Tucked away just a 5-minute walk from Nakano Station, this unassuming shopping complex has been the true holy ground for anime, manga, and pop culture enthusiasts since 1966. While many visitors head to Akihabara for their anime pilgrimage, seasoned fans know that Nakano Broadway offers a more authentic and concentrated otaku experience.

What Makes Nakano Broadway Special?

A Collector’s Paradise Across Four Floors

• Mandarake: The legendary 8-store chain within the complex specializing in rare anime goods, vintage manga, and collectible figurines
• Specialized Shops: From vintage video games to idol merchandise and rare art books
• Affordable Prices: Better deals than tourist areas thanks to competitive second-hand market

Caede’s Insider Tip:
“Start your journey at the Nakano Sun Mall shopping street – the vibrant entrance to the Broadway complex. Don’t be fooled by the quiet exterior; the real magic begins on the second and third floors where the most exclusive collectible shops are hidden! If you’re exploring Tokyo’s unique neighborhoods, you might also enjoy the youthful energy of Harajuku.”

Beyond Anime: Unexpected Delights

While famous for anime goods, the complex also features:

• Unique fashion boutiques featuring Japanese street style
• Traditional Japanese confectionery shops
• Excellent ramen restaurants in the basement food court
• Everyday services used by local residents

Caede’s Food Recommendation:
“After treasure hunting, visit the basement food court for what many consider the best tonkotsu ramen in Tokyo. My favorite spot is the small shop in the corner that’s maintained its quality for decades – the perfect way to experience authentic local flavor! For more Tokyo food adventures, check out the Tsukiji Outer Market.”

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Visitor Essentials

Access: 5-minute walk from Nakano Station North Exit
Hours: Most shops 12:00-20:00 (varies)
Tip: Bring cash as some smaller shops don’t accept credit cards
Budget: More affordable than Akihabara with better deals

Why Visit Now?

Nakano Broadway preserves the authentic spirit of Japanese otaku culture that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern Tokyo. As the neighborhood continues to evolve while maintaining its unique character, now is the perfect time to experience this living piece of Tokyo’s cultural history.

Caede’s Final Thought:
“What makes Nakano Broadway truly special is that sense of discovery. Unlike the commercialized areas, here you’ll find passionate shop owners who are true experts in their niche. Every visit reveals new treasures – whether you’re hunting for that rare figurine or just soaking up the unique atmosphere. Combine your visit with exploring the vibrant Nakano area for a perfect day off the beaten tourist path. For those interested in more traditional Japanese culture, consider balancing your trip with a visit to the historic Asakusa district.”

Whether you’re a serious collector or simply curious about Japanese pop culture, Nakano Broadway offers an unforgettable glimpse into the heart of Tokyo’s enduring subcultures.

Nestled in the quiet greenery of Inokashira Park in Mitaka, Tokyo, the Ghibli Museum welcomes visitors into the dreamlike world of master animator Hayao Miyazaki. This isn’t just a traditional museum—it’s a portal into the enchanting universe of Studio Ghibli, where magic and imagination come to life. Only 30 minutes away from central Tokyo, this whimsical destination transports fans of all ages into a warm, nostalgic world packed with references to Japanese culture and animation history.

A Space of Wonder: Must-See Highlights of the Museum

As Hayao Miyazaki himself envisioned, this museum is a “space of wonder and excitement” where traditional static exhibits are replaced by immersive experiences. From the moment you approach, you will feel like you’ve stepped directly into a Ghibli film, greeted by a giant Totoro at the entrance. Inside, you can watch exclusive animated short films at the Saturn Theater, let children play on a giant furry Cat Bus, explore rotating special exhibitions showcasing the studio’s creative process, and climb up to the rooftop garden to meet a life-sized Robot Soldier from Castle in the Sky.

The Ghibli Ticket Dilemma: Why Booking is So Difficult

While the museum is an absolute must-visit for any Ghibli fan, securing tickets is notoriously difficult for international travelers. To ensure an optimal, uncrowded visitor experience, the museum strictly limits daily admission using designated timed-entry slots. Because the vast majority of tickets are allocated for residents of Japan, the international online pool via Lawson sells out almost instantly. Tickets go on sale on specific dates for the following month, making it incredibly hard to align with specific travel dates if you are booking from overseas.

Guarantee Your Entry: Our Hassle-Free Ticket Services

The good news is that as seasoned Japan travel experts, we can personally secure your entrance to the Ghibli Museum during your stay. This exclusive ticket service is available to all travelers who book a package tour with us. To reserve your spot, simply submit your request before the 9th of the month before your intended visit (e.g., order by October 8th for a November 5th visit). We will need the full name of the main booker (matching your passport exactly), your preferred dates/times, and the ages of everyone in your party.

Essential Terms, Prices, and Visitor Information

Please note that all Ghibli Museum ticket orders are final, non-changeable, and non-refundable. At the entrance, staff will check your physical ticket alongside your passport, so screenshots or copies will not be accepted. You can choose to pick up your physical tickets at our Tokyo office for free, or have them safely delivered to your hotel for an additional $8 shipping fee.

