Anime pilgrimages, tattoo-friendly sento, and where to actually buy merch — the otaku-specific side of visiting Japan, kept separate from general travel logistics.
Anime & Merch Shopping
Where to buy figures, manga, and gacha — Nakano Broadway, Akihabara, and beyond.
Sento & Sauna
Tattoo-friendly public bathhouses and the modern sauna scene.
Pilgrimage & Events
Anime seichi junrei, seasonal festivals, and fan events. Read our first guide: real pilgrimage spots near Tokyo.
Nightlife & Bars
Standing bars and izakaya alleys like Yurakucho’s Gado-shita, plus how tachinomi etiquette actually works.
Explore by interest
Chasing one thing across the city? Try our Tokyo vintage & secondhand clothing guide or the Tokyo record shop guide — more interest guides are on the way.
Explore by area
Some neighbourhoods have enough to fill a whole day. Start with our Akihabara otaku & subculture guide, which pulls together anime goods, retro games, maid cafes and doujinshi in one place — more area guides are on the way. Koenji is the other neighbourhood worth a day of its own — see our Koenji guide for records, vintage, live houses and a 1933 bathhouse.
New guides are added regularly — check back or use the search to find a specific shop, area, or event.