For Akihabara, when it comes to figures I would strongly suggest Surugaya (it is just next to Mandarake). They have a reallyyyy wide selection, so many figures and good prices. This is also a multi stories building. Didn;t know about Suruga in Shinjuku. Very important to otaku culture is also Nagano Broadway, a huge mall with many Mandarake and other figures/games stores. They give you a map when you enter in english a well. You should deferentially go there at least once There is the Shin Sekai area in Osaka, like a smaller version of Akihabara with stores and maid cafes. Nice video, hopefully I will be able to visit again this spring and visit those stores again
When I went to Tokyo in 2019 a buddy and I ended up in the Ikebukuro Mandarake I was so confused at how it was almost entirely doujins and left as soon as I figured it out lol, this explains so much
I'm a mom, I was in Japan 25 years ago and I'm taking my kid for his high school graduation. Your videos are great as I try to navigate his love of Anime, architecture and history. Thank you!
Wow!! I came across your channel randomly planning for my partner and my's first Japan trip next year, and I'm *so* glad I did, as I've been watching as much as possible for a week now. Thanks for such a straight forward and informative video!!
If I needed concrete proof that our cellphones actively listen in on our conversations, I need to look no further than this video recommendation. Insta-sub, by the way. I and my anime-bro have been planning our holy pilgrimage to Japan for years; riding out the covid restrictions; finally gearing to go in October 2023. Just yesterday we were in the early (serious) stages of discussing our itinerary, when this gem pops up on my feed. Thank you for making this video. As a lifelong anime nut with 0 functioning knowledge of how things actually WORK in Japan, it really helps steer me in the right direction. I'll be sure to geek it out in Akhibara and Ikebukuro, the Nintendo store is a definite visit for me. I had no idea Otome Road was even a thing; will definitely make time for it. Cheers!
I am planning trip next year, your videos making me add more stops😆 and I love it. Do you by any chance know of a physical store that sells Japanese music merch like CD, posters, t-shirts, light sticks ect.?
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka is also worth checking out if you’re a Whisper of the heart fan. There’s a whole map of locations from the movie right at the station and it’s not that far from central Tokyo either if you Keio it! I used to live like 10 minutes away.
This is awesome! I just started researching and Gunma also did a stamp rally last year for Initial D, a street race anime (My husband's favorite anime). We've often talked about going to Gunma next time we go to Japan, but now knowing Anime Pilgrimage is a thing this sounds like it could be even more fun! I'm also here for all things Hello Kitty and Ghibli.
I didn't know that Chrome has a Google Translate extension! Thanks Allie! We just booked flights for the spring so I want to look into the Pokemon Cafe for sure.
Can confirm that Japan has the best second hand figures. Wow, we got some amazing figures at insanely low prices all bc they were second hand! Omg I wanna go back so badly 😢
I love that you added the map with the pink hilight of ikebukuro! Great job on starting off with an overview of what the video is about and then having the video cut up into the different parts. I love the anime pilgrimage but I never knew there was an association that put out the locations 😲. I never knew about the cafe or association website but they will be forever added to my bookmarks now. There are a few activities I am trying to do in Japan that are difficult to pin down since it’s all in Japanese 😢. You should totally do a second video!!
i loooved this vid!! would def love a more ind depth one :3 when i went a few trips ago i remember i had pink hair and wore a sailor fuku and roamed azabu-juban and visited sailor moon locations like Rei's shrine, the bus stop area, the steps, the jewelry shop, etc and i heard people whisper behind my back -ChIbiUsAChaN- and it made me so stupid happy hahaha 🥲 it was such a fun way to explore a non-touristy area, but also felt super special 😌💕
In 2009 I had already been to Tokyo several times, but that year I went with two girls who had never been before. So I went and showed them Otome Road, because of course they were looking for BL. So I took them to K-Books, showed them inside, and then went out and cooled my heels for an hour or two.
I've only just discovered your channel which is alarmingly mysterious because your video titles in theory SHOULD pop up on my very particularly phrased content searches on YT. Anyway, I'm so pleased I found you. This video was exciting and inspiring. I'm always delighted and engrossed when listening to someone share their enthusiasms and passions in such a detailed and articulate way. It's contagious. I loved it! I'm curious why you never mentioned Nakano Broadway in this video. I know you had a very thoughtfully considered reason and I'd love to know what it is. You have greater knowledge and experience in this area, so your views and suggestions are valued. Thank you for all you shared and for your hard work on this channel in general.