• Location: 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo (Within Inokashira Park)
• Access: A pleasant 15-minute walk from Mitaka Station (JR Chuo Line) or a 5-minute ride on the local community bus.
• Museum Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

Q&A: Your Ghibli Museum Questions Answered

Outline of Ultraman

The live-action series of Ultraman started broadcasting on TV in 1966.  It was made by Tsuburaya Productions which was specialized in tokusatsu (special effects). They made Ultra Q just before Ultraman, which is regarded as the first Ultra series. It was filmed in black and white, and Ultraman was the first super effect TV show in color.

The first Ultraman had 39 episodes and the average audience rate was 36.8% which mearns that it was absolutely successful. It was exported to more than 100 countries. At the same time as it was broadcast, a manga (comic) of Ultraman was published.

Ultraman Story

The disasters happening in the series are created by space aliens or Kaiju (monsters). Science Patrol members try to solve the problems, but the disasters are always beyond their control. Then Ultraman appears, and saves the earth. Ultraman is a member of the Space Guard from galaxy M78, three million light-years away from the earth.

He accidentally kills Mr Hayato, one of the members of Science Patrol, when he chases a monster. To compensate, Ultraman decides to live as Hayato and fight with aliens and monsters to save the earth. So, he lives as a human being and when he needs to fight, he uses a beta capsule and transforms himself into Ultraman.

Ultraman is 40 meters tall and weighs 35,000 tons. He can run at a speed of 450 km/h and fly at Mach 5, and he is 20,000 years old. He has a strong physical ability and has a lot of special weapons. The most popular one is the Specium Ray. When he crosses his arms, the ray generates. All kids used to imitate this action. He can also do teleportation. His weak point is that he can be Ultraman only for three minutes. For this reason, the blue color timer on his chest shows when time is running out by turning red after 2.5 minutes.

Aliens and Monsters

The aliens and monsters in the story are very unique. While they are bad creatures, they are often still very lovable. Here are 3 popular monster characters;

Alien Baltan: has big scissors like crayfish on his hands with which can easily cut a 20-cm thick iron plate. He appears in several episodes as Ultraman’s strongest rival.

Jamila: this was originally a human astronaut. When he crash-landed on a planet without water, his body accustomed to the circumstances and his skin became like clay. He came back to earth to take revenge on the country that abandoned him.

Pigmon: He is a monster but friendly to humans. He appears in several episodes as a mascot character.

Ultra Series

Because the first Ultraman was so successful, they continued making different Ultraman series. Ultra Seven, Return of Ultraman, Ultraman A, Ultraman Leo, and so on. Not only the TV series but also many Ultraman movies have been made and are still made. In 2021, Shin Ultraman will be released. Notably, it was made by combining Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, the same team that made 2021 smash hit Shin Evangelion.

In 2013, the Ultra Series (including Ultra Q and Captain Ultra) was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Record as the series with most TV spin-off. There were 27 titles at that time.

Ultraman Festival

Ultraman Festival has been held every summer since 1989. They exhibit characters to take pictures with, sell souvenirs, and hold live attractions. Many families visit the festival and both parents and children enjoy it.

Ultraman Shopping Street

Soshigaya Shopping Street in western Tokyo is called Ultraman Shopping Street because there are a lot of Ultraman characters on the street. That is because the area is related to Ultraman. Tsuburaya Production was established near the street in 1963 as well as Toho Movie Studio.

You can see the statue of the Ultraman in front of the station, the Ultraman arches at the entrance of the shopping area, the city lights have Ultraman and monster design, and even the police box is decorated with the face of Ultraman. In some shops you can buy related products. Even if you are not an Ultraman fan, you will enjoy the atmosphere which resembles a theme park.

Ultraman World M78

You can also buy Ultraman goods at the shops Ultraman World M78 or SHOT M78. There are more than 20 shops all over Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. If you are in Tokyo, Ultraman World in the Tokyo Character Street at Tokyo Station is easy to access.

Kaiju Sakaba

There are two Ultraman-themed restaurants, one is in Shinbashi, Tokyo and the other restaurant is in Kawasaki. Actually, they are supposed to be places where Kaiju (monsters) can enjoy eating and drinking without Ultraman.

I visited the shop in Kawasaki in 2016. At the entrance, there was a checkpoint. You first have to stand in front of a special mirror. If they judge that you are a superhero, you cannot enter. There are many characters all over the place. Foods are also Kaiju-themed. It was a lot of fun to spend time with the characters!

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about Ultraman and other Japanese popular culture. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

The Doraemon manga by Fujiko F. Fujio first appeared around 1969 in children’s magazines, and over the decades more short stories have continued to be collected, including in the Doraemon+ volumes.

The manga spawned three television adaptations: the first in 1973, another in 1979, and the current long-running version which began in 2005 and continues today.

The first theatrical film was Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980), and since then more than forty films have been made. The latest, released in 2025, is Doraemon : Nobita’s Art World Tales, the 44th in the series.

The manga was translated into many foreign languages and published in many countries. The anime also has been broadcast in many countries. So, it is loved by many people around the world.

Story of Doraemon

It all starts on a New Year’s Day, when Doraemon suddenly appears from the drawer of Nobita’s desk. Doraemon comes from the future, and is with Nobita’s great-great-grandson, Sewashi. He has a problem with heavy debt caused by the bankruptcy of Nobita’s company. Sewashi came from the 22nd century to see Nobita to change the future, and he brought Doraemon to look after him.

