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Nippombashi Otaroad: All About Osaka’s Otaku Answer to Akihabara!

Nippombashi Otaroad: All About Osaka’s Otaku Answer to Akihabara!

Last updated: 8 May 2020

Always bustling with activity, Nippombashi Otaroad - “the Akihabara of the West” - is a popular destination for anime lovers visiting Osaka. The name “Otaroad” comes from the word “otaku” and refers to fans of the street’s countless manga, game, and figure stores.

Located on the west side of the Denden Town area, Otaroad is famous among Kansai’s otaku.

1. Surugaya Otaroad Anime Hobby Museum: Best spot to find popular figures and models

1. Surugaya Otaroad Anime Hobby Museum: Best spot to find popular figures and models

Reopened in May 2019 after remodelling, Surugaya Otaroad Anime Hobby Museum is full of figures, plastic models, toys, anime products, plush toys, board games, and video games. There is English notation in the store, and purchases over 5,400 yen are tax-free for tourists.

A wide array of popular anime figures and models

Figures and models on the second floor
Figures and models on the second floor
Stuffed animals and character goods on the third floor
Stuffed animals and character goods on the third floor

The second floor features popular figures and plastic models, well-known by local and overseas fans alike. You can even check in advance if there’s a particular hero or figure you’re looking for. On the third floor, you’ll find stuffed toys incuding, of course, the ever-popular Pikachu.

The nearby Surugaya Osaka Nippombashi Main Store and the Surugaya Nippombashi Otaroad Otomekan each offer unique products, completing a fun triad of stores to visit.

  • Surugaya Otaroad
    駿河屋オタロード アニメ・ホビー館
    • Address 2-3F, Hirata Bld., 3-chome-8-18, Nippombashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, 556-0005
    • Phone Number 06-6645-0801
    • Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
      Regular holiday: No holidays

2. Animate Osaka Nippombashi: The largest in western Japan!

2. Animate Osaka Nippombashi: The largest in western Japan!

Animate Osaka Nippombashi boasts Japan’s largest selection of comics and magazines, figures, trading cards, anime items, and games. Tourists can enjoy tax-free shopping as they search for both popular and obscure treasures.

Lots of the latest anime goods!

Lots of the latest anime goods!
Character goods floor
Character goods floor

The first floor is dedicated to audio-visual products and books. New CDs, videos, and books tailored to your needs are available. The second floor features character-specific goods and the store often holds special events at which premiums are available.

  • Animate Osaka Nippombashi
    アニメイト大阪日本橋
    • Address Animate Bld. 1-2F, 1-1-3 Nippombashinishi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, 556-0004
    • Phone Number 06-6636-0628
    • Phone: 06-6636-0628
      Hours: 10:00 - 21:00

3. Nippombashi General Information Center

3. Nippombashi General Information Center

The Nippombashi General Information Center provides tourists with useful information about Denden Town and Otaroad. There’s a currency exchange machine at the information desk, and luggage storage service (500 yen per day). An addition, Osaka Free Wi-Fi is available, making the area even easier to navigate.

Other convenient services

Other convenient services

The Center also sells souvenirs featuring Nippombashi’s mascots, Neon-chan and Hikari-chan. Free shopping guides in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean are available along with a Nippombashi area map centering on Denden Town and Otaroad, which even includes a list of shops grouped by genre.

  • Nippombashi Information
    日本橋総合案内所
    • Address 5-chome-9-12 Nippombashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, 556-0005
    • Phone Number 06-6655-1717
    • Hours: 11:00 - 19:00

4. The Nippombashi Street Festa! (Early March)

4. The Nippombashi Street Festa! (Early March)

First held in 2005, the Nippombashi Street Festa is an annual cosplay event in early March. Welcoming over 250,000 visitors per year, the festival centers around its Cosplay & Character parade.

In addition to the main parade, there are many roadside events. Cosplay participation wristbands and photography participation certificates are available for 2,000 yen each (tax included, 2019 prices).

Nippombashi Otaroad is always lively and its broad selection of anime and figure shops offer a fun shopping experience for true otaku and more casual fans alike. Be sure to head to Denden Town and take a stroll along Otaroad!

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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