I tried the Burger King Spy x Family collab. It was deeply merely fine! But apparently my sensei's grandma really likes the Anya paper bib I got from it, so that's lovely.
Great list! Here's a few more things. Nakano Broadway and the Shibuya Mandarake are fantastic for used goods. Book Offs are also good. SanrioPuroland is a short ride to Tama City for fans of Hello Kitty. Animate itself runs cafes in Ikebukuro, so checking the website beforehand is a good idea. Namjatown in the Ikebukuro Alta building always has some kind of collab going on, including exhibits, food and goods. Diver City mall in Odaiba has the Gundam and a Gundam store. Yokohama also has a Gundam attraction, though it closes next year, I think. And... there's a metric ton of idol, seiyuu, and anison events and concerts that fans can try for, though getting tickets from overseas can be difficult. Oh! Plus the Tokyo Game Show, Comiket and Anime Japan.
OMG BEST GUIDE EVER!! so many hidden gems that I could not find online while researching my upcoming Japan trip. Thankfully we’re going in February of 2023 so I will be definitely looking out for any upcoming videos of yours that go into more details!! 😊❤
Thanks for all the suggestions! My family and I are traveling to Japan in November so I'll be adding some of these to my list, especially checking for fun cafes!
You have nothing to be nervous about and your trip will blow your mind-- it's going to be ten times better than you're expecting or even hoping. My top tip: all the 'cool' stuff, the beautiful stuff is in small stores down forbidding, narrow little alley ways. You'll poke your head down these dark, narrow lanes and see nothing but wheelie bins and random people flitting about and instantly relate them to lanes and allies in cities all around the world, perhaps deciding there's nothing down there just puddles of pee, vagrants and rubbish. Nay nay! Go, seriously, go down these alleys and go into places you pass, it will thrill and astonish you. It took me a while to wrap my head around this uniquely Japanese urban phenomemon and reprogram myself to deliberately duck into every narrow little lane I could. I was ALWAYS rewarded, no exaggeration. Also: the beautiful and cool shops, boutiques and coffee shops etc are in basements or up ugly stairs in what looks like apartment buildings. From street level you NEVER EVER know there's a beautiful boutique selling handmade items up there: from down there it looks like a 1970s apartment complex. Always go up stairs and have a peek. And don't forget to Google street-view an address you're hunting for, just so you can reassure yourself visually that yes, you ARE in the right place and the hipster coffee shop IS upstairs in the ugly grey building that looks like a 1980's abandoned dentist clinic in a residential area. You're going to have so much fun.
i'm going on my first trip to japan in 3 weeks, so this came at the perfect time! i had actually kinda written off ikebukuro as being "kinda far" so thank you for telling me what a massive mistake that was about to be
Hi Aky! I hope you'll watch more videos on shopping in Nakano Broadway and opt to include it in your daily itinerary one day. It's only a couple of train stops north of Shinjuku, walking distance from the station. It's got loads of second-hand goods, exquisite vintage manga, anime figurines and so many other hidden, ultra-quirky things to uncover. The atmosphere is decidedly flat and feels a bit grotty but the reason I recommend you visit Nakano Broadway BEFORE you go shopping for the above stuff in Akihabara and Ikebukuro is because generally speaking the Nakano stores sell their gear at considerably lower prices. That means that if you go to the flashier, more well-known areas FIRST you could end up spending too much money without knowing how much better prices could be elsewhere. So go to the 'cheaper' shopping mall first. I also would suggest avoiding buying "vintage" clothing in Shimokitazawa and Koenji as they're HIDEOUSLY overpriced and the selection of curated items in ever shop I went to was distinctly underwhelming to the point of being generic (how many early 2000s pastel-coloured windbreakers and denim jeans can I see before my eyes start glazing over? 😵💫). No bargains to be had there. They sell so much denim and trousers in worryingly tiny sizes that I was almost stunned by it, so you may wind up feeling as bored as I was after a few hours trawling their second-hand clothing stores. On the other hand, La Foret is A MUST. No question. That's where so many fantastic clothing concessions and stores are and worth every penny. Just one person offering a lesson they learned the hard way. I'm thrilled for you and sincerely hope your trip is a safe, healthy and full of life-affirming joys and unexpected triumphs. Bon voyage!