Nobita is an unmotivated and lazy elementary schoolboy. He is often bullied by Jaian who is the boss of the kids. Jaian has Suneo, a luck-pusher, in tow. Doraemon has a four-dimensional pocket in his belly and he takes out various secret gadgets to save Nobita in any crisis. But Nobita has a tendency to overuse the gadgets which creates a backlash. He likes Shizuka, a kind-hearted girl. They may get married in the future.

What is the reason why children have loved this manga for such a long time? I think it is the lovable appearance and character of Doraemon, as well as the sympathy they feel for Nobita.

Doraemon Secret Gadgets

Every story has its own secret gadget, and it is said the total number of gadgets is over 2,000. Here are some popular gadgets that appear throughout the series several times.

Takecopter: ‘Take’ means ‘bamboo’ in Japanese and ‘copter’ comes from the word ‘helicopter’. If you put the takecopter on your head, you can fly.
Dokodemo-door: It means ‘anyplace-door’. It is a portable door that takes you to any places in the world you wish to go.
Time machine: It is in the drawer of Nobita’s desk. You can go either to the future or to the past.
Copy Robot: If you press its nose, you can make a copy of yourself. It first appeared in Fujiko’s other manga “Perman”.

Fujiko F Fujio

Fujiko F Fujio (real name: Hiroshi Fujimoto) was a manga creator and screenwriter who lived from 1933 to 1996. He was born in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. He created a partnership called ‘Fujikofujio’ with Fujiko Fujio A (real name: Motoo Abiko) who was born in Himi City, in the same Toyama Prefecture. They were classmates in elementary school and they always played together.

Other famous manga they created are “Obakeno Kyutaro (Little Ghost Q-Taro)”, “Perman”, “Ninja Hattori-kun” and “Kaibutsu-kun (The Monster Kid)”

Fujiko F Fujio Museum

Fujiko F. Fujio Museum opened in 2011 in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The museum showcases the original drawings, storyboards, and related materials created by Fujiko F. Fujio, the legendary manga artist best known for Doraemon.

The museum was established through a collaboration between his wife, Fujiko F. Fujio Production, and Kawasaki City, where the artist had lived for 35 years. In addition to the exhibits, visitors can watch a short original anime film available only at the museum’s theater.

Audio guides are available in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

Access: 10 minutes ride on the bus from Noborito Station of JR Nanbu Line. If you want to walk, it is 15 minutes from Mukogaoka-Yuen Station (Odakyu Line) or Shukugawara Station (JR Nanbu Line).

Entrance: 1,000 yen for adults / 700 yen for junior and senior high school students / 500 yen for over 4 years old to elementary school student
Hours : 10 am – 6 pm
*You need a reservation through the Loppi machine. These machines can be found in the Lawson convenience stores. They limit the number of visitors per day up to 2,000.

Takaoka City Museum

This is an art museum in Takaoka City, the birthplace of Fujiko F Fujio. Their main exhibitions are metal works and Japanese paintings. Later they added the Fujiko F Fujio Gallery in 2015 to exhibit his works. You can see Doraemon statues in several places in the city, for example in front of Takaoka Station.

Access: 2-minute walk from Ecchu-Nakagawa Station of JR Himi Line. Or a 20-minute walk from Takaoka Station
Entrance: The entrance fee varies depending on the exhibition.
Hours : 9.00 am – 5 pm

A Personal Impression

I highly recommend adding the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum to any anime fan’s itinerary, and if you can, book with Japan City Tour’s anime-custom tours. They made everything smooth, flexible, and personal. Our guide Shino brought the world of Doraemon to life in a way no guidebook ever could.
Whether you grew up watching Doraemon or are just curious about Japanese manga culture, this place is pure magic.

Recommended Tours

・Tokyo Anime Private Tour Package 7 days
・The Best of Japan Private Tour Package 7 Days
・The Best of Japan Pop Culture Tour Package 10 Days

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about Japanese manga and anime. The guide can take you to the Fujiko F Fujio Museum or Gallery if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Extremely Popular Manga

The manga series started in 2009 on the Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, which is an additional volume of Shonen Magazine. This is one of the famous weekly comic magazines for children besides Shonen Jump. It has become an independent manga book series in 2010, and two volumes exceeded the sales of 1 million. Moreover, the total sales topped 100 million in 2019. It has become TV anime in 2013 and it has increased its readership. Increasing the franchise’s popularity even further, the first related anime movie was made in 2014. Two live-action films were made in 2015.

The series has been also a big hit in foreign countries, especially in South Korea and the United States.

Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan is created by young cartoonist Hajime Isayama. He learned drawing manga at the Manga department of Kyushu Design Gakuin school in Fukuoka. Several other famous manga artists graduated from the school.

He was awarded an honorable mention of the Magazine Grand-Prix by Kodansha publishing company. This was for the one-shot story of Shingeki no Kyojin. He was only 20 years old at that time. Then Isayama got a special award in the ‘New Face’ contest for his work “Heart Break One” by Shonen Magazine in 2008. Then the editor of the magazine asked him to write a serialized story for Shingeki no Kyojin. That was the start of his great success.

He was born in the small city of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu called Hita. Hita is a basin surrounded by the high mountains and he dreamed of the world beyond the mountains when he was a child. It is said that this experience in his childhood influenced the creation of the story of Shingeki no Kyojin.

