Tokyo Shopping | Nakano Broadway & Mandarake ・ Another Otaku Paradise
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A shopping mall or a gathering place for Japan’s collectors? Nakano Broadway is a surprising hotspot for Tokyo’s otaku.
Nakano Broadway
Where in Japan can you find manga, anime, video games, and all the otaku merchandise of your dreams? Most people with a passing interest in Tokyo and otaku culture will tell you to go to Akihabara, and there's no denying that Akihabara is popular for a reason, with its unique variety of electronics shops and stores selling famous anime merchandise. But on the other side of Tokyo, in an unobtrusive area called Nakano, nerds and fans of Japan's tiniest subcultures gather in a little otaku oasis. Nakano Broadway is where you'll find things that are a little less mainstream, and perhaps a little more retro, making it the perfect place for anyone with a deep love of Japan's unique pop culture – or those on the lookout for some really niche items!
This is Nakano Station, a stop on the Chuo and Chuo-Sobu JR lines, along with the Tozai subway line. Even the mural along the tracks makes it feel a little different from most Tokyo train stations. Go out the north exit, and you're on your way to a brand-new shopping experience.
Just outside the station is the Nakano Sun Mall, a busy shopping street that goes straight to Nakano Broadway. Along the way there are plenty of everyday shops and places to eat, plus some little hints of all the excitement to come.
Behold: the entrance to Nakano Broadway, a subculture mecca that has been attracting nerds and geeks of all stripes since its opening in 1966. The building's upper floors actually house an apartment complex, but from the basement level to the 4th floor, it's a unique mix of specialty stores and tiny establishments selling everything from rare old comics to the most premier limited-edition figures, alongside a surprising selection of businesses offering fashion, media, food, and more.
Start your shopping experience on the first floor, and you'll be greeted by a life-size Maetel from Galaxy Express 999 – a late '70s/early '80s manga turned anime hit in Japan. Signs will point you towards Mandarake, a shop specializing in used manga, collectibles, and other nerdy merchandise of all kinds, which is the real heart of Nakano Broadway. Mandarake is now a small chain a dozen or so shops distributed around Japan, but the original location is here in Nakano, and it's grown in size to dominate the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors with more merchandise than you can handle.
With so much space and so many products to fill the shelves, Mandarake's Nakano Broadway location is separated into different sections with different specialties, and the selection is broad. There's plenty of used manga, but also vintage records, huge Gundam figures and Gunpla, figures of characters from animes old and new, accessories, charms, bits and bobs of all shapes and sizes, stuffed toys, gashapon machines, and a whole lot of nostalgia in physical form.
And of course, Mandarake isn't the only otaku-focused shop within Nakano Broadway. Clustered around this mammoth retailer, a number of smaller shops sell their own collections of nerdy merchandise and memorabilia. Some specialize in vintage shows you've never heard of, and others are all about big names like Godzilla. Some shops have big walls of stuffed toys, whereas other tiny shops appear to be selling precious original illustrations out of a broom closet. It's a place like nowhere else, and it's made for nerds.
These days, with Mandarake at the heart of things, Nakano attracts geeks of all kinds, but it hasn't always been such an otaku hotspot. In its early days, Nakano Broadway was famous for shops selling jewelry and watches, often dealing in used items. Look around, and you might be surprised that the mall still has a number of shops specializing in luxury items like bags, watches, and jewelry. Locals say that these shops essentially started as pawn shops targeting shoppers whose budgets didn't quite match their shopping lists.
Akihabara and Nakano are both must-see areas for anyone visiting Japan with a love of anime or nerdy hobbies, but as mentioned above, they're definitely a little different. The shops in Nakano Broadway might offer products from this year's biggest anime hits, but they're just as likely to be stocked with old retro gems, and the kinds of products you'll really find nowhere else. Akihabara is a great place to soak up Japanese pop culture, find the latest merchandise, and get some great deals. But if you want to see the real range of Japanese otaku culture, from old to new, and some seriously niche selections, Nakano is the place to go.
Every shop has its own personality, so it's worth going just to look around. But Nakano Broadway is definitely a great place to pick up the kinds of souvenirs you seriously won't find anywhere else, too! Your nerdy friends will love you.
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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