Ikebukuro is a really fun place to visit so do't write it off! It's always the city I book the most nights in when visiting Japan, I really like staying there and it offers so many interesting things for everyone.
Fantastic video, it was alot of fun to watch, you should definitely do another one! If you're looking for other anime related pilgrimages in Japan, Poke-lids are a great way to go on an adventure almost anywhere in Japan. Stamp rallies are fun too!
Thank you so much Allison-sensei 😉 for this great video! I took a lot of notes and can’t check them all from my bucket list for my next trip. It was really helpful, especially that anime pilgrimage website I didn’t know of yet. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Now I just have to decide where to go, which is going to be really hard since I want to see a lot 😆 So if you have more on this topic to share, please do! Can’t get enough of it 😁
Hi Allison! 1st of all, thank you for this video. My next trip will take me to Nagasaki and there I was already aware of the place in IRODUKU but that site for the pilgrimages adds something that I really love in Japan that is stamps. Eki stampu; temple stamps; anywhere and everywhere stamps - I just love it and it makes an awesome memory (if you don't mess the stamps by collecting them both sides of a really thin paper, lol). And for what I saw from the pictures, if you go to a stamp place you can get the flyer for that year list... oh I want the kawagoe one of Kamisama; Chichibu one from Anohana; Takayama - Hyouka.
My otaku mate and I are planning our dream trip for next year (Im coming from UK, he's coming from OZ) we want to come during cherry blossom season so we're watching livestreams to see when it is this year and then targeting three full weeks (excluding travel) over there. Thankyou so much for all your advice vids, we've not watched all of them yet, but from those we have we have added SO MUCH to our planning mindmap! Will gladly treat to you to a meal at your favorite anime cafe next year as thanks and to just have a chat with someone with interest-specific local knowledge if you're up for it.
Excellent compilation! (Perfect description of Akihabara vs Ikebukuro haha) Sending this to my friend that lives there, but hasn’t been to Tokyo yet with her kids. 👍
Thank you Allison for this video! Perfect timing...I am going to Japan for the first time next Summer and this definitely helps with planning what I want to see that's anime-related!!
Awesome vid, Allison and thanks for the tips. I’ll be visiting Japan for a month very soon and videos like this certainly help. Looking forward to more content you dish out~
Going to Kyushu this year. There is an Attack on Titan museum and you can visit the dam wall that inspired the show. There is also a location from demon slayer and let's not forget, harmony land - sanrio park (hello kitty fans!) I also visit the island that inspired princess mononoke. When I planned my trip I didn't realize how much anime was in Kyushu but it's a nice bonus. Fingers crossed I can also get tickets to studio ghibli 🤞
Hope you can do a video on the big mall . Other attraction is the Big Gundam that moves. There is a Robotech fighter somewhere in Tokyo saw on a news channel or a different 🇯🇵 channel? They need a Godzilla same size as the Gundam figure to if they have the Tokyo 🎃 on the 31st Monday maybe do a live video? 🇯🇵👍📸🗼
Thank you so much for this very helpful video Allison!! I’m coming to Japan specifically for the Rose of Versailles exhibition this year (an old shoujo manga from the 70s). Although it’s too bad that I already missed their collaboration-cafe :’( I have to check out the places you listed for rare and old manga/animes because I don’t think I will find this merchandise anywhere! (If you ever come across RoV merch, please let me know!!😊)
Omg!! I’ve been searching around for Japan travel tips and your vids are by far the most helpful! (And not overdone and cringe lol THANK YOU) Gonna binge all your videos to prepare for our March trip! We’ve been wondering how in the heck to find out about anime theme pop ups, thanks for sharing the website! CANT WAIT TO SHOP omg
Planning my trip to Japan after my 2020 dream trip was cancelled for obvious reason... I really fear my finances will not recover well from akihabara >_
I'm not a Nendoroid collector but there always has been one that i've kept a look out for just in case... my grail if you will and I SEEEEE ITTTTTTTTTT at 4:28... 524... I've never seen one in the wild before... >.