The setting of the manga is a small city surrounded by high walls which prevent attacks by giants. When you go to Hita, you can see the bronze statues of the three main characters of the story. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are in front of the high wall of the Oyama Dam. They seem to be looking up the wall.

Another occurrence that influenced his work happened while he was working at an internet café. He encountered a violent customer who grabbed him by the collar. He felt “the fear of meeting a person I cannot communicate with”. This experience led him to create the giants.

Story of Attack on Titan

Gigantic creatures suddenly appeared on the earth and attacked people and ate them. At that time, most human beings were killed and small numbers of survivors built threefold high walls around the city. The walls were to prevent any future attack. They could live peacefully for 100 years.

The main character is a boy Eren Yeager. In the year 845, when he was ten years old, the outermost wall was destroyed by a giant, and his mother was killed. He vowed revenge on the giants and decided to join the military with his childhood friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert. In the military, they learned how to use the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear. This is a set of waist-mounted grappling hooks and gas-powered propulsion which enables great mobility in three dimensions.

During their first battle, Eren found out that he had the mysterious ability to change himself into a giant. But he did not lose his consciousness and never hurt people. The military tried to use his ability to restore the damaged wall. Through the battle against the giants, Eren and his company not only defended their land. But they also try to reveal the mysteries about the giants, their civilization, and what lies outside the walls.

Attack on Titan-Themed Rides

Because the manga was such a big hit, several amusement parks in Japan made temporary attractions using characters of Shingeki no Kyojin. Big models of the giants had a great impact and attracted customers to the parks. Imagine having read and enjoyed the series and then immersing yourself in that world completely!

Popular amusement parks such as Fuji-Q Highland in Kawaguchiko, Universal Studio Japan in Osaka, and Joypolis in Tokyo have featured rides related to Attack on Titan.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about Attack on Titan. The guide can take you to the attractive sightseeing spots of Hita, the birthplace of the cartoonist if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

The Start of It All

Pocket Monster, also known as Pokemon, was born in 1996 as a computer game for the Game Boy. It was developed by Game Freak Inc. and sold by Nintendo, one of the world’s biggest game makers. The series was a great hit and spread among elementary students by word-of-mouth.

It includes important elements that make games popular, which are “collection, training, fighting, and exchange”. Because of its success, they made a TV anime, movies, manga (comic), character goods, card games, arcade games, and so on. The game software has been sold more than 300 million times including all countries. By the way, the number one game sales record is for Super Mario, which was sold more than 500 million times worldwide.

The TV anime already started in the following year in 1997, and it has been also a big hit all over the world. The Pokemon characters are a very important part of both the game and the anime. There were 151 species in the beginning, but they have increased to 898 species as of 2021.

Pokemon GO

Pokemon GO is a computer game that was released in 2016. It was developed by Pokemon Inc and American company Niantic Inc, and helped by Nintendo. To play it, you don’t have to buy special hardware, but you can install an app on your smartphone (Android and iOS). It uses AR (augmented reality) and your phone’s GPS function. If you choose AR mode, Pokemon seem to appear in the real world. The game uses famous places that exist in real life and 7/11 stores as Poke Stops, at which you can get tools such as monster balls.

It was listed in 5 categories in Guinness World Records. One of them is the most downloaded mobile game in the first month. Now, it is played in more than 150 countries. When it was first released in Japan, a lot of young people were wandering the streets of Japan to find Pokemons. It was good in some way, as many gamers always played games in their rooms. They never went out, which is not good for their health, but they finally started to walk outside.

It caused many problems, however; too many people gathered in particular places to catch special Pokemon. Also, many people played when they were driving. People who were playing in sacred places such as Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples caused annoyance. Now they changed some rules such as you cannot play when you move faster than at walking speed. Ever since there have been few problems.

The Story of Pokemon

The setting is a world where various Pokemons live, with the main character being a boy named Satoshi. He wants to be the best Pokemon trainer. When he started practicing to become a Pokemon trainer, he made Pikachu his main partner. Pikachu was mischievous and Satoshi couldn’t control him at first, but they have become good friends after fighting against big sparrows together.

He started an adventurous journey with Pikachu and catches other Pokemons and fights with other trainers on the way. When a trainer catches a Pokemon, they put it in a capsule called ‘monster ball’. There is a team of bad guys called Rocket-dan (Team Rocket) which consists of a man Musashi, a woman Kojiro, and a cat Pokemon Nyaasu (Meowth in English). Their boss is Sakaki, and they often appear to prevent Satoshi’s adventures.

Major Pocket Monsters

There are nearly 900 Pocket Monsters. Each individual has its own characteristics; size, weight, technic, HP (horsepower), CP (combat power), evolution ability. They are also a type such as water, earth, flying, poison, etc. Interestingly, the English names of many of the popular monsters are different from their Japanese ones, except for some monsters like Pikachu.

Pikachu: He is the most popular Pokemon among the 900, not only because he is the partner of Satoshi, but he is cute looking. Pikachu can only say “Pika pika”, but he can communicate with Satoshi. This yellow friend can generate a lightning bolt.

Three monsters appeared in the first monsters:

Fushigidane (Bulbasaur): This is a poisonous plant that evolutes from the seed to the grass Fushigiso (Ivysaur) and the flower Fushigidane (Venusaur).

