Tokyo for
Geeks
From black-and-white manga to high-tech video games, Japan’s geeky cultural exports have won legions of followers around the world. For these passionate fans, Tokyo is nothing less than paradise: a city where whole districts have become playgrounds for otaku (geeks) of all kinds.
t Colorful shops signs in Akihabara, Tokyo’s main geek district
Serious Shopping
A lot of Tokyo’s geek action takes place in three areas of the city. The Akihabara district is the official face of the community, and it’s here that ubiquitous otaku icons like maid cafés and J-Pop idol band AKB48 were born. While Akihabara is geared more toward men, female fans will feel at home in Ikebukuro, where many stores focus on the genres and series most popular with women. Finally, the Nakano Broadway mall (www.nbw.jp) is where Mandarake’s second-hand-goods empire is located. With dozens of shops, each devoted to a different genre, it’s the perfect place to hunt down rare merch.
Theme Cafés Galore
Giant merchandise retailer Animate runs several theme cafés across Tokyo (cafe.animate.co.jp). The venues change their theme regularly, each one dedicated to a different anime and serving up themed menus and exclusive merchandise. Arrive early to reserve a dining slot for the day, and if you can’t get in (they get booked up fast) you can console yourself at one of the permanent anime or cartoon themed cafés that dot the city, with places based on Square Enix series, Pokémon, Gundam, Peanuts, and more.
Best. Conventions. Ever.
The otaku calendar is full of exciting events all year round, and most of the bigger ones are held in and around Tokyo – including AnimeJapan (www.anime-japan.jp), where the anime industry shows off its latest products. There’s also the mammoth Comiket convention (www.comiket.co.jp), held twice a year at Tokyo Big Sight. Inaugurated in 1971, not only is Comiket the world’s biggest dojinshi (fan comics) fair, it’s also Japan’s largest otaku gathering, attracting around half a million people.
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If you’re not satisfied with simply shopping, dining, and cosplaying, immerse yourself even more in your favorite fantasy worlds at one of Tokyo’s theme parks. Lovers of all things ultra-cute can visit Sanrio Puroland to meet the adorable Hello Kitty and friends. For something more mature, Neon Genesis Evangelion fans can travel to Fuji Q Highland for a chance to explore the Nerv HQ and admire a model of Eva Unit 01.
Picture Perfect
Anime Tourism
Seichi junrei is the term for anime sightseeing: visiting real-life places used in anime. The hobby is often paired with butaitanbou, the act of taking photos of the locations to closely match the anime scene.
DISCOVER Tokyo Your Way
ANIME PHOTO OPS
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka
⌂ 1-10-10 Sekido, Tama-shi
The setting of Studio Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart. A map at the station helps you find the film’s locations.
Asakusa and Kappabashi-dori
Fans of the hit 2019 anime Sarazanmai can wander around these areas to find familiar locations around every corner.
Suga Shrine Stairs
⌂ 5 Sugacho, Shinjuku
Visit these stairs for a photo replicating the finale of the second highest-grossing Japanese film of all time: Your Name.