Can you make a video how to buy Ghibli museum tickets? There are no guides available how to buy it since the pandemic. Unfortunately, the system changed since then.
I would really recommend when you explain different locations and other things, add more pictures or even small clips to show exactly what you talking about... Regardless thank you for the video, very helpful!
Great video! My wife and I are going to Japan next month and hoping to spend a day in Nerima checking out locations from shigatsu wa kimi no uso if we can figure out how to get around there! Question as far as finding goods from specific anime… my wife LOVES yuru camp and is wanting to find some merch. Pretty hard to come by here in the states, any suggestions of specific places to look or is it popular enough in japan that it shouldnt be an issue?
Hey Alison I'm from New Zealand n just came across ur page. I was wandering what bars and clubs you'd recommend for me n my mates? Or if there's a particular city/ region we should check out for that sort of stuff. We're all early 20's n keen as to come visit!
I play otome games (code realize, collar x malice, olympia soiree, piofiore, etc) so it’s not exactly anime. I wonder if they have merch there in otome road.
imagine my embarrassment when my family dropped me off at animate akihabara and see me enter a store with huge ecchi posters on both side of the doors?? lesson learned. at least i also got to bring back dmmd merch :')
@Alison in Tokyo hi, could you please tell me is Rashinban a separate store or is it located inside of another building inside of Akihabara and if it is it's own store could please provide me with the address as nothing is coming up for that place on a Google search
Hello me and a friend of mine are thinking about traveling to japan for a week or so and since we are big anime fans we are wondering if the best location to stai its in akihabara or would it be better to stay in another nearby location and just go to akihabara via train?
THIS VIDEO WAS A MISTAKE....I just want to go shopping for anime goods now 😭
For Akihabara, when it comes to figures I would strongly suggest Surugaya (it is just next to Mandarake). They have a reallyyyy wide selection, so many figures and good prices. This is also a multi stories building. Didn;t know about Suruga in Shinjuku.
Very important to otaku culture is also Nagano Broadway, a huge mall with many Mandarake and other figures/games stores. They give you a map when you enter in english a well. You should deferentially go there at least once
There is the Shin Sekai area in Osaka, like a smaller version of Akihabara with stores and maid cafes.
Nice video, hopefully I will be able to visit again this spring and visit those stores again
When I went to Tokyo in 2019 a buddy and I ended up in the Ikebukuro Mandarake I was so confused at how it was almost entirely doujins and left as soon as I figured it out lol, this explains so much
I'm a mom, I was in Japan 25 years ago and I'm taking my kid for his high school graduation. Your videos are great as I try to navigate his love of Anime, architecture and history. Thank you!
Last time I went to Akiba I spent like 3 hours looking at every store inside Radio Kaikan. It's so convenient and so close to the station!
Wow!! I came across your channel randomly planning for my partner and my's first Japan trip next year, and I'm *so* glad I did, as I've been watching as much as possible for a week now. Thanks for such a straight forward and informative video!!
Same, very glad I stumbled upon these videos, especially since visiting friend in Tokyo mid-January :>
It just popped up.
If I needed concrete proof that our cellphones actively listen in on our conversations, I need to look no further than this video recommendation. Insta-sub, by the way.
I and my anime-bro have been planning our holy pilgrimage to Japan for years; riding out the covid restrictions; finally gearing to go in October 2023. Just yesterday we were in the early (serious) stages of discussing our itinerary, when this gem pops up on my feed. Thank you for making this video. As a lifelong anime nut with 0 functioning knowledge of how things actually WORK in Japan, it really helps steer me in the right direction.
I'll be sure to geek it out in Akhibara and Ikebukuro, the Nintendo store is a definite visit for me. I had no idea Otome Road was even a thing; will definitely make time for it.
Cheers!
I am planning trip next year, your videos making me add more stops😆 and I love it.
Do you by any chance know of a physical store that sells Japanese music merch like CD, posters, t-shirts, light sticks ect.?
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka is also worth checking out if you’re a Whisper of the heart fan. There’s a whole map of locations from the movie right at the station and it’s not that far from central Tokyo either if you Keio it! I used to live like 10 minutes away.