Hitokage (Charmander): a fire-type lizard that evolutes to Rizard (Charmelon) and Rizardon (Charizard)

Zenigame (Squirtle): Ia water type turtle that evolutes to Kameru (Wartortle) and Kamekkusu (Blastoise)

Other Popular Pokemons

Eevee: this is a normal type that can evolute to 8 different monsters such as Showers (Vaporeon), Thunders (Jolteon) and Booster (Flareon).

Kairyu (Dragonite): a flying dragon who evolutes from Miniryu (Dratini) and Hakuryu (Dragonair).

Mewtwo: It is the main character in the movie ‘Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back!’, the first Pokemon movie.

Pokemon Centers and Pokemon Stores

A Pokemon Center is an official shop that sells a variety of Pokemon goods such as character goods, game software, and card games. The Pokemon Store is more casual and smaller than the Pokemon Center. There are 29 shops all over Japan as of 2021, and here is a list of the locations of the shops.

Pokemon Centers in Northern Japan

*Pokemon Center Sapporo (Hokkaido)
*Pokemon Store Shin-Chitose Airport (Hokkaido)
*Pokemon Center Tohoku (Sendai City, Miyagi)

Pokemon Centers in Tokyo/Kanagawa/Chiba

*Pokemon Center Tokyo DX & Pokemon Café (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)
*Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo & Pikachu Sweets (Ikebukuro, Tokyo)
*Pokemon Center Shibuya (Tokyo)
*Pokemon Center Skytree Town (Tokyo)
*Pokemon Store Tokyo Station (Tokyo)
*Pokemon Center Yokohama (Kanagawa)
*Pokemon Center Tokyo Bay (Funabashi, Chiba)
*Pokemon Store Outlet (Kisarazu, Chiba)
*Pokemon Store Narita Airport (Chiba)

Pokemon Centers in Central Japan

*Pokemon Center Nagoya (Aichi)
*Pokemon Center Chubu International Aiport (Aichi)
*Pokemon Center Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
*Pokemon Center Gotenba (Shizuoka)
*Pokemon Center Kyoto (Kyoto)
*Pokemon Center Osaka DX & Pokemon Café (Shinsaibashi, Osaka)
*Pokemon Center Osaka (Umeda, Osaka)
*Pokemon Store Itami Airport (Osaka)
*Pokemon Store Kansai Airport (Osaka)

Western/Southern Japan

*Pokemon Center Hiroshima (Hiroshima)
*Pokemon Store Aeon Mall Okayama (Okayama)
*Pokemon Store Emiful Masaki (Iyogun, Ehime)
*Pokemon Center Fukuoka (Fukuoka)
*Pokemon Store Amu-Plaza Oita (Oita)
*Pokemon Store Amu-Plaza Kagoshima (Kagoshima)
*Pokemon Store Depart-Liubou (Naha, Okinawa)
*Pokemon Store Aeon Mall Okinawa Raikamu (Okinawa)

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides. They can tell you all about Pokemon games, anime, and character goods. The guide can take you to Pokemon stores if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Is one of the reasons you are heading to Japan buying anime and manga related goods? Then Jump Shop should be at the top of your list! If you don’t know what Jump Shop is, keep reading to find out more about this anime and manga paradise and where to find it in Tokyo and elsewhere.

Shonen Jump Magazine

Weekly Shonen Jump is a manga magazine published by Shueisha that has been entertaining fans since 1968. Originally a biweekly publication, it became a weekly magazine in 1969 and quickly rose to become the most influential manga magazine in Japan.

The magazine’s themes are famously built around three core ideas: friendship, effort, and victory — a formula that continues to attract younger readers. While its main audience is boys aged 10 to 15, its stories have reached far beyond that, captivating teenagers and adults alike.
Iconic series like Dragon Ball and Naruto helped shape generations of fans, while more recent hits like Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) have brought new life and global recognition to the magazine.

At its peak in the 1990s, Weekly Shonen Jump sold over 6.5 million copies per week — a number that remains legendary in the world of publishing.

Popular Comics from Shonen Jump

There are a lot of popular comics from Shonen Jump. You may recognize many of them if you are an anime fan.

・Kochira Katsushikaku Kamearikoenmae Hashutsujo: This is the story of a funky but lovable policeman Ryotsu Kankichi. The series lasted for 40 years. It is listed in the Guinness World Record.
・Hokuto no Ken: This is a fighting story. The hero Kenshiro’s signature line “You are already dead” became popular among children. It became a TV anime.
・Dr. Slump: Main character Norimaki Arare is an android made by inventor Senbei. This funny story became a TV anime.
・Jojo no Kimyona Boken (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure): The theme of the manga is “a paean to humans”. This is the century-lasting fighting story of the Joestar family and Vampires. It was not made for children.
・Shokugeki no Soma: This is the story of Soma, a student of a cooking school. Competing by cooking technique, the expressions of people who eat his delicious food are famously funny.

