There’ll be more to do than just shopping at the new Animate flagship location.
It’s been a rough couple of years for Tokyo’s otaku-oriented businesses, with landmark dojinshi shops and video game arcades closing down. But there’s a happy exception coming soon, as Animate, Japan’s biggest anime/manga specialty store, is building a gigantic new location in the city’s Ikebukuro neighborhood.
Following a massive expansion to the existing Animate Ikebukuro branch, the new Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store will have nine above-ground floors, plus one more below the surface. First announced last December, newly released details show it’s not just a shopping spot, either, but more of an otaku entertainment complex. In addition to selling various types of anime/manga/video game merch, the building will also house a theater, art exhibition gallery, snack stand with character latte art beverages and icing cookies, and three separate theater halls/event spaces for concerts, stage shows, dramatic readings, talk shows, and other fan festivities.
The floor guide lists:
● 9th floor: Animate Hall Black, Animate Hall White (event spaces)
● 8th floor: Space Galleria (revolving exhibitions of anime, manga, light novel, and video game art)
● 7th floor: Animate Only Shop (pop-up stores with art panel displays and photo corners)
● 6th floor: CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games
● 5th floor: Character goods
● 4th floor: Character goods
● 3rd floor: Manga, art books
● 2nd floor: Manga
● 1st floor: Character goods, Gratte (drink stand)
● Basement level: Animate Theater (event space)
▼ A My Dress-Up Darling exhibition will be Space Galleria’s first event
The Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store opens on March 16, and also serves as a 40th anniversary celebration for the chain, which opened its very first store, also in Ikebukuro, in 1983.
Source: Animate via IT Media
Top image: Animate
Insert images: Animate (1, 2)
- Area
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
Recommended places for you
-
Nature with Art: Explore 'teamLab: Hidden Traces of Rice Terraces' in Ibaraki
-
Celebrate 25 Years of Nikko's UNESCO Sites: 2 Limited-Time Plans to Explore Buddhism and the Samurai Spirit
-
SENSE ISLAND/LAND Art Event in Yokosuka: Discover Unique Performances on the Uninhabited Island of Sarushima
-
Experience the Magic of 'The Nutcracker' in Tokyo This Winter
-
Explore Autumn in Hyogo Prefecture: Two-Day Road Trip to See Stunning Foliage and Top Attractions
by: Hide
-
Visiting Japan in November: The Best Things to Do and Reasons to Visit
by: James Davies
Inspiration for Accommodations
-
Top Ranked Hakone Hotels with Mt. Fuji View: Enjoy Stunning Scenery from Your Private Space
-
Convenient Tokyo Hotels with Airport Shuttle: Ideal for Families and Heavy Luggage
-
Stunning Tokyo Tower View Hotels: Enjoy Spectacular Scenery from Your Private Space
-
Family-Friendly Hotels with Free Shuttle to Disneyland: Convenient Access for a Magical Stay
-
Convenient Asakusa Hotels with Kitchens: Ideal for Extended Family Visits
-
Experience Luxury: Hakone's 10 Best Five-Star Accommodations
-
Enjoy Mt. Fuji Autumn Leaves! Top Hotels Near the Popular Autumn Leaves Corridor
-
Experience Hakone Fall Foliage from Your Room with Stunning Views
-
Enjoy Mt. Fuji from the Comfort of Your Room! Recommended Ryokan with Mt. Fuji View
-
Experience Luxury at Mt. Fuji Resort Hotels! Best Extended Stay Options for Families
-
Canned Food Mania: Taste Testing 5 of Japan’s Most Popular Offerings
by: Matt Vachon
-
Numazuko Kaisho in Ueno: Good Quality, All-You-Can-Eat Seafood for Just US$12!?
-
Japanese Women Told Us Their Beauty Routines (And This is Why You Should be Careful with Perfume)!
-
Inside Komehyo Shinjuku: Everything You Need to Know About Japan's Second-Hand Shop!
-
Secrets to Shopping in Japan: Guide to Annual Sales in Japan & Where to Shop
by: Miyu Shimada
-
Healthcare in Japan for Tourists: What to Do When You Get Sick or Injured in Japan
- #best ramen tokyo
- #what to buy in ameyoko
- #what to bring to japan
- #new years in tokyo
- #best izakaya shinjuku
- #things to do tokyo
- #japanese nail trends
- #what to do in odaiba
- #onsen tattoo friendly tokyo
- #daiso
- #best sushi ginza
- #japanese convenience store snacks
- #best yakiniku shibuya
- #japanese fashion culture
- #best japanese soft drinks