This is awesome! I just started researching and Gunma also did a stamp rally last year for Initial D, a street race anime (My husband's favorite anime). We've often talked about going to Gunma next time we go to Japan, but now knowing Anime Pilgrimage is a thing this sounds like it could be even more fun! I'm also here for all things Hello Kitty and Ghibli.
Yes please, more on the pilgrimage.
This episode is a must-watch for Japanese anime fans
I didn't know that Chrome has a Google Translate extension! Thanks Allie! We just booked flights for the spring so I want to look into the Pokemon Cafe for sure.
I also check out the underground mall of tokyo station as well.
Can confirm that Japan has the best second hand figures. Wow, we got some amazing figures at insanely low prices all bc they were second hand! Omg I wanna go back so badly 😢
I love that you added the map with the pink hilight of ikebukuro! Great job on starting off with an overview of what the video is about and then having the video cut up into the different parts. I love the anime pilgrimage but I never knew there was an association that put out the locations 😲. I never knew about the cafe or association website but they will be forever added to my bookmarks now. There are a few activities I am trying to do in Japan that are difficult to pin down since it’s all in Japanese 😢. You should totally do a second video!!
i loooved this vid!! would def love a more ind depth one :3 when i went a few trips ago i remember i had pink hair and wore a sailor fuku and roamed azabu-juban and visited sailor moon locations like Rei's shrine, the bus stop area, the steps, the jewelry shop, etc and i heard people whisper behind my back -ChIbiUsAChaN- and it made me so stupid happy hahaha 🥲 it was such a fun way to explore a non-touristy area, but also felt super special 😌💕
In 2009 I had already been to Tokyo several times, but that year I went with two girls who had never been before. So I went and showed them Otome Road, because of course they were looking for BL. So I took them to K-Books, showed them inside, and then went out and cooled my heels for an hour or two.
Moving to Tokyo in January! Super excited! Love your videos ❤️❤️
Great video Allison. Would love a video on your favourite anime and manga :)
Collab cafes are my favorite 🥰
I’m the crazy one who brings 72819 stands and itabags to the events 😂
omg hell yeah 🫡
yasss i love sunshine city so much!! but everythign else u mentioned in this video i had no idea omg so much to exploreee T_T
Learning about Ikebukuro will SAVE meeeee
I've only just discovered your channel which is alarmingly mysterious because your video titles in theory SHOULD pop up on my very particularly phrased content searches on YT. Anyway, I'm so pleased I found you. This video was exciting and inspiring. I'm always delighted and engrossed when listening to someone share their enthusiasms and passions in such a detailed and articulate way. It's contagious. I loved it! I'm curious why you never mentioned Nakano Broadway in this video. I know you had a very thoughtfully considered reason and I'd love to know what it is. You have greater knowledge and experience in this area, so your views and suggestions are valued. Thank you for all you shared and for your hard work on this channel in general.
Having lived there myself, I agree with the tips ^^
You look radiant! Thanks for sharing your passions.
I tried the Burger King Spy x Family collab. It was deeply merely fine! But apparently my sensei's grandma really likes the Anya paper bib I got from it, so that's lovely.
as expected 😂😂 not sure if i’ll be trying this one!!
Great list! Here's a few more things. Nakano Broadway and the Shibuya Mandarake are fantastic for used goods. Book Offs are also good. SanrioPuroland is a short ride to Tama City for fans of Hello Kitty. Animate itself runs cafes in Ikebukuro, so checking the website beforehand is a good idea. Namjatown in the Ikebukuro Alta building always has some kind of collab going on, including exhibits, food and goods. Diver City mall in Odaiba has the Gundam and a Gundam store. Yokohama also has a Gundam attraction, though it closes next year, I think. And... there's a metric ton of idol, seiyuu, and anison events and concerts that fans can try for, though getting tickets from overseas can be difficult. Oh! Plus the Tokyo Game Show, Comiket and Anime Japan.
