HOME Tokyo and Surroundings Tokyo Ikebukuro Explore the very deep world of Otome Road

Explore the very deep world of Otome Road

Date published: 22 March 2016
Last updated: 19 May 2020

Otome Road, located to the west of the Sunshine 60 Dori, is a street with many anime-related shops. What is different here as compared to other areas where you can enjoy anime culture is that all the shops here sell products aimed at women. Let's go find some rare items and comic books.

Animate Sunshine, where you find an array of anime-related shops from the first to the eighth floors, can be referred to as an icon of Otome Road. You can get costumes and wigs for cosplay at ACOS, and you can enjoy anime-related menus at Animate Cafe. This is where anime and cosplay lovers gather.

Mandarake carries a wide range of products including used comic books and character goods. Among those, this outlet here on Otome Road mainly carries dojinshi (works created by individuals who chip in money to publish their works), that are all about romance between male characters. Note that dojinshi are available only in Japanese. Also, you can see staff dressed in various cosplay costumes.

K-BOOKS, which also has an outlet in Akihabara, carries anime goods and dojinshi. K-BOOKS Ikebukuro Cosplay-kan is the only outlet among their group of companies to focus on cosplay. Around 2,000 products including wigs, costumes, and accessories are available. Other than this shop, there is an outlet in Ikebukuro that specializes in anime-related products, so make sure to stop by!

This is a shop with an interior design concept based on a fictional school called St. Giuliano Music Academy, where students learn music and dancing. Customers can interact with ikemen (good-looking men) in school uniforms. There is a stage in the cafe, and you can enjoy not only the dance and live performances but also taking pictures with them!