga, games, idols, voice actors, cosplay, doujinshi (self-published print works), and many more.

If you want any of these items, you are sure to find them when you visit Akihabara. In this city, there are not only stores that sell pre-ordered and new merchandise, but also many stores that focus on buying and selling second-hand products.

Maid cafes and cosplay cafes

Akihabara is also famous for its many maid cafes. At maid cafes, female staff members dressed in maid costumes based on the concept of “moe”(otaku term for “strong feeling of affection”) or “healing” will serve you. In addition to maids, there are now an increasing number of cafes with various cosplay themes, such as shrine maidens and ninjas, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Ikebukuro – a town where female otaku gather

ジャパンボックス | Ikebukuro is the city in Tokyo where otaku who love cosplay gather.

Otome Road, “a sacred place for rotten women and men”

Otome Road is a street lined with anime merch stores and bookstores near Sunshine City in Ikebukuro. This street consists of many stores that sell mainly works targeted at women, and there are also a number of stores specializing in BL (Boys’ Love) works and doujinshi. Hence it is known as the sacred place for fujoshi and fudanshi – “rotten” women and men who like to indulge in homoerotic fiction.

Cosplay events

Cosplay events are sometimes held in the parks near Otome Road and at Sunshine City. This is why many of the otaku stores in Otome Road specialize in cosplay gear.

Butler cafes

In Akihabara, maid cafes are the norm, but in Ikebukuro, there are many butler cafes where the male staff serve customers in cosplay. Some of these stores have female staff dressed in men’s costumes to serve customers, and offer a variety of services designed for female customers.

Japan’s largest anime merchandise store, – Animate flagship store

Animate is one of the industry’s largest chain stores selling anime and game related products. This store offers not only character-based collectibles, but also books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, games, art supplies and many other products.

Animate

Towering over the center of Ikebukuro’s eastern area, Animate’s flagship store is a very popular spot, attracting many people from hardcore to casual anime fans. Since there is an event hall in the building, events for voice actors and artists are sometimes held here.

In addition, Ikebukuro is accessible by many train lines, including the Saikyo and Fukutoshin lines, making it easy to visit not only from Tokyo but also from Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures. Although the majority of the products in the store are aimed at women, many people, both men and women, come to Ikebukuro to buy anime merchandise at Animate Ikebukuro flagship store.

Nakano – a town of retro subculture

ジャパンボックス | Nakano is a city in Tokyo where retro-loving otaku gather.

Nakano Broadway, where valuable otaku merchandise is available

Nakano, is typically known as a downtown area, an office district or a residential area. However, in-fact there is Nakano Broadway, which is an otaku district just like Akihabara and Ikebukuro. This building is lined with various stores for enthusiasts, especially the second-hand book store Mandarake.

Nakano Broadway offers many retro products that are hard to find elsewhere. Here you can find signs from the Meiji and early Showa eras, retro dolls, miniature cars, figurines, and many other rare items. It is a nostalgia-filled otaku town where you can enjoy exploring the stores.

There are also stores that sell retro games that are quite difficult to find nowadays, as well as foreign games that are not sold in Japan, making it a great spot for game fanatics.

Nakano Sunplaza, sacred ground for idols

Nakano, greatly thanks to Nakano Sunplaza, is also the “sacred ground of idols,” rivaling Akihabara. Nakano Sunplaza is a concert hall and hotel complex in front of Nakano Station that is used for many events.

The concert hall in this building often hosts live performances by various artists and idols, as well as anime and voice actor related events. There are many singers and idols who have made their debut at this venue and have since become successful.

In addition, there are bowling alleys and internet cafes in Nakano Sunplaza, so you can enjoy the facility even on days when there are no events.

Summary

ジャパンボックス | Tokyo city skyline , Japan. Illustration of Anime style.

Whether you are interested in otaku culture, want to experience something different from your everyday life, or are looking for a different-to-the-norm date course, these are three towns full of otaku culture that I would recommend to anyone. Whether you live in Tokyo or are planning to come to Tokyo for a visit, if you have the chance, please visit and spend a fun and extraordinary day!