Love anime and want to walk through the streets your favorite characters have walked, or buy exclusive anime/manga goods exclusive to Japan? This article is for you!
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For anime fans, Tokyo, Japan is a mecca for buying elusive merchandise, visiting immersive stores and museums, and even real-life locations from hit movies or series.
Whether your cup of tea is classic Ghibli stories, the nostalgia of Pokemon, or the hottest new battle anime— as long as you’re a pop culture lover, Tokyo is going to be a dream come true.
In this guide, we’ll introduce 9 spots you can’t miss, each offering its own unique flavor of anime culture — along with practical details on how to visit. And the best part—most of these spots are completely free to go to!
1. Suga Shrine Staircase (Your Name)
If you’ve seen Your Name (Kimi no Na wa), the animated film by Makoto Shinkai that took the world by storm in 2016, the stunning staircase where Taki and Mitsuha finally reunite is probably burned into your retinas.
This iconic location is at Suga Shrine, tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood in Yotsuya. The staircase offers a breathtaking view over the city and looks exactly as it does in the film—in fact, many visitors come from all over the world just to recreate this iconic and romantic scene in photos and videos.
Access: About a 7-minute walk from Yotsuya Station.
Nearest Station: Yotsuya Station (JR Chuo/Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi & Namboku Lines)
Fee: Free to visit.
As it’s a public space nestled into a small neighborhood, be respectful of the residents when taking photos.
2. Asakusa (Demon Slayer)
Asakusa’s historic streets and the grand Sensoji Temple have appeared in numerous anime, most famously in Demon Slayer where Tanjiro first encounters Muzan Kibutsuji.
Walking down Nakamise shopping street at night feels like taking a leap in time to a different era. Lined with food stalls selling traditional snacks and souvenirs, it looks just like it does in the anime — especially if you go at night. The lantern-lit Kaminarimon Gate, surrounding alleys, and Tokyo Skytree are also popular filming and anime backdrops.
Access: 4 minutes walk from Asakusa station.
Nearest Station: Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line)
*Note that it can be confusing because there are 2 different stations called Asakusa Station in the same area, the only difference is what train line runs through them!
Fee: There is no fee to visit Sensoji Temple and the shopping streets – though it is customary to offer 5 yen and a prayer to the god of the temple if you visit.
3. Yoyogi / Shinjuku Area
(Your Name, Weathering With You, Suzume)
Yoyogi and nearby Shinjuku feature prominently in Makoto Shinkai’s animated films. The towering NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, visible in many key scenes, is like Japan’s version of the Chrysler Building in New York.
Shinjuku’s busy crossings and neon lights also capture the essence of Tokyo’s urban landscape, and walking through these areas gives you a sense of being a protagonist and feels exactly how it does in the movies.
The abandoned building in Weathering with You where Hodaka goes to find Hina is also in Yoyogi—and you’ll see the train tracks along where Hodaka runs as well.
Access: Nearest Station: Yoyogi Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Chuo Line, Toei Oedo Line)
The NTT building is visible as you exit the station. Shinjuku is one station away or 10-15 minutes on foot.
Fee: Free to explore the area.
4. Akihabara (Shopping Paradise for Otakus)
No anime pilgrimage to Tokyo is complete without visiting Akihabara, the city’s ultimate pop culture hotbed. Want to buy figurines or giant plushies? Looking for a rare trading card? Or maybe you want to try a Detective Conan themed meal at a café? Anything is possible in Akihabara.
Multi-level stores like Mandarake, Animate, and Gamers are filled with anime figures, manga, art books, and Blu-rays. You can browse retro games at Super Potato, or enjoy themed cafés from maid cafés to collab cafés with the hottest current anime. There are often limited-time events and exhibitions in the area as well, so be sure to look it up before you visit!
Access: by train
Nearest Station: Akihabara Station (JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Sobu Lines; Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line; Tsukuba Express)
Fee: Free to explore. Shop and café prices vary; expect café drinks/meals from 500–2,000 yen. Figurines and other goods often cost anywhere between 900 yen to upwards of tens of thousands of yen.
5. Ghibli Museum in Mitaka
If Ghibli’s classic children’s stories are more your vibe, check out the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.
A magical must-see for any Studio Ghibli fan, the Ghibli Museum feels like stepping into the world of Totoro, Spirited Away, or Howl’s Moving Castle. The museum showcases the animation process, features a life-sized Catbus (for kids), and screens short films exclusive to the museum. The building itself also has a whimsical appearance and is full of hidden details, and is located next to Inokashira Park, which is gorgeous in the spring for picnics.
Now, if you’re truly a Ghibli fan, I recommend booking tickets for the massive Ghibli Park in Nagoya, Japan, about an hour and a half away by bullet train— the park is a super immersive experience, and tickets have to be booked well in advance – as in months in advance.
Access: About 15 minutes through Inokashira Park, or take the Ghibli Museum Loop Bus (¥210 one way).
