Nakano Broadway: Tokyo's Other Otaku Mecca for Figures & Collectibles (2026)
If Akihabara is too crowded, head to Nakano Broadway — a wonderfully retro 1960s mall that's become a paradise for collectors. It's the birthplace of Mandarake, with around 30 specialty shops of figures, vintage toys, manga and rare goods, and it's just a few minutes from Shinjuku. This guide covers the key stops, with hours, access and official links — plus popular figures you can order online if you can't carry them home.
Quick tips for visitors: Nakano is about 5 minutes from Shinjuku on the JR Chuo/Sobu line; the mall is a 5-minute covered walk from Nakano Station (North Exit). Most shops open around noon and close by 20:00. Prices are often lower than Akihabara. Many figures are bulky or Japan-only, so see the Amazon picks below. Prices are in yen; rough US-dollar figures assume about 150 yen = $1.
Nakano Broadway (the building)
（Nakano Broadway (the building)）
A retro 1960s shopping complex that has become a collector's mecca — four floors home to around 30 specialty shops for figures, vintage toys, manga, anime cels, idol goods and more. Quieter and cheaper than Akihabara, and a short walk from Nakano Station.
Hours
Daily 10:00–20:00
Cost
Free entry; figures and goods priced individually
Getting there
In Nakano Broadway, about a 5-min walk from Nakano Station (North Exit)
Hours and stock can change. Check the official site for the latest (as of June 2026).
Mandarake Nakano
（Mandarake Nakano）
The original Mandarake and the heart of the building, spread across many specialized shops throughout the complex — used and rare figures, vintage toys, manga, cels and collectibles, each in its own themed store.
Hours
Daily 12:00–20:00
Cost
Free entry; figures and goods priced individually
Getting there
In Nakano Broadway, about a 5-min walk from Nakano Station (North Exit)
Hours and stock can change. Check the official site for the latest (as of June 2026).
Mandarake Special (themed branch)
（Mandarake Special (themed branch)）
One of Mandarake's many themed branches inside Broadway, packed with sofubi (soft-vinyl) and character figures — a good example of how each shop specializes.
Hours
Daily 12:00–20:00
Cost
Free entry; figures and goods priced individually
Getting there
In Nakano Broadway, about a 5-min walk from Nakano Station (North Exit)
Hours and stock can change. Check the official site for the latest (as of June 2026).
Robot Robot
（Robot Robot）
A long-running shop crammed with vintage toys, sofubi, model kits and Western/Japanese collectibles — a treasure hunt for retro-toy fans.
Hours
Daily 12:00–20:00
Cost
Free entry; figures and goods priced individually
Getting there
In Nakano Broadway, about a 5-min walk from Nakano Station (North Exit)
Hours and stock can change. Check the official site for the latest (as of June 2026).
Wrap-up
Nakano Broadway is a calmer, cheaper alternative to Akihabara for figure and collectible hunting — and an easy half-day trip from Shinjuku. Dig through Mandarake's themed shops in person, then order the rest online from the picks above. For game centers and crane games, see our Akihabara arcade guide.
→ Part of our Akihabara Otaku Guide — see it for the full day.
Spot photos via Google Maps (by Michael Rusell, Ildefons Magrans de Abril, Masahiro Yamamoto, 2426fams channel, Kazuhiko Umeda)
The building is generally 10:00–20:00, but it varies by shop and floor; anime and toy specialists cluster on floors 2–4. The whole building closes on the 3rd Wednesday of February. Check individual shops before visiting (as of June 2026).
Q.How is Mandarake laid out here, and how do I find figures?
Mandarake Nakano spreads many genre-specific shops across floors 1–4 (12:00–20:00, open daily) — garage kits, bishojo, tokusatsu, robots, cards and more each have their own store. Head to the shop matching the genre you want; buy-back desks close at 19:30 (as of June 2026).
Q.How does it differ from Akihabara?
Tokyo's official tourism site calls Nakano Broadway a 'mecca of subculture': where Akihabara has shops for a broad audience, Nakano Broadway leans to rare, used and collector items — figures, out-of-print manga, even luxury watches (as of June 2026).
Q.Is tax-free shopping available at Mandarake?
Yes — all Mandarake stores offer tax-free for tourists (non-residents in Japan under 6 months). At Nakano, pay (incl. 10% tax) then show your passport, receipts and goods at the 4F service counter (until 19:30) for a cash refund covering all Nakano Broadway Mandarake stores at once. Minimum ¥5,000 pre-tax (¥5,500 incl.); original passport required; same-day only (as of June 2026).
Q.How do I get there from Nakano Station?
About a 5-minute walk from JR Chuo Line Nakano Station's north exit: go through the covered Nakano Sunmall arcade to the north, and Nakano Broadway is at the far end (the arcade keeps you dry in the rain) (as of June 2026).
🛒 Buy it online
Popular figures to buy on Amazon
Can't carry it home? Order these popular picks online.
Editor of Playable Japan. I curate experiences, sightseeing and food across Japan into a practical, ready-to-book format, double-checking prices, access and booking details against official and primary sources.
