JJapan Trips

Suggestions for collectors

  • January 25, 2026

So in about 2 months me and a couple of friends will be heading to Japan for the first time and we are all huge collectors in both anime and also retro gaming I just wanted to ask for any recommendations on any good stores that have reliable goods and prices I’ve heard many stories about akihabara being overpriced, overhyped and not really worth it anymore but it’s hard finding good stores as Google prioritizes akihabara locations we will be staying in Nakano City and don’t mind traveling further out if needed any and all suggestions would be amazing thank you

by Chef_Choji

5 comments

  1. Nakano broadway would be your other option, is has multiple mandarake stores in them and each store has there own speciality, manga, figurines, doujins, art piece, gundam, kamen rider, and many more. Now that being said, good pride may vary, it depends on you if your fighting the concept of cost vs convience of having the item there. Or are you the type of person who likes to extreme math everything with online vs in store type of collector.

    Akihabara can be a hit or miss for some people, I been to akihabra before and I do find some good prices for figures and other anime merchandise before.

    > I’ve heard many stories about akihabara being overpriced, overhyped and not really worth it anymore

    This depends how are into the rabbit hole of anime you are in, I dont know why people shat on akihabara on the get go but I have found some good prices for various anime merchandise.

  2. It absolutely depend on what you like. In 2023 I went to Akihabara, Nakano and Ikebukuro. For the specific franchise that I like, Akihabara was by far the best. Ikebukuro got good when there was collaboration with Animate, Gigo and Family mart and the thing I like at the same time… but at this rate, like Yokohama could have been as good (maybe… the animate and GiGo are nearby so I guess it would have been). Nakano was, for me, a bit of a disapointment. I think I was more hyped about going to a petshop that specialize in beetles (rhinoceros beetle and stag beetle) that was at walking distance. Nakano is not bad, but way too retro for my taste, but for other, it’s a must go place.

    If you ask people who live in Japan, sure Akihavbara can be more expensive, you might as welljust shop online. But for me who would have to pay for proxy fee plus shipping fee, Akihabara prices can be absolutely reasonable. However, you have to be aware of pricing of stuff. The shop outside of Radio Kaikan that sell figures… I found their price fairly bad… so I did not buy from them. Went to K-books, Lashinbang, Surugaya, Animate, AmiAmi, Kotobukiya, and saw stuff at price I would expect things to be.

    Don’t know how it would be today in Nakano for the franchise I like, but I am going back to Japan in a month and first day in Tokyo I hit character street when I arrive to Tokyo station, then straight to Akihabara. Would just go to Ikebukuro if I get a reservation for Capcom cafe, otherwise I already found exhibitions for other series in Toranomon and Shibuya (and Shibuya can surprisingly be a really good spot, on top or Parco I have seen collab at Tower Records and Tsutaya).

    Overall, would not just skip Akihabara because you think it might be expensive, but there is also many other places that can be interesting for anime stuff.

    That being said, it can highly depend on what exactly you are looking for.

  3. Surugaya and Trader in Akiba tend to have normal prices. You just have to browse and walk. If you have time visit a Book Off Super Bazaar. 

    I don’t understand your issue with Maps. It searches wherever you fix the map on.

  4. Bookoff, Surugaya, and Lashinbang all exist in abundance around Tokyo. You can find great deals on pre-owned goods at these stores, but be aware that price will vary based on the area you’re in.

    Mandarake is great as well, and if you are willing to venture a few stops away from Shinjuku you can hit up Nakano Broadway, which has dozens of specialized Mandarake stores all in one location.

    Kotobukiya storefronts always have really interesting displays. There is a perm location in Akihabara and typically a few others as pop-ups elsewhere, plus the head office in Tachikawa.

    Amiami has a few locations in Akihabara as well, with a standalone location and one in the Radio Kaikan building.

    Other miscellaneous stores you can google that come to mind: Yellow Submarine, Animate, Hobbyland, Super Potato, Mulan Akiba, Melonbooks, the various JUMP stores, the Mugiwara stores, the Pokémon Centers, the Nintendo stores, and the Ghibli stores.

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