Nearest Station: Mitaka Station (JR Chuo Line)
Fee: ¥1,000 (ages 19+), ¥700 (ages 13-18), ¥400 (ages 7-12), ¥100 (ages 4-6)
*Tickets must be purchased in advance — they often sell out weeks ahead.
6. Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Located inside Sunshine City mall in Ikebukuro, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is heaven for Pokémon fans. The store is filled with Pokémon plushies, figures, stationery, accessories, and exclusive merch you can’t buy anywhere else. There are giant statues of Pikachu, Mewtwo, and other Pokémon for photo ops. Look out for pop-up events and seasonal products!
Access: About 8 minutes on foot from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station.
Nearest Station: Ikebukuro Station (JR Yamanote, Saikyo, Shonan-Shinjuku Lines; Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Yurakucho, Fukutoshin Lines)
Fee: Free entry. Prices for items vary — small plushies start at around ¥1,200.
7. Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store
Just steps from the Pokémon Center is Animate Ikebukuro— one of Japan’s largest anime stores. With 10 floors, it offers everything from manga and light novels to character goods, CDs, DVDs, and limited-edition merchandise.
The store often hosts limited-time exhibitions and pop-up shops themed around current popular series. They’ll definitely have items from the trendy series, but will often keep merchandise from hits from the past as well.
Ikebukuro is also the setting from 2010 anime Durarara! It is worth a walk through if you’re a fan.
Access: About 5 minutes from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station.
Nearest Station: Ikebukuro Station (same as Pokémon Center)
Fee: Free entry. Merch prices vary depending on the item.
8. Odaiba Gundam Base & Unicorn Gundam
On Tokyo’s futuristic artificial island of Odaiba, you’ll find DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, home to the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue. The massive mobile suit stands at 19.7 meters tall and transforms between Unicorn and Destroy modes several times a day (with light shows in the evening). It’s a perfect photo op for the Gundam lovers!
Inside the mall, Gundam Base Tokyo offers model kits (Gunpla), displays, and other exclusive items that you can’t buy elsewhere.
Although Odaiba is a bit out of the way from central Tokyo, it’s absolutely worth a visit if you’re a fan of the classic Gundam anime.
Access: 10-15 minutes from the closest monorail stations. These trains also give you a great view of Tokyo Bay!
Nearest Station: Daiba Station (Yurikamome Line) or Tokyo Teleport Station (Rinkai Line)
Fee: Free to view the Gundam and enter Gundam Base. Prices for kits and goods vary, but expect to drop a pretty penny for the medium to large models.
9. Gacha Toy Capsule Spots
If you’re a true lover of anime, you’ll likely want to try your luck with a Gacha toy capsule machine. You can find these toy capsule machines everywhere, and they can have themes from miniature anime figures and keychains to mini hats from cats—you name it. And the best part is, at only 300-500 yen per draw, you’re not just buying the merchandise; you’re also getting the excitement of not knowing which of your favorite characters will pop out!
Here are 2 spots in Tokyo with the most Gacha toy machines:
- Gashapon Department Store Ikebukuro Sohonten: has 3600 Gacha toy machines.
- ＃C-pla Shibuya Center Street: has 1706 Gacha toy machines.
Final Tips for Visitors
- Get an IC Card: Traveling through Tokyo can be confusing with all the train lines. I highly recommend grabbing an IC card (Suica or Pasmo cards) instead of buying individual tickets every time you ride—especially because you’ll likely transfer many times.
Some rail companies, like the metro, have “tap to ride” options if you have a Visa card, which can work just as well. If you’re planning on taking buses or using the public transportation for more than 2 days, definitely get an IC card. You’ll get your 500 yen deposit back when you return the card, and most convenience stores also let you pay via IC card. - Plan ahead for Ghibli Museum: Tickets are released on the 10th of each month for the following month and sell out quickly, especially during holidays.
- Best seasons to visit: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable weather for exploring Tokyo’s neighborhoods on foot, since summer is sweltering and humid and winter can be rainy and cold.
If you want to maximize your time and cover several spots in a day or two, here are some example routes:
Day 1 Example Itinerary
Morning: Akihabara → Afternoon: Suga Shrine → Evening: Shinjuku/Yoyogi
Shinjuku is beautiful at night, and Suga shrine is beautiful both during the day and around dusk.
Day 2 Example Itinerary:
Morning: Ikebukuro Pokémon Center + Animate → Afternoon: Ghibli Museum → Evening: Odaiba Unicorn Gundam
Of course, if you have more than 2 days, you can spread them out further, and hit up some of the other cultural hotspots unrelated to anime and manga.
Conclusion
Tokyo is a treasure trove for anime fans, blending real-world locations from beloved films with immersive shopping and museum experiences.
You’ll likely be surprised at every corner with how quirky the city is, and whether you want to stand where Taki and Mitsuha reunited, hunt for rare figures in Akihabara, or marvel at a giant Gundam, Tokyo offers endless ways to celebrate your love of anime!
Each of these spots is easy to access and budget-friendly (many are free or low-cost to visit), so all that’s left is to plan your adventure and bring your camera — because Tokyo is where your anime dreams come to life.
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