Shopping Guide
Those who like anime and manga surely know what the most famous anime goods store in Japan is, right? Animate boasts the biggest anime shops in Japan. This time, we visited Animate’s biggest location, Animate Ikebukuro.
You may remember a previous article series that we did on Animate Sunshine. Well, Animate Ikebukuro is close to this store. If you haven’t read about Animate Sunshine yet, we recommend you check these articles out:
・TOM Infiltrates the Best Anime Shop in the World! [1/3]
http://t-otaku-m.com/ZNzw7Z
・TOM Infiltrates the Best Anime Shop in the World! [2/3]
http://t-otaku-m.com/10XMEma
・TOM Infiltrates the Best Anime Shop in the World! [3/3]
http://t-otaku-m.com/10XMFq6
The first thing we thought when we entered Animate Ikebukuro was, “Wow, this store is spacious!” Those who have been to an Animate in Japan know, but for those who don’t, the buildings are made with the size of Japanese people in mind, and they are crowded no matter what day it is. So for foreigners who are built bigger than Japanese people, they may be a bit hard to walk through. Though, being that this is the main store of Animate, it’s so spacious that even those with a larger build can skip down the halls with ease. However, be cautious that Animate is a store for adults, and because it’s always packed with customers, frolicking too much is a definite no-no.
Let’s take a look at what each floor of this anime and manga goods paradise has to offer.
1F: Magazines, Food, New Arrivals
The first floor sells anime and comic magazines, food, and products that have just arrived. The anime magazines are a nice point, but what is really worth mentioning is the food. For sale were soda-flavored candy themed after the anime Sword Art Online called “Soda Art Online,” Evangelion-themed cookies, drinking water themed after Super Sonico, and more. These are good items to buy for yourself or as a souvenir for someone else.
2F, 3F, 4F: Comics, Light Novels, Doujinshi, Drawing Tools
In addition to comics and light novels that are the basis for many anime, a huge number of both new works and popular works alike are gathered on these floors. There is a huge selection of genres to choose from, including shonen manga, shojo manga, and even boys’ love. The large array of items will make you feel like you are in a huge bookstore even though you are in an anime goods store.
**5F: Trading Cards, Figures, Collectibles, Small Toys
This floor features a large variety of figures and dolls. In addition to figures, unexpectedly enough, bottles of alcohol with popular anime characters on the labels are also for sale on this floor. The selection of goods on this floor is so extensive, you will get lost figuring out what to buy.
6F: Character Goods, T-shirts, Cushions
This floor sells many goods you wouldn’t normally see, such as PC keyboards themed around the hugely popular series Naruto, One Piece, and Evangelion. From Magi necklaces, candles, and perfume to Kuroko no Basuke basketball-shaped keychains, this floor is the place to be for those searching for rare anime goods.
7F: Blu-ray/DVDs, CDs, Games
Of course, this floor sells anime Blu-rays and DVDs as well as anime song CDs, but we were surprised to find that they also sell CDs of songs sung by anime voice stars. This is a floor that otaku maniacs who collect anime and CDs will not want to leave.
8F: Open Shop Space
This floor features a lineup of goods that changes periodically. For example, they might assemble products from female-oriented works and organize them on this floor to showcase one work. This floor is given an entirely fresh feeling whenever a new work is showcased.
The last characteristic of this shop is the fact that despite being an anime goods shop, there is also a complete recording studio. In Japan, when an anime is broadcast, a web radio show featuring that anime’s performers is also broadcast. Normally, these shows are recorded in a studio at a radio station. Despite being an anime goods shop, Animate Ikebukuro has a recording studio capable of doing radio recordings in. In addition to voice stars recording web radio shows in this studio, it has also been the place of very interesting discussions among publicists of companies who participated in this year’s Anime Contents Expo in April. You’ve probably never seen this in an anime shop before, have you?
Also in this Animate is an event hall. When speaking of anime or voice star events, normally an area of a store is used or an event hall is rented out to hold the event. However, Animate Ikebukuro has built a perfect space solely used for events: the “Animate Hall” that comprises the ninth floor. On the day we visited Animate Ikebukuro, the cosplay community site Cure was holding an event called “CureCosplyCollection.” Cosplayers who are members of Cure showed off their best cosplay as they walked down the runway while cosplay fans looked on in delight. “CureCosplyCollection” is an event that is held every month, and it will be held next on June 22. Admission is free. Other than this event, voice star events and anime events are regularly held in this space, so before you come, check to see what event is going on.
There you have it. You now know all there is to know about the biggest anime store in Japan: Animate Ikebukuro. If you come to Japan, make sure to visit. Everyone at the store is waiting for you!
Animate Ikebukuro:
http://www.animate.co.jp/shop/shop_east/ikebukuro/ (Japanese)
Animate Ikebukuro Map (Google Maps):
http://goo.gl/maps/QY2LY
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article
