Are your kids anime fans? Or maybe you’re a family of otakus. Whichever one it is, Japan is the best place for you! My family went to Tokyo as part of our 14-day Japan itinerary because I’m a huge otaku (this was during my Haikyuu phase). If you love anime, then here are some of the top picks you might want to consider adding to your itinerary.
Akihabara
Are Dragon Ball figurines on your wishlist? Need some high-quality anime shirts? The latest volume of your favorite manga? Akiba’s got you! Akihabara, or “Akiba” for short, is the perfect shopping utopia for anime fans! This center is absolutely dedicated to all things anime, manga, and gaming. If anime is your main reason for traveling to Japan, then you’ll have a blast blowing your budget on the insane amount of stores in this otaku wonderland.
Ghibli Museum
EVERYBODY loves Ghibli movies, am I right? Well, good news to those hardcore Ghibli anime fans, because this is the place for you! And if you haven’t watched any of their movies, then what are you doing with your life? Stop reading this article and pull up Netflix! Seriously, on your trip to Japan, it will be totally worthwhile to visit this heaven, which contains replicas of your favorite iconic Ghibli characters to greet you at the front gate.
The inside of the museum itself is full of both permanent and temporary exhibitions that change yearly. It exhibits everything you want to know about the ways of Studio Ghibli, such as Japanese animation history and techniques, sketch drafts, and most importantly, how the delicious food seen in their various movies is made! Want to dive deeper into the magic of how such magical films are made? Don’t worry, because the staff there speak English to answer all your burning questions.
Suginami Animation Museum
On the topic of museums, here’s another place you might want to visit if you’re curious about how your favorite animes are made. At Suguinami Animation Museum, you can learn how your favorite shows are brought from rough sketches to your TV screen. Prepare to be wowed at the informative displays showcasing the history of Japanese animation. Want to know what the life of an artist is like? No problem, because this museum has an area for that too! You’ll also find a library and theater to complete the full anime lover’s experience.
Gundam Base Tokyo
Even if you are a Gundam fan, you should totally take a look at the humongous Unicorn Gundam looming over the DiverCity building. Check out Gundam Base Tokyo, which is home to all things Gundam related. Inside, you’ll find various shops selling model kits, food, and other types of Gundam merchandise.
Toyosato Elementary School
Now you might be asking, “What if I don’t feel like shopping.” Well, never fear because there are a few places you can go to if you’d rather escape reality and hop into the world of anime (somewhat). Toyosato Elementary School is, yes, the school seen in the adorable anime K-ON. It’s the perfect spot for cosplay photoshoots and celebrating the girls’ birthdays.
Washinomiya Shrine
Want to be immersed in the world of anime and take home a souvenir? The birthplace of Lucky Star is the place to go. As Lucky Stara anime fans know, the sisters Tsukasa and Kagami are shrine maidens in the anime. Other than being a great place for some major photoshoot action, you can buy Lucky Star goodies at the shrine as well.
Suga Shrine
This other shrine is also a must-visit for otakus out there. Except, the main point of the visit isn’t the shrine itself–the staircase is. To the eyes of others, it’s just a normal, plain old staircase, but to lovers of Your Name, it’s the staircase that brings back heart-wrenching memories of a certain ending scene. This staircase, lined with a red metal railing, is – you guessed it – where Taki and Mitsuha finally reunite at the end of the film. Feel free to recreate those moments in the film with a friend!
JUMP Stores
Last but not least, you may find a few JUMP stores in almost every mall and airport in Japan. If you’re a big anime fan, especially a shounen lover, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on taking home some merch from these stores. They sell anything from mugs to shirts to plushies, all from many shounen animes such as Naruto, Haikyuu, One Piece, and more!
Japan, the birthplace of anime, is the perfect vacation spot for otakus. You’ll definitely enjoy visiting these wonderful museums, shopping at various stores, and even living in an anime through some of the real-life locations seen in the shows. Have fun!
