Hours of Operation
- check each shop’s hours on the internet (strategize)
- generally 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
As it says, Mandaraka in Akiba (for those who haven’t been in a while — they moved around the corner to MUCH bigger digs)
While you may not think an hour here or there makes much difference, for the shopaholic Otaku, much shopping can still be accomplished on the day you depart Tokyo. By the end of your trip you should know which area provides you with the most goods. Make a note of their precise hours of operation. Chances are you won’t be taking the airport limo until early afternoon. If you strategize, you can get in a few more hours of shopping.
For instance, I was staying in Shinjuku once. The lunatic that I was, I slept for maybe two hours after a stint in Kabuki-cho, showered, packed, paid my hotel bill and grabbed my carry on cart. I headed to Ikebukuro and made it to Toranoana for their opening time of 10:00 a.m. (they are closest to the Ikebukuro station). Then it was off to Animate, also opened at 10:00 a.m. A couple stores away and Lashinbang for their 11:00 a.m. opening. K-Books for 11:00 a.m., and then heading back to the station I hit Mandarake. I essentially filled my carry on luggage with last minute items, put a lock on it, and dragged myself and it back to my hotel in Shinjuku where I picked up the rest of my luggage and off to the airport I went.
For night-time closures — be observant as well. Maximize those shopping hours!
