Enjoy Tokyo

Nostalgia runs deep at Nakano Broadway, where visitors will discover relics from their past wherever you look

Located just a short walk north of Nakano Station on the Chuo, Sobu and Tozai Lines, Nakano Broadway is easily accessible from anywhere in Tokyo. A can't-miss-it facade welcomes visitors boldly into its corridors overflowing with treasures: this is where otaku meets fashion meets neighborhood greengrocer meets hairstylist meets you-name-it.

 

The Pop and Subculture Behemoth

Manga reigns supreme at Nakano Broadway, with countless shops dedicated to every genre imaginable

The Mandarake collection of shops specializing in everything from manga, anime and cosplay to action figures, model cars, vintage toys and more not only takes up a huge amount of floor space, but draws visitors from across Japan and the world to see and snap up its exhaustive selection of pop-culture and subculture treasures.

It's in the 30-plus Mandarake shops and Nakano Broadway's myriad other collectibles stores where visitors will find treasures from their childhood in the form of posters, figurines, tin wind-up toys, stuffed animals and trading cards, all begging to be taken home.

While manga and anime may be king, cosplay, antiques, video games and gachapon have a strong presence, as do Japanese idols, who are represented in shops by a wealth of mementos and other items. At Nakano Broadway, you'll find shelves stacked with signed and rare merchandise, and of course, collectible photos of all your favorite boy band and girl group idols.

 

All Your Shopping Needs Under One Roof

From crystals and psychic readings to daily necessities, Nakano Broadway takes care of all your needs

True to its roots, Nakano Broadway remains a world unto itself, with a hodgepodge of shops covering everything a person could need. Shoppers can have their fortunes read while waiting for a reflexology appointment or pick up cutting-edge electronics before investing in a luxury watch or handbag.

Next to manga and otaku offerings, Nakano Broadway is best known for its fashion. A land of contrasts where boutiques dating from the 1960s share corridors with avant-garde designs, cosplayers flock to the shopping complex for wigs, accessories and second-hand ensembles, while alternative fashion aficionados frequent the complex in search of gothic lolita, kawaii and other subcultural fashion styles. No matter if you wear head-to-toe army surplus or American casual wear, you'll find something to take home.

There are plenty of food options to take home, too, from dried fruits and nuts to fresh fish and groceries. Visitors looking for mid-shopping snacks will find vegetarian shojin ryori, sushi, home cooking and curry, while those with a fondness for sweets will swoon for over crepes and sky-high servings of ice-cream.

 

Shops Within Shops

Find rare treasures in rental showcase stores where serious collectors display and sell their curios and collectibles

Sometimes, a personal collection is too spectacular to keep hidden in a room at home, but at Nakano Broadway, these privately curated collections come out of the closet to be sold in rental showcases. Visitors will find case after case of meticulously organized collectibles -- from the miniature kids' meals toys you coveted as a child to the character Pez dispensers you traded with friends at school to limited-edition movie memorabilia and more -- some items in mint condition, and many that you won't find anywhere else.

With so many cases on rotation, it's a guarantee that shoppers will find someone of a like mind selling part of their carefully collected treasures.

 

Find out more on the official website:
https://nakano-broadway.com/

 

This article was written by Helen A. Langford-Matsui.

　

*This article was posted on the Life in Tokyo website operated by the Tokyo International Communication Committee on June 10, 2019.