Yes, more on anime pilgrimages. ❤🎉
OMG BEST GUIDE EVER!! so many hidden gems that I could not find online while researching my upcoming Japan trip. Thankfully we’re going in February of 2023 so I will be definitely looking out for any upcoming videos of yours that go into more details!! 😊❤
Great guide! Guess I might come back to that video some time in the future :) (hopefully)
Thanks for all the suggestions! My family and I are traveling to Japan in November so I'll be adding some of these to my list, especially checking for fun cafes!
Thanks for the video, just arrived in Tokyo 😎
I love that your channel is growing :) Been here since about 1k subs. More power!
I'm solo traveling as a woman there next October and im super nervous! I've always wanted to explore this side of Japan so im very excited
You have nothing to be nervous about and your trip will blow your mind-- it's going to be ten times better than you're expecting or even hoping. My top tip: all the 'cool' stuff, the beautiful stuff is in small stores down forbidding, narrow little alley ways. You'll poke your head down these dark, narrow lanes and see nothing but wheelie bins and random people flitting about and instantly relate them to lanes and allies in cities all around the world, perhaps deciding there's nothing down there just puddles of pee, vagrants and rubbish. Nay nay! Go, seriously, go down these alleys and go into places you pass, it will thrill and astonish you. It took me a while to wrap my head around this uniquely Japanese urban phenomemon and reprogram myself to deliberately duck into every narrow little lane I could. I was ALWAYS rewarded, no exaggeration. Also: the beautiful and cool shops, boutiques and coffee shops etc are in basements or up ugly stairs in what looks like apartment buildings. From street level you NEVER EVER know there's a beautiful boutique selling handmade items up there: from down there it looks like a 1970s apartment complex. Always go up stairs and have a peek. And don't forget to Google street-view an address you're hunting for, just so you can reassure yourself visually that yes, you ARE in the right place and the hipster coffee shop IS upstairs in the ugly grey building that looks like a 1980's abandoned dentist clinic in a residential area. You're going to have so much fun.
This is fantastic information. Thanks so much for the tips Allison 😊
Thanks for sharing this great info, my wife and I will be visiting Japan next week and we got some great tips from your video ❤️
i'm going on my first trip to japan in 3 weeks, so this came at the perfect time! i had actually kinda written off ikebukuro as being "kinda far" so thank you for telling me what a massive mistake that was about to be
Hi Aky! I hope you'll watch more videos on shopping in Nakano Broadway and opt to include it in your daily itinerary one day. It's only a couple of train stops north of Shinjuku, walking distance from the station. It's got loads of second-hand goods, exquisite vintage manga, anime figurines and so many other hidden, ultra-quirky things to uncover. The atmosphere is decidedly flat and feels a bit grotty but the reason I recommend you visit Nakano Broadway BEFORE you go shopping for the above stuff in Akihabara and Ikebukuro is because generally speaking the Nakano stores sell their gear at considerably lower prices. That means that if you go to the flashier, more well-known areas FIRST you could end up spending too much money without knowing how much better prices could be elsewhere. So go to the 'cheaper' shopping mall first. I also would suggest avoiding buying "vintage" clothing in Shimokitazawa and Koenji as they're HIDEOUSLY overpriced and the selection of curated items in ever shop I went to was distinctly underwhelming to the point of being generic (how many early 2000s pastel-coloured windbreakers and denim jeans can I see before my eyes start glazing over? 😵💫). No bargains to be had there. They sell so much denim and trousers in worryingly tiny sizes that I was almost stunned by it, so you may wind up feeling as bored as I was after a few hours trawling their second-hand clothing stores. On the other hand, La Foret is A MUST. No question. That's where so many fantastic clothing concessions and stores are and worth every penny. Just one person offering a lesson they learned the hard way. I'm thrilled for you and sincerely hope your trip is a safe, healthy and full of life-affirming joys and unexpected triumphs. Bon voyage!
Ikebukuro is a really fun place to visit so do't write it off! It's always the city I book the most nights in when visiting Japan, I really like staying there and it offers so many interesting things for everyone.
You are informative to provide tips on traveling to Japan, Miss Allison, even it is off topic.
Fantastic video, it was alot of fun to watch, you should definitely do another one! If you're looking for other anime related pilgrimages in Japan, Poke-lids are a great way to go on an adventure almost anywhere in Japan. Stamp rallies are fun too!
