Akihabara Shopping: Top 4 Must-Visit Stores for Anime, Figures, and Otaku Culture

Akihabara is the ultimate destination for experiencing Japan’s rich otaku culture. From the latest figurines, games, cosplay, and anime goods to nostalgic items, there is more than enough to see and do in just one day. Akihabara offers a unique shopping experience for everyone. I, Marei, the editor-in-chief of VISIT CHIYODA, am excited to introduce you to some of the best stores in Akihabara for enjoying this iconic shopping district.

Content

1. KAIYODO Hobby Lobby Tokyo: A Mecca for High-Quality, Divinely Sculpted Figures and Models
2. Retro Games and Game Consoles Galore! Super Potato Akihabara Store
3. Welcome to Cosplay Heaven! Cosplay & Anime Goods COSPATIO
4. Shops for Local Gourmet Foods from All Over Japan! Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan

1. KAIYODO Hobby Lobby Tokyo: A Mecca for High-Quality, Divinely Sculpted Figures and Models

KAIYODO Hobby Lobby Tokyo is a haven for fans of figures and models. The store is conveniently located inside Radio Kaikan, right in front of Akihabara Station, making it an excellent starting point for shopping beginners in Akihabara.

(left) Radio Kaikan marked by its yellow sign; (right) KAIYODO Hobby Lobby Tokyo on the 5th floor of the building)

KAIYODO has produced over 2,000 original products to date, including figurines. KAIYODO figures are renowned for their state-of-the-art technology and the skill of their sculptors, making them pieces of art. This has earned them a charismatic presence in the industry.

If you are a big fan of “Evangelion” like me, you will love the figures that recreate famous scenes! (ARTPLA SCULPTURE WORKS Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Evangelion Unit-02 2nd Mode The Beast Battle of GeoFront KAIYODO)

The same figure before (left) and after (right) painting.

One of the most popular products is the plastic model kit series “ARTPLA Shitenno Statue.” These kits are based on actual Buddhist statues and reproduce the fine details of the unevenness and decorations with high accuracy. As these are model kits, you can enjoy the process of assembling and painting them yourself!

Plastic model kit “ARTPLA Shitenno Statue” series display and product box

There are also figures with minimal assembly. (Left) Protector Gear from Mamoru OSHII’s “Cerberus Saga,” for which Takayuki TAKEYA, a very well-known figure designer, served as the chief sculpting director. (Right) This wooden-looking Buddha sculpture is also by Takayuki TAKEYA. This one is movable and can be posed in various ways!

The items sold at KAIYODO range from capsule toy size to several tens of centimeters in height, some of which can only be purchased in Japan. This makes you feel like you’re about to get yourself a rare treasure! However, the store does not offer overseas shipping, so please carefully consider the size of your luggage (or ship the items yourself!) before you enjoy shopping.

This box contains a Godzilla figure with a height of 1 meter (40 inches)! So how does Godzilla fit inside? As you can see in the photo on the right, Godzilla is divided into parts and packed in the box.

The “miniQ” series is so popular because of its high level of detail despite its compact size. Many products sell out while supplies last.

There are also many cute and quirky products, like this instant food characters.

This book shows my picture! I was involved in this illustrated picture book. It’s great, so please have a look!

KAIYODO Hobby Lobby Tokyo

https://kaiyodo.co.jp
Akihabara Radio Kaikan New Main Building 5F, 1-15-16 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvQjY79jXU7yPH4h8

2. Retro Games and Game Consoles Galore! Super Potato Akihabara Store

If you love video games, Super Potato Akihabara Store is the place to go! The store spans the third to fifth floors of a building and offers a wide selection of video games and game consoles, as well as a retro game arcade.
Their official website says “We have the No. 1 stock of retro games in Japan!” When you see the game sales floor, you’ll understand why. You can find ALL the nostalgic video games here. Some games were only released in Japan, so this is your chance to find some rare titles! Additionally, the latest games, such as PS5 and Nintendo Switch, are also on sale, offering a lineup of both, nostalgic titles and current hits.

Game console sales on the 3rd floor, game sales on the 4th floor

On the top floor, the 5th floor, you can play retro arcade games, starting at 100 yen per play. Many games are available for two players, so come and enjoy them with your friends and family!

Read full article: Visit Chiyoda: Gamer Heaven Akihabara

SUPER POTATO Akihabara Store

https://www.superpotato.com
1-11-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4LFTHAxG16vEoowA6

3. Welcome to Cosplay Heaven! Cosplay & Anime Goods COSPATIO

COSPATIO, which sells high-quality cosplay costumes and anime-related goods, is located in a corner of “GEE!STORE Akiba” on the fourth floor of the electronics retail store “Onoden”. It offers numerous products, including character costumes, wigs, and support items for anime, games, and manga. It is truly a mecca of kawaii culture.

This is a uniform from “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.”

COSPATIO is certified by anime production companies to sell cosplay costumes, so all decorations, proportions, and other details are accurate. There are also limited edition items available only at COSPATIO.

Why don’t you transform yourself into something cute with a cosplay costume?

The store sells not only costumes but also makeup tools to help their customers transform into every character out there.

COSPATIO also takes commissions for the production of cosplay costumes. If you need a one-of-a-kind costume, such as one for a minor character, a costume with extravagant ornaments, or a special outfit to wear as the star of an event, you can have it custom-made!
By the way, COSPATIO is only part of one large floor, and if you explore further inside the GEE!STORE, you will find other brand stores produced by COSPA, the parent company of COSPATIO. Be sure to explore the anime and manga-related goods area as well.

COSPA sells anime-related goods that are easy to incorporate into your everyday life.

Read full article: Visit Chiyoda: COSPATIO Cosplay Costumes

Cosplay & Anime Goods COSPATIO

https://cospatio.com
GEE!STORE Akiba, inside Onoden Main Store 4F, 1-2-7 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/kw7yRZwJYkzA2rsX6

4. Shops for Local Gourmet Foods from All Over Japan! Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan

The motto of Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan is “Enjoy eating all over Japan.” You don’t have to go far to find delicious foods from all over Japan. Your friends and family will be delighted if you give them a “taste of Japan” as a gift!

The chaotic atmosphere in the store is very Akihabara-like.

Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan is located one or two minutes on foot on the north side of the Electronic Town Exit” of JR Akihabara Station. The store, which makes good use of the space under the elevated train tracks, houses a wide variety of people, goods, and things from all over Japan. Unlike the antenna stores that have become very popular recently, it is unique in that it carries products not only from one prefecture but from every prefecture in Japan.

A series of ramen noodles that reproduce the taste of each Kyushu prefecture

The store is divided into areas by Japanese prefecture, so if there is a place in Japan that interests you, it is fun to browse through products from that area. Other parts of the shop are divided into themes. The contents change periodically. For example, “Rice Accompaniments” (which are pickles, etc. to eat together with white rice) “Coffee from all over Japan” and so on.

Lanterns and signs hanging from the ceiling mark each area.

“Gohan no Otomo”, a series of food served on top of rice

(Left) Hokkaido Ramen with its unique package design (Right) Curry with Ezo Deer and Seals

Why not visit the unique Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan? Here, you can savor delicious foods from every corner of Japan without leaving Akihabara! This quirky store perfectly complements the vibrant and eclectic spirit of Akihabara, making it a must-visit for food lovers and culture enthusiasts alike.