Where to spend your time
For Tokyo shopping, the usual route is Keikyu to Shinagawa and JR onward. Kawasaki and Yokohama are in the other direction. Group nearby stops and give yourself time to compare shops rather than spending the whole day between trains.
| Where | Go for | From Anamori-inari |
|---|---|---|
| Akihabara 秋葉原 | The classic: games, figures, manga, capsule toys | Keikyu to Shinagawa, then JR |
| Ikebukuro 池袋 | Otome Road, Animate's flagship, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo | Keikyu to Shinagawa, then JR Yamanote Line |
| Nakano Broadway 中野ブロードウェイ | Second-hand everything, in one building | Shinagawa, JR to Shinjuku, then the Chuo Line |
| Shibuya PARCO 渋谷PARCO | Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center Shibuya | Keikyu to Shinagawa, then JR Yamanote Line |
| Tokyo Big Sight 東京ビッグサイト | Comiket and the big conventions | Tenkubashi, Tokyo Monorail, then the Rinkai Line |
| Ghibli Museum 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館 | Studio Ghibli, by advance ticket only | Shinagawa, then JR via Shinjuku to Mitaka |
| Fujiko F. Fujio Museum 藤子・F・不二雄ミュージアム | Doraemon's creator, by advance ticket only | Keikyu to Kawasaki, then JR Nambu Line |
| Yokohama Station 横浜駅 | Full Pokémon Center east side; smaller satellite west side | Keikyu via Keikyu Kamata |
Akihabara: still the place to start
Akihabara remains the most concentrated introduction to Tokyo’s hobby shops. The main street is bright and busy, while specialist stores on the side streets are where a specific figure, card or old game becomes a proper search. Come with a title in mind, but leave room to browse.
Near the station, Radio Kaikan (ラジオ会館) stacks specialist shops selling figures, kits and cards over several floors. Use it to learn the price range before you buy. Mandarake Complex is the next stop for used books, figures and rarities; compare condition labels and included parts, then explore smaller game and capsule-toy shops nearby. Check Mandarake’s current shop details before going.
Ikebukuro: Otome Road and a lot of Pokémon
Around Sunshine City, Otome Road (乙女ロード) has long catered to fans of character goods, idol series, romance titles and dōjinshi. Ikebukuro is worth a day if those shelves matter more to you than Akihabara’s game and model shops. The mix of stores changes, so follow the current tenant list rather than an old map.
Animate Ikebukuro is the flagship for current releases. Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is in Sunshine City; its aquarium and observation deck can make the day work for companions who do not want to shop all afternoon. Check each facility’s own admission and hours. We have left out the old “Animate Sunshine” description because it is not a dependable current stop.
Nakano Broadway: the collectors' building
Nakano Broadway (中野ブロードウェイ) suits patient collectors. Its upper floors contain small specialists for used manga, toys, animation materials and other collectibles, including several Mandarake shops. Unlike a department store, there is no single neat route or uniform stock: that is the appeal.
Give yourself an afternoon and look at condition labels closely. Many specialist shops open around noon, but check individual hours. Nakano is best when you are willing to leave empty-handed rather than buy the first example of an item you see.
Shibuya: Nintendo and Pokémon under one roof
Nintendo TOKYO and Pokémon Center Shibuya share the sixth floor of Shibuya PARCO. The building lists this floor at 10:00–21:00, earlier than most other retail floors. Entry arrangements change with launches and busy days; check PARCO’s current notice and the individual shops. A fixed 9:30 queue plan is unreliable. For a relaxed visit, try a non-launch weekday or an evening.
Odaiba and Tokyo Big Sight
Comic Market (Comiket) takes place at Tokyo Big Sight. The next event, C109, is scheduled for 29–31 December 2026. Admission requires a wristband or an eligible ticket exchanged for one; types, sale dates and entry times are event-specific. Read the official international participant guide rather than arriving as a walk-in. Other exhibitions at Big Sight have their own calendars and rules.
From Anamori-inari, take Keikyu one stop to Tenkubashi, Tokyo Monorail to Tennozu Isle, then the Rinkai Line to Kokusai-tenjijo. For Odaiba’s former landmark, Bandai Namco announced the end of the life-size Unicorn Gundam display in August 2026. Gundam Factory Yokohama also closed in 2024. Check Gundam’s official news for any replacement before adding a statue stop.
Two museums worth planning a trip around
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館) Book on the 10th
The Ghibli Museum is a small world of workrooms, staircases, exhibits and original short films, rather than a conventional collection of film props. It is admission by advance reservation only: no tickets are sold at the museum. Adult admission is ¥1,000. For individual tickets from overseas, the official museum page directs you to Lawson Ticket’s English site; the normal release is 10:00 Japan time on the 10th for the following month. JTB offers a multi-stop Sunrise Tours package that includes the museum, not an equivalent stand-alone museum ticket. The museum is usually closed on Tuesdays, with calendar exceptions; check your date.