Thanks for the suggestions. I will be visiting Tokyo next week and i'm totally stoked!
Thank you so much Allison-sensei 😉 for this great video! I took a lot of notes and can’t check them all from my bucket list for my next trip. It was really helpful, especially that anime pilgrimage website I didn’t know of yet. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Now I just have to decide where to go, which is going to be really hard since I want to see a lot 😆 So if you have more on this topic to share, please do! Can’t get enough of it 😁
Hi Allison!
1st of all, thank you for this video.
My next trip will take me to Nagasaki and there I was already aware of the place in IRODUKU but that site for the pilgrimages adds something that I really love in Japan that is stamps. Eki stampu; temple stamps; anywhere and everywhere stamps - I just love it and it makes an awesome memory (if you don't mess the stamps by collecting them both sides of a really thin paper, lol).
And for what I saw from the pictures, if you go to a stamp place you can get the flyer for that year list... oh I want the kawagoe one of Kamisama; Chichibu one from Anohana; Takayama - Hyouka.
Really enjoyed this video. Hopefully it helps. Thought I already planned well then ya dropped the evangelion ride on me 😭
Thank you for taking the time to make this!!! Such good information and definitely took some notes 🥰
My otaku mate and I are planning our dream trip for next year (Im coming from UK, he's coming from OZ) we want to come during cherry blossom season so we're watching livestreams to see when it is this year and then targeting three full weeks (excluding travel) over there. Thankyou so much for all your advice vids, we've not watched all of them yet, but from those we have we have added SO MUCH to our planning mindmap!
Will gladly treat to you to a meal at your favorite anime cafe next year as thanks and to just have a chat with someone with interest-specific local knowledge if you're up for it.
Excellent compilation! (Perfect description of Akihabara vs Ikebukuro haha)
Sending this to my friend that lives there, but hasn’t been to Tokyo yet with her kids. 👍
Thank you Allison for this video! Perfect timing...I am going to Japan for the first time next Summer and this definitely helps with planning what I want to see that's anime-related!!
I’m 55 yrs so I don’t get much of this but I really enjoy your sense of adventure. To me that’s so brave.
Definitely need a follow up video!
Thank you for this video 🥰🥰🥰
Awesome vid, Allison and thanks for the tips. I’ll be visiting Japan for a month very soon and videos like this certainly help.
Looking forward to more content you dish out~
Going to Kyushu this year. There is an Attack on Titan museum and you can visit the dam wall that inspired the show. There is also a location from demon slayer and let's not forget, harmony land - sanrio park (hello kitty fans!) I also visit the island that inspired princess mononoke. When I planned my trip I didn't realize how much anime was in Kyushu but it's a nice bonus. Fingers crossed I can also get tickets to studio ghibli 🤞
Hope you can do a video on the big mall . Other attraction is the Big Gundam that moves. There is a Robotech fighter somewhere in Tokyo saw on a news channel or a different 🇯🇵 channel? They need a Godzilla same size as the Gundam figure to if they have the Tokyo 🎃 on the 31st Monday maybe do a live video? 🇯🇵👍📸🗼
thx for the tips
アリソンさん、 とても貴重な情報をありがとうございました。私は、アメリカに住む日本人ですが、アニメ好きの子供達を連れて日本でどこに連れて行っていいのかわからなかったので、とても参考になりました。
Been looking for card captor sakura!!!
I am taking notes!!✍ We're hoping to visit this year so I am stocking up on videos and tips!💖
Thank you so much for this very helpful video Allison!! I’m coming to Japan specifically for the Rose of Versailles exhibition this year (an old shoujo manga from the 70s). Although it’s too bad that I already missed their collaboration-cafe :’( I have to check out the places you listed for rare and old manga/animes because I don’t think I will find this merchandise anywhere! (If you ever come across RoV merch, please let me know!!😊)
Thank you for mention this exhibit! I will be in Japan the last two days it is offered so I'm hoping I can catch it as well :)
@@elkeyes that’s amazing!! So glad there are people out there who still know RoV haha!
ill be in japan for the first time ever in oct so this will be very helpful thank you !!!
