Shopping In Tokyo

K-Books in Akihabara

• Mandarake - everything, new & used (they WILL deliver to your hotel)
• K-books – everything, new & used
• Animate - everything, new
• Toranoana - everything, new
• Book Off – manga, used
• Volks - BJD

Animate in Akihabara

Plot out the locations for otaku shopping.  The above few referenced shops are merely a sampling.  As already mentioned, use CuSO4’s Tokyo Anime/Manga Shopping Guide – this is the ultimate guide and while it may not be totally accurate as shops move, it’s a MUST have. Print off maps and lists for every area you think you’ll be in. THIS, coupled with the Tokyo City Atlas are your bibles.

Map of Shinjuku with some of the shops marked

Again, visit the most common shop websites on line for locations (addresses and maps that you can use in concert with your Tokyo City Atlas).

If you’re super keen and want to be super organized, use sticky flags to point out locations on your Tokyo City Atlas. Transfer all the location information of everywhere you might wish to visit to your Tokyo City Atlas and you’ll save a great deal of time and hunting. For Akihabara, though, bring CuSO4′s maps and don’t bother transferring those shops to the Tokyo City Atlas — Akiba is the mecca, after all.

Side story – During my first trip to Tokyo I couldn’t find the Mandarake in Akihabara (it was right in front of me) and when I asked a well to do Japanese man in the café I’d decided to rest in for a moment to point out on my Tokyo City Atlas where the café was, it took him 15 minutes and he was still wrong. So asking for directions of the locals may not always yield the results you want.

Another tip for finding things – Tokyo is layered. They build up and down. So you may be staring at the exact location of where you know something should be (like the Mandarake in Akihabara), and still not immediately see it. Get closer. See stairs? Look up, look down, look for entrances to the building.

Book Off

Book Off has the cheapest manga and art books in Tokyo. My suggestion is to go there first. Their selection isn’t THE best, but at ¥105 to ¥350 per book, it’s worth the visit.

I went to the Book Off in Harajuku (twice) and walked away with a lot. They do not deliver, so you have to be able to walk out with your purchases. I suggest taking your carry-on luggage if it’s on wheels. In fact, take your carry-on luggage or similar with you everywhere. You won’t be alone and you’ll blend in with the local girls who cosplay and are also manga shopping.

The Book Off is sadly no longer in Harajuku, although other locations will yield some results.

K-Books

Lots of selection and decent prices (¥210 to ¥367 on average) on manga. You’ll find some art books too.

Some K-Books also have doujinshi, and their selection is great. Definitely check them out.

Mandarake

Probably one of the most well known amongst otaku. Visiting their shops is always an experience and each one different. I highly suggest the Mandarake in Shibuya. Lots of manga, lots of doujinshi, of every flavour imaginable. You could be there a whole day. AND, they will ship to your hotel! So if you buy boxes and boxes worth, have it shipped – it’s worth it.

The following is what I presented to the staff of Mandarake (and a few others to find out who delivered and who did not):

すみません。私は日本語が分かりません。この商品は、このホテルに届けてもらえませんか？配達は、いくらですか？どおもあ りがとうございます。
–
Sumimasen. Watashi wa nihongo ga wakarimasen. kono shouhin wa, kono hoteru ni todokete moraemasen ka? haitatsu wa, ikura desu ka? Doomo arigatou gozaimasu.

Essentially the above (I hope) inquires after whether or not the shop will ship to my hotel. On the back of the card displaying the above I had written my name and complete address of the hotel (don’t forget to add your room number once you know it after you arrive).

The Mandarake in Ikebukuro is a little smaller, but still great for doujinshi and oh so convenient if you’re staying in Ikebukuro.

Animate and Toranoana

I’ve put these two together as they are very similar. All new goods, full price, what’s being currently released. Mostly manga, but they do carry doujinshi (especially Toranoana), character goods, video, audio etc.

They’re all basically the same but if you’re looking for something newly released and some of the shops are sold out, you may have to check out several before you secure your copy.