Keikyu to Shinagawa, JR to Shinjuku, then the Chuo Line to Mitaka. From there it's a pleasant walk along the Tamagawa Josui canal, or a short ride on the community bus.
Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, Kawasaki (藤子・F・不二雄ミュージアム) Advance tickets only
The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki centres on original drawings and the world of Doraemon, with a rooftop play area and a café. Entry is by advance reservation for a date and arrival hour, not a walk-in purchase at the museum. A smartphone QR ticket can be bought through the official online link without a separate app; same-day availability depends on remaining spaces. Adult admission is ¥1,000. Arrive within the hour shown on your ticket, then stay until closing. See the museum’s official guide.
Keikyu to Keikyu Kawasaki, walk to JR Kawasaki, then take the JR Nambu Line to Noborito. A paid shuttle runs from Noborito to the museum; its bus stop moved in December 2025, so follow the current stop map.
Yokohama: a full Pokémon Center and a small satellite
From Anamori-inari, Keikyu reaches Yokohama via Keikyu Kamata without crossing central Tokyo. Make this a separate outing rather than squeezing it between Akihabara shops.
The main Pokémon Center Yokohama is on the eighth floor of Yokohama Sky Building, near the station’s east exit. It is not in Sogo; those two buildings are easy to confuse. On the west side, Pokémon Center Yokohama Satellite opened in April 2026 on Joinus 2F. It shows Pokémon news and sells a limited selection, with different goods and services from the full store. Start at the main store if shopping is your goal. Then take a separate ride to the harbour or Chinatown, and use our eating guide for lunch ideas.
A week with room to browse
Day one, straight off the plane
After a long flight, keep the first afternoon flexible. If arrival and check-in go smoothly, Yokohama’s main Pokémon Center and dinner near the station are manageable. Save the harbour for a day when you have more time.
The big shopping days
Give Akihabara and Ikebukuro separate days. Add Nakano on another afternoon if you collect older work. Combining all three in one day turns the trip into station changes instead of shop browsing.
The museum day
If you secured Ghibli admission, Mitaka and Nakano sit on the Chūō Line and can fit on the same day, provided your museum entry time allows it. The Fujiko museum pairs more naturally with Kawasaki. Build the day around the reservation, not the other way round.
Your last day
Keep departure day close to Haneda if you have luggage. A museum with timed entry or a distant shopping district adds unnecessary pressure before a flight. Use the final evening for repacking and checking your baggage allowance.
Things we'd tell a friend
- Tax-free shopping changes for purchases from 1 November 2026. At participating stores, eligible visitors will pay the tax-inclusive price and receive the tax equivalent back after customs confirms the goods are leaving Japan. The threshold is ¥5,000 before tax per store per day. Bring your passport; keep goods available for possible inspection before checking luggage and allow time at departure. Read the Tourism Agency guide for the procedure.
- Plan how to carry purchases home. Figure boxes are bulky. Shipping goods separately does not satisfy the new tax-free system’s personal export requirement; ask the shop about an ordinary taxed purchase if you intend to ship.
- Check limited-sale rules. New releases may use lotteries, timed admission or purchase limits. Some systems need a Japan-based account or phone number. Read the specific shop announcement before making a trip.
- Ask before taking photos. Rules differ by shop and museum, and adults-only sections are marked. Follow the signs rather than assuming that a public-facing store permits photography.
- Inspect second-hand goods. Compare the condition grade, box, accessories and language. For old consoles, check region, voltage and video output before paying; return rules vary.
Why we'd base a fan trip at Haneda
Stark House Haneda is about three minutes on foot from Anamori-inari Station and two stops from Haneda Airport Terminal 3. Keikyu points toward both Tokyo and Yokohama, though Tokyo’s inland districts require further trains. The private studios are about 20 m² each, with facilities to sleep, cook and wash after a long day out.
If your whole trip is Akihabara, staying there saves the commute. If your plans span Tokyo shopping, the Kawasaki museum, Yokohama and an early flight, Haneda is a useful base.
Official websites
- Pokémon Center Yokohama — Sky Building address and hours
- Yokohama Satellite — smaller Joinus location
- Ghibli Museum, Mitaka — tickets and calendar
- Fujiko F. Fujio Museum — tickets and access
- Shibuya PARCO — Nintendo TOKYO and Pokémon Center Shibuya
- Sunshine City — Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
- Mandarake — Akihabara and Nakano shops
- Comic Market — dates and entry
- Japan Tourism Agency tax-free guide — the new refund system
More Tokyo and Haneda guides
- Places to Visit from Haneda Airport
- Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama Eating Guide
- Tokyo Amusement Park Guide
- Osaka Anime & Manga Guide
Leave room for the unexpected
Secure the museum date first, then choose shopping districts by what you collect. Leave an afternoon unplanned: the best find often appears after you have learned what the item normally costs.
Shops, stock, opening hours, ticket rules and tax-free procedures change. Confirm with each shop, museum and official source before your trip. This independent guide is not affiliated with the named brands or works.