Famous Abroad

These are the Shonen Jump comics that are also famous abroad:

・Dragon Ball: This is one of the most popular anime in foreign countries. Main character Goku is a fighter who trains himself and participates in fighting tournaments.
・Yugioh: High school boy Yugi got another personality in himself by solving an ancient Egyptian puzzle. He challenges bad guys to a game in which the loser gets a penalty.
・One Piece: Boy Luffy is the main character of One Piece. He wants to be the king of pirates by finding a treasure called One Piece. It is one of the most popular manga and anime now.
・Naruto: This is a battle action story about Ninjas who use supernatural powers. The hero Uzumaki Naruto doesn’t always fight, but he persuades the enemy through dialogue.
・Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer): This story of Kimetsu no Yaiba is about a boy Kamado Tanjiro who fights with demons to save his sister who was bitten by a demon. The newly released movie topped the record of animation movies in Japan.

The First Jump Shop

The very first Jump Shop opened in Tokyo at Tokyo Dome City in 2004. Tokyo Dome City is the complex of Tokyo Dome baseball stadium, amusement park, a spa, shops, and restaurants. This shop was very successful, so they started to open shops all over Japan.
You can buy character goods from the manga and the anime series that are described above. There are figures, key chains, comic books, games, snacks, T-shirts, posters, stationeries with character design, etc. If you are a fan of Japanese manga or anime, I am sure you will find what you are looking for.

Location of Jump Shop

There are permanent stores and temporary stores for festivals or in the summer season. Here’s a list of locations and the nearest stations of permanent stores.

Tokyo : Tokyo Dome City (Korakuen, Kasuga or Suidobashi stations), Tokyo Station as one of the shops of Tokyo Character Street (Tokyo station), Tokyo Skytree Town (Tokyo Skytree or Oshiage stations), Shibuya Parco (Shibuya station), Aqua City Odaiba (Daiba station)

Osaka : Hep Five Umeda (Osaka or Umeda station), Daimaru Department Store (Shinsaibashi station)

Other Cities : Yokohama Landmark Plaza (Minatomirai and Sakuragicho station), Nagoya Oasis 21 (Sakae, Sakaemachi and Hisayaodori station), Ario Kurashiki (Kurashiki station), Hiroshima Kishodo (Hacchobori and Tachimachi station), Sendai Parco (Sendai station), Hakata Canal City (Fukuoka, Gion and Nakasukawabata station)

Please note that there used to be a theme park of anime called J-World that was unfortunately closed in 2019. They had the same concept as Jump Shop, the park of the manga and anime characters from Shonen Jump magazine.

Recommended Tours

・Tokyo Anime Private Tour Package 7 days
・The Best of Japan Private Tour Package 7 Days
・The Best of Japan Pop Culture Tour Package 10 Days

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about manga and anime. The guide can take you to one of the Jump Shop or any anime-related places if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

The movie was second in ranking in the history of anime only to “Sento Chihiro no Kamikakushi” (Spirited Away). Now, it is third because “Kimetsu no Yaiba” (Demon Slayer) reached number one in 2020.

There is a novel “Kiminonawa” which was published before the movie. But this anime is not the adaptation of this novel; animator Makoto Shinkai wrote the novel after he finalized the script.

Story of Your Name

The main characters are Mitsuha and Taki. Mitsuha is a high school girl in a small town of the Hida region (close to Takayama) in Gifu Prefecture. Taki is a high school boy living in Tokyo. One morning, they wake up to find out that they switched bodies. They didn’t know each other yet, and they panic.

Taki and Mitsuha live that day as different persons with some hilarious outcomes. The next day, they switch back so they thought it was a dream. But it happens again and then starts to happen frequently. Then they an idea; they decided to leave messages for each other about what happens in their switched life. For a while, they kind of enjoy their different lives, but at some point the switching has stop.

They can’t talk on the phone, so Taki gets worried and decides to go meet her in Hida with two of his friends. Taki then finds out that the town where Mitsuha lives was hit by the meteorite three years ago and 500 people had died. He then realizes that there is a three-year time difference between him and Mitsuha.

Ending of Your Name

SPOILER ALERT: Please do not read this part if you don’t want to know the ending.

Taki goes to a mountain top where holy alcohol is kept which he knows from Mitsuha’s memory and drank it hoping to switch again. He then wakes up as Mitsuha on the day that the meteorite will fall. Taki (in Mitsuha’s body) tries to persuade the local people to evacuate, but it doesn’t work well. He then tries to see Mitsuha (Taki’s body) on the mountain. They switch again and finally met each other in their own bodies for a short moment. Mitsuha goes back to the town to finish the job.

The meteorite hits the town, but miraculously there are very few casualties. Fast forward to eight years later, and both Mitsuha and Taki are living in Tokyo. They completely forgot what had happened eight years ago, but they always had a feeling that they were looking for someone. Then finally one day, they met each other by chance, and ask for each others’ names simultaneously. This is how the movie ends.

Theme Music

The theme music of the movie was composed and played by popular J-pop group Radwimps. The main vocalist is Yoji Noda. All the songs used in the anime were big hits that year. The song titles are Yumetoro (Dream Lantern), Zenzenzense (Past Past Past Life), Sparkle, and Nandemonaiya (It’s Nothing).

Makoto Shinkai

Makoto Shinkai was born in 1973 in Nagano. He has become one of the most famous animators in Japan after he debuted with the short animation ‘Hoshinokoe’ in 2002. He made several big hits since. Let us introduce you to some of his major works.