Ikebukuro is a priority per falling for Durarara 10 years ago, well after visiting the shoppe which inspired Love Hina :>
I went to Shirakawa-go, the place where Hinamizawa (Higurashi no naku koro ni village) is based on, and it’s so beautiful 🩷🩷
great video! i didn’t know anime pilgrimage was a thing! I’d definitely look into this ✨
love "Allison in Tokyo" cool videos and info great to watch.
Omg!! I’ve been searching around for Japan travel tips and your vids are by far the most helpful! (And not overdone and cringe lol THANK YOU) Gonna binge all your videos to prepare for our March trip! We’ve been wondering how in the heck to find out about anime theme pop ups, thanks for sharing the website! CANT WAIT TO SHOP omg
Actually the most helpful guide! Thanks!
this video was great! the best otaku in Tokyo guide ive seen! bouta search if u made another heh
😊Awesome
Hello, we are visiting narita for 4 days, is there anything special during Christmas or Christmas eve to do in Tokyo/ narita / chiba?
Planning my trip to Japan after my 2020 dream trip was cancelled for obvious reason... I really fear my finances will not recover well from akihabara >_
I'm not a Nendoroid collector but there always has been one that i've kept a look out for just in case... my grail if you will and I SEEEEE ITTTTTTTTTT at 4:28... 524... I've never seen one in the wild before... >.
Me: Haha take notes, that’s cute.
Me, 3:40 in: Oh my husband liked that Anime, okay better get a pen.
Can you make a video how to buy Ghibli museum tickets? There are no guides available how to buy it since the pandemic. Unfortunately, the system changed since then.
I would really recommend when you explain different locations and other things, add more pictures or even small clips to show exactly what you talking about... Regardless thank you for the video, very helpful!
nice video
Omg this was so helpful!
You mentioned Rilakkuma teahouse in the video. How can I find it?
I wanna move there eventually. What helped you get over there like what was your plan?
Great video! My wife and I are going to Japan next month and hoping to spend a day in Nerima checking out locations from shigatsu wa kimi no uso if we can figure out how to get around there! Question as far as finding goods from specific anime… my wife LOVES yuru camp and is wanting to find some merch. Pretty hard to come by here in the states, any suggestions of specific places to look or is it popular enough in japan that it shouldnt be an issue?
Hey Alison I'm from New Zealand n just came across ur page. I was wandering what bars and clubs you'd recommend for me n my mates? Or if there's a particular city/ region we should check out for that sort of stuff. We're all early 20's n keen as to come visit!
How be the anime food restaurant in Tokyo City ?
yay hi
I play otome games (code realize, collar x malice, olympia soiree, piofiore, etc) so it’s not exactly anime. I wonder if they have merch there in otome road.
Awesome video, would you recommend someone visit Japan alone?
im going to tokyo next yr ! my otaku childhood dream is coming true! do you know any anime events in february
MAAM, ANOTHER VIDEO? Are we being spoiled 🥺?
imagine my embarrassment when my family dropped me off at animate akihabara and see me enter a store with huge ecchi posters on both side of the doors?? lesson learned. at least i also got to bring back dmmd merch :')
😂😂😂😂awesome
Allison looks; just like, 'Sakura'.🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸📝📦💮💮💮💮💮💮💮💮
Do you have a preference as to which one is better the Naruto Theme Park in Awaji Island or The Fuji Q Highland naruto part.
1000/10
Does anyone have recommendations on websites/accounts that help make reservations for anime pop cafes, please❤? in English 😢
Thanks, now I just gotta pretend I've accidentally stumbled upon and reserved these things so my brother doesn't call me a weeb.
What gray backpack are you wearing in the Mandarake clip?
Hi. Do you know where I can find Tenyo Disney puzzles?
Me: Oh...dirty things....better pack my bags!
Also me: my dad is gonna murder me....
@Alison in Tokyo hi, could you please tell me is Rashinban a separate store or is it located inside of another building inside of Akihabara and if it is it's own store could please provide me with the address as nothing is coming up for that place on a Google search
have you been to a j pop concert?
Hello me and a friend of mine are thinking about traveling to japan for a week or so and since we are big anime fans we are wondering if the best location to stai its in akihabara or would it be better to stay in another nearby location and just go to akihabara via train?
How much should be budgeted for a similar trip (USA to Japan)?