Where fandom comes to life.

Anime & Pop

Anime & Pop-Culture Pilgrimage

Time a visit around Comiket or AnimeJapan, then explore Akihabara's otaku wonderland any day of the week.

Anime & Pop

Comiket 109 (Winter 2026): Dec 29-31 at Tokyo Big Sight, Hours & Halls

Comiket 109 runs three days, December 29-31, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight, with circles open 10:30-16:00 and East Halls 4-6 closed for renovation. The organizers say ticket and wristband details for general visitors will be published around early November (checked 2026-10-14).

Tue, Dec 29, 2026 10:30 JST TokyoGeneral visitors need a ticket or a wristband pass (same system as Comiket 102-108). C109 prices and sale dates are not yet announced; the organizers plan to publish details around early November (checked 2026-10-14). Circle applications closed in August 2026.

Anime & Pop

Nipponbashi Street Festa 2027

Osaka's Den Den Town shuts its main street for one of Japan's largest cosplay parades, where thousands of costumed fans flood the otaku district.

Sun, May 16, 2027 11:00 JST OsakaFree

Anime & Pop

Kyoto International Manga Museum

A converted 1920s schoolhouse whose corridors are lined with 50,000 readable manga — pull any volume off the 200m 'Wall of Manga' and sprawl on the lawn.

Open year-round KyotoAdults ¥900 (check site for current fees)

Anime & Pop

Nintendo Museum

Nintendo's own museum in Uji traces 130+ years of play — from hanafuda cards to the Switch — with giant interactive exhibits in a former factory.

Open year-round KyotoLottery reservation required; admission via official ticket draw

Anime & Pop

Nipponbashi Den Den Town & Ota Road

Osaka's otaku mecca — over 150 shops of anime, games, electronics and figures, with cosplayers spilling onto neon-lit Ota Road.

Open year-round OsakaFree

Anime & Pop

Osu Shopping District

Nagoya's most eclectic arcade — 1,200 shops mixing a 400-year temple town with vintage clothing, street food and otaku culture.

Open year-round NagoyaFree

Anime & Pop

Pokemon Center Fukuoka

Kyushu's only official Pokemon store, two minutes from Hakata Station, stocking 2,500+ items including Fukuoka-themed exclusives.

Open year-round FukuokaFree

Anime & Pop

Pokémon Center Osaka DX & Pokémon Cafe OSAKA

Pokémon Center Osaka DX sits on 9F of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building, open 10:00–20:00 (official, checked 2026-10-11), with an underground link from Shinsaibashi Station Exit 4. The adjoining Pokémon Cafe OSAKA is reservation-only: 90-minute seatings, last orders 19:00.

Open year-round OsakaFree

Anime & Pop

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

JR Central's railway museum displays 39 real trains — from steam locomotives to record-setting maglev — plus Japan's largest model railway diorama.

Open year-round NagoyaAdults ~¥1,000 (check site)

Anime & Pop

Akihabara Anime & Gaming Exploration

Dive into otaku heaven: multi-floor anime stores, retro arcades, maid cafes and gachapon as far as the eye can see.

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 12:00 JST TokyoFree

Anime & Pop

Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo

The flagship Pokemon store in Ikebukuro, packed with exclusive plush, seasonal merch and a giant Pikachu welcoming fans.

Thu, Jun 25, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree

Anime & Pop

Nakano Broadway

A retro shopping complex packed with vintage manga, rare figures, idol goods and Tokyo's famous towering soft-serve ice cream.

Sat, Jun 27, 2026 12:00 JST TokyoFree

Anime & Pop

Ghibli Park

Step into the worlds of Studio Ghibli in Aichi, with life-size sets from Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Castle and more.

Tue, Jul 7, 2026 10:00 JST NagoyaTimed tickets required; book online well in advance

Anime & Pop

International Anime Party + Ikebukuro Pilgrimage Tour

Anime-themed sightseeing and a stamp rally around Ikebukuro, capped by an anisong party with food, drinks and a global crowd of fans.

Sun, Jul 19, 2026 14:30 JST TokyoFrom ¥1,000 (tour) / ¥2,000 incl. party

Anime & Pop

World Cosplay Summit 2026

The planet's biggest cosplay festival: teams from 40+ countries parade through Nagoya and battle for the World Cosplay Championship at Oasis 21.

Fri, Jul 31, 2026 10:00 JST NagoyaFree

Anime & Pop

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2026: Oct 30–Nov 1, Tickets

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2026 runs Oct 30–Nov 1: 18+ Ikehalo Night on Friday evening, then 10 AM–6 PM on Oct 31 and Nov 1. Watching is free; cosplay or photo tickets from ¥2,980/day.

Fri, Oct 30, 2026 16:30 JST TokyoWatching only: free, no ticket. Cosplay or photographer tickets: Standard ¥2,980/day advance (¥3,480 same day), Premium ¥3,980/day, Premium 3DAYS ¥10,000, Ikehalo Night ¥3,480, junior/senior-high photographer ¥1,480/day, Kids (elementary and under) ¥500 on the day