Hoshinokoe (The Voices of a Distant Star / 2002)

This is a long distance love story between a girl who left to outer space and a boy who remained on earth. Makoto made this 25-minute film almost all by himself. It was only screened at one movie theater, but there was a long queue from the first day. The movie won a lot of prizes and Shinkai became a popular animator.

Byosoku 5 Centimeters (2007)

This is Makoto’s third anime that was screened in theaters. ‘5 centimeters’ means the speed of cherry blossom petals falling to the ground. There are three stories. It is a love story between a boy and a girl who were separated because she left the town with her parents after graduating elementary school.

Theme music ‘One more time, One more chance’ by Masayoshi Yamazaki was also a big hit.

Kotonoha no Niwa (The Garden of Words / 2013)

This is a love story between a high school boy and a classic literature teacher at his school. A classic poem is one of the important themes of the story. What is unique, is that in 80% of the scenes, it is raining.

Tenkinoko (Weathering With You / 2019)

The 7th anime, and the latest one as of 2021. It is a story between a high school boy who ran away from home and a girl who can make the weather sunny just by praying. They were tossed up and down by destiny, but they try to choose their life by themselves.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about the manga and anime including the works of Makoto Shinkai. The guide can also take you to the real places that appeared in Kiminonawa (Your Name). Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

History of Animation in Japan

The production of animation in Japan began in 1917 and was influenced by western animation films of that time which were imported in the early 20th century. But not many films were produced. It was only after WWII that the production of animation gradually increased in Japan.

One of the biggest movie companies in Japan is Toei. They made a department that was exclusively making animation films in 1956, and Tezuka Osamu founded his company Tezuka Production in 1961.

In 1950, TV broadcasting started in Japan. It stimulated the production of animation films and series, and finally, the series that made Tezuka a legend, ‘Astro Boy’, was first broadcast in 1963.

Tezuka Osamu’s Biography

Osamu was born in 1928 in Osaka. When he was a little boy, he was a child with plenty of curiosity and imagination. He grew up reading manga (cartoons) and watching animation. He especially loved Disney films, which were just starting to gain popularity during his childhood.

When he was five, he moved to Takarazuka in Hyogo Prefecture. There were a theme park and a concert hall that was the home ground of the Takarazuka Revue, an impressive all-woman musical company. His parents often took him to a restaurant and then a musical show, which the family enjoyed very much. Osamu was strongly influenced by these good childhood memories. In elementary school, he unfortunately wasn’t having an easy time as he was bullied by his classmates because he could not speak the local dialect.

It was creating manga that saved him. He had been drawing manga since he was little, and he finished his first manga work when he was in third grade. His teacher and classmates admired his work and the bullying finally stopped. On the contrary, they started to visit Osamu’s house.

Osamu was influenced by one of his classmates who told him about insects, astronomy, and science. Osamu had a strong interest in the insect world. That’s why he made his own illustrated insect guidebook. Because of his love for insects, he added the kanji character that means insect (虫) to his pen name. His real name is 手塚治, but he made his name 手塚治虫. The pronunciation, however, has not changed.

WWII started when he was a junior high school student, and Osamu had to work in the munition factory. He got caught up in the air raid on Osaka and nearly died, and obviously, this experience has also influenced him. In 1945, he passed the entrance examination of medical school, and he got a national license as a doctor while he was still creating manga. He made “Black Jack” based on his own experiences as a doctor. He was already making ‘Astro Boy’ at that time.

Major Works of Tezuka Osamu

Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom)

This manga was serialized in a comic magazine between 1952 and 1963, and it became TV anime from 1963 to 1966. Astro Boy is the story of a robot energized by nuclear power in the 21st century. He was made by Dr. Tenma who lost his son in a traffic accident. So, Tenma made Atom to resemble his deceased son.

But a robot doesn’t grow up, so Tenma sold him to the circus. The chief of the circus named him Atom. Later, Doctor Ochanomizu took Atom under his care. Atom became a superhero who fights bad men and bad robots. Atom was not always happy because he was a robot but had emotions like human being. This is a science fiction story as much as a story about what it means to be human.

Buddha

This is the biographical story of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It was serialized in a comic book from 1972 to 1983. The characters of the story are both real figures and Osamu’s creations. Osamu made up some of the stories, but they are mostly based on facts, so this is a very educational manga series.

Phoenix (Hinotori)

This series is regarded as Osamu’s life work, because he started it when he was young and continued with it until the last stage of his life. It consists of 12 separate editions. There is a bird called phoenix, and people believe that if they drink its blood, they can attain eternal life. People fight, suffer, worry, and are tossed up and down by a cruel destiny. The settings of the stories are all over the world and even in outer space and take place in different eras.

Black Jack

This is the first authentic medical story in manga history. The theme is medical care and life. It was serialized from 1973 to 1978, and them irregularly in a conic magazine from 1979 to 1983. Doctor Black Jack was non-licensed, but he had a god-like gift to carry out operations. This way, he saved many people from outrageous medical fees.

Jungle Emperor Leo (Jungle Taitei)

This was Osamu’s first authentic work, it was serialized from 1950 to 1954 in a comic magazine. It is the story of a white lion family in the African jungle. Leo’s parents were killed by human beings, but at the same time made friends with a human boy. This is why he struggles between humans and wild animals.

Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi)

The main character is Princess Safire who has both a male and female heart. She disguises herself as a knight and fights with bad guys. This story was serialized four times from 1953 to 1967 in a girls’ comic magazine. Osamu was influenced by the genderbending Takarazuka Revue, in which both male and female characters are portrayed by ladies.

The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum

The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum opened in 1994, five years after his death. The museum is in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture where Osamu grew up. They exhibit documents and goods related to him in capsules that look like the ones that appear in the ‘Phoenix’. You can read almost all his manga and watch his animes here. The entrance hall looks like a palace of ‘Princess Knight’. There is a café in the theme of  ‘Jungle Emperor Leo’. At the anime workshop, you can try to make your own animation. If you are a fan of  Osamu, you will really enjoy this museum.

Entrance fee: 700 yen for adults/300 yen for junior and senior high school students/100 yen for elementary students

Opening hours: 9.30 am to 5 pm

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about manga and anime including the works of Osamu Tezuka. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

VR Experiences in Joypolis in Odaiba

Artificial island Odaiba quickly became a bit of a playground for the younger city dwellers once it became properly inhabitable. If you go here during weekends you will find many young couples and families spending their free time in one of the large shopping malls or entertainment options like the beautiful teamLab exhibition, the small beach, Toyota Megaweb, and the many dining options.

Indoor attraction venue Joypolis in Odaiba is a must-do for anyone who loves amusement parks, video games, or both! This game ride paradise boasts attractions such as a giant swing in the shape of a halfpipe, a roller coaster during which you can shoot with lasers to get points, a car racing game in which your car really goes upside down, a super scary interactive ghost house, and much more. And indeed, there are multiple VR attractions here as well.

The best one is probably Zero Latency VR in which you can team up with up to 5 others to shoot zombies after the apocalypse. Not for the faint of heart! For this ride you have to reserve a spot in advance, so make sure to plan your visit. Then there is Tower Tag, in which you have to shoot your opponents and use in-game walls to dodge their bullets. Then not quite VR but very similar, there is also Pirate’s Plunder, a fun shooting game for the whole family. For the Zero Latency VR game, you have to be at least 13 years old, and for Tower Tag, you have to be 7 to be able to play.

Official website Joypolis

Official website Zero Latency VR

Tyffonium in Odaiba

The Tyffonium theater which is located near Joypolis and the gigantic Gundam statue that is also worth checking out is not so much a game, but it is more like a completely immersive movie ride, even more than the 4D movies you can see in the movie theaters these days. There are several titles to choose from, some of which are scary and some of which are good for all audiences. This is truly the entertainment of the future! The rides last for about 15 minutes each, which is more than enough for most people.

Official website Tyffonium

VR Park Tokyo Shibuya

Shibuya is heaven for teens and young 20-somethings, not only for the latest young fashion and the huge range of food options but also for VR games now that VR Park Tokyo Shibuya is here. You can find this amusement arcade on a higher floor of a fashion department store. The games are relatively short-lasting, but they are all good fun and you can try all of them for a relatively low price (around 3000 yen per person). Think about games in which you fly above a city, try walking on a narrow beam high up in the air while keeping your balance, shooting monsters in a haunted house, racing a car, and making a very real-feeling bungee jump.

NOTE; this VR attraction is closed at this moment due to COVID-19

Official website VR Park Tokyo Shibuya

An Aerial VR Experience in Ikebukuro

Formerly a slightly dodgy part of Tokyo, Ikebukuro has cleaned up nicely in the last 10 years and it became a treasure chest of all kinds of fun places to visit like Otome Road for some nerdy shopping, a butler’s cafe to be waited on by handsome guys, various animal cafes, and plenty of entertainment in multipurpose building Sunshine City.

This is also where ‘An Aerial VR Experience’ is located, on the top of the Sunshine City building in the Sky Circus Sunshine 60 Observatory. The attraction has multiple rides for which you can pay separately (around 500 yen/ride), and all of them are exhilarating and make you feel as though you are flying through the sky. Only recommended for those who are not too prone to motion sickness!

NOTE; this VR attraction is closed at this moment due to COVID-19

Galaxy Harajuku in Harajuku

For lolita-style fashion and whatever it is that teens want to eat and drink now, Harajuku is your destination. Takeshita Dori might be a bit of a crowded and touristy street, it is still fun to walk through once to look around, and the many winding side streets in this small district are actually very charming. For a few years, there has been an extra reason to stop by this neighborhood; the free VR experience you can have at Galaxy Harajuku, the showroom of Samsung that displays their newest phones and other accessories. Samsung is also at the forefront of the development of VR game necessities, and they are happy to let you try them free of charge!

When you walk in you will first have to register in order to receive a Samsung phone that you can use during your time at the venue. The VR game is located on a higher floor, if it is not busy you can usually just join the next session and if it would be a bit more crowded you can sign in for a specific time. No worries, there is enough cool new tech to check out while you are there.

Japan Tour Package with VR Experiences

We offer group tours as well as individual private tours, and we have something for travelers with a wide range of interests. Our Anime day tour is great for younger travelers, and it includes many cool anime-related activities. Because it is a private tour, it is possible to also include a VR experience if you would like to try this. Please let us know when you are booking if you are interested in this.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including destinations like Tokyo where you will have the opportunity to try out the newest in terms of VR. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!