The history of Manga comics in Japan is so long it can be traced back to scrolls in the 12th century. Since then, it has evolved into many genres and styles, it has been animated, and is today available internationally.
Manga and Anime are such a big part of Japan that one cannot visit this country and not see some sort of Manga or Anime character on the way. Manga and Anime are literally everywhere in Japan.
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The Culture of Manga and Anime in Nagoya
Since most Manga, Anime, and “Otaku” (Manga and Anime fans) stores have an establishment in Nagoya, it has nothing to envy compared to other cities in Japan.
Also, while shopping for your favorite merchandise in Nagoya, you can do some Anime tourism and visit places that inspired some popular and also lesser-known Anime series. Take a look at the Top Anime Locations in Nagoya and Its Surroundings post to find out more!
If you are curious to understand this culture better, or you are a fan already looking for places to enjoy your hobby, we have got you covered!
To make it easier to navigate this post and Nagoya, we have grouped the stores into three big areas (Nagoya Station, Osu, and Sakae) to make it easier for you to find the stores based on their location.
Shopping in Nagoya Station Area
Nagoya Station, the neural center between Nagoya and the rest of the country, offers you plenty of shopping and eating spots. In this area, you can find some interesting Manga comics and merchandise.
Animate
Animate might be considered the most international of the shops on this list, with stores not only in Japan but also in other countries. At Animate you can find comics, illustrated books, popular Anime videos, and all sorts of Anime character goods. The latest numbers of current Manga and magazines can be found at the front of the store, while the older numbers are on the back, divided by content.
There is a floor dedicated to merchandising, which is one of the best places to find some mementos of your favorite series from the newest to some old-time favorites!
There are three shops in the city: Animate Nagoya (main store), Animate Nagoya Parco (Sakae), and Animate Kanayama.
Animate Nagoya (アニメイト名古屋)
Opening Hours: Weekdays 12:00 – 20:00; weekends 11:00 – 19:00
Address: 18−4 Tsubakicho, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 453-0015
Website | Google Maps
Comic Toranoana
Toranoana, named after the popular 60’s wrestling Manga “Tiger Mask”, is the Doujinshi mecca for Manga and Anime lovers! On its 8 floors, you can find the most recent Doujinshi (fan made comics based on Manga or Anime series), that are often presented during the latest Comiket, the biggest Manga event in Japan.
The latest Doujinshi, Manga, DVD, and CD can be found on floors 1 to 4.
Floors 5 and 6 are for “Boys Love” comics. These comics are mostly for women and contain same-sex love stories between men that ranges from all publics to adult content (reading age is labeled on the Doujinshi).
And floors 7 and 8 are for adult Doujinshi comics for men, most of them with Hentai stories based on popular Manga.
Comic Toranoana (コミックとらのあな 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00 – 21:00; weekends 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 22-2 Tsubakicho, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 453-0015
Website | Google Maps
Ghibli Shop (Donguri Republic)
Donguri Republic is an official seller of Ghibli products. They offer a great variety of products that change every season. If you want to decorate your home with Ghibli products, they sell quality mugs and towels that are quite a hit in Japan. In addition you can find cute stationery, hand cream, artbooks, puzzles and even toys for the little ones!
We particularly recommend visiting the Nagoya Station store because they have a big Catbus replica and a real scale Totoro where you can take some amazing pictures!
There are two stores in Nagoya: Donguri Republic Nagoya Station and Donguri Republic Oasis 21 in Sakae.
Donguri Republic Nagoya Station (どんぐり共和国名古屋 タカシマヤゲートタワーモール店)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: Takashimaya Gate Tower Mall 1F 1015-15, Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-6601
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
One Piece Store (MUGIWARA STORE)
Being One Piece one of the most beloved and notorious Manga series of all time, it deserved its own store!
Mugiwara Store is a store specialized only on One Piece official merchandising. They offer seasonal products that are only sold in their stores, among other general merchandising and figurines.
We highly recommend visiting this store to One Piece fans because, apart from all the fun shopping, they have some real size character figures you can take pictures with. They are changed from time to time so your favorite character might be waiting for you!
MUGIWARA STORE (ONE PIECE 麦わらストア 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 1-2-2 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002
Website | Google Maps
Shopping in Osu Area
The main Manga and Anime area in Nagoya is the Osu Shopping District, a network of roofed-over shopping streets where you will find many places of interest such as Osu Kannon Temple and the latest trends in street food.
Mandarake
Opened in the 80’s, Mandarake is one of the oldest and more consolidated Manga and Anime store in the country. Its stores can be found all over the country offering a huge collection of retro and nostalgic products.
Mandarake Nagoya store has 4 floors full of Otaku related treasures. We recommend visiting the 1st, 2nd and 4th floor which are full of good old days figures such as Astro Boy, Mazinger Z and other second hand relics. The 3rd floor is mostly Manga with a “steamy” Doujinshi Manga section.
Mandarake (まんだらけ 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 20:00
Address: 3-18-21 Ōsu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
Website | Google Maps
Super Potato
Do you like Nintendo? If you do, then you can’t miss this store!
Super Potato is a store dedicated exclusively to Nintendo retro products, with games and consoles you probably used to play on in your childhood! They also offer Nintendo official merchandising of its most popular games such as Mario Bros, Zelda, and Kirby among others.
| NOTE: Old games are region blocked and only in Japanese, hence you will need to buy a Japanese console set and know some Japanese to enjoy them! |
Super Potato – Nagoya Store (スーパーポテト 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00 – 20:00; Weekends 10:00 – 20:00
Address: 3-11-30 Ōsu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
Jungle Nagoya
This second-hand store specializes in Anime, Manga, and game figurines. Their first floor is full of popular series merchandising and on their second floor has more nostalgic figurines and action figures from series such as Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z.
A good place to find some interesting gifts for your friends or (why not?) for yourself!
Jungle Nagoya (ジャングル 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:50 – 20:00; weekends 11:00 – 20:00
Address: 3-19-1 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
Website | Google Maps
Gee! Store Nagoya
This shop sells all kinds of goodies, brand new figurines, Manga, Anime DVDs, CDs, Cosplay (costumes based in Manga and Anime characters), dolls, and figurines on its 4 floors.
Even though this shop is not on the cheap side, it deserves a visit because of its great variety of items such as Cosplay or clothing for dolls. They even offer order-made services (for people with longer stays in Japan).
Gee! Store Nagoya (ジーストア 名古屋)
Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00 – 20:00; weekends 10:00 – 20:00
Address: 3-11-34 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
Capsule House
For just a few hundred yen, this store offers a great variety of capsule machines selling capsule toys and other small collectibles. From Manga and Anime figurines to keychains, pouches, and an incredible variety of small items, capsule toys are a font of entertainment in Japan.
If you like collectibles, cute characters or just want to buy some affordable souvenirs, give a visit to this tiny store.
Capsule House (カプセルハウス)
Opening Hours: 11:30 – 20:30, Closed on Wednesdays
Address: 18-3-31 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0011
Google Maps
Shopping in Sakae Area
Sakae is the entertainment district of Nagoya and the place to go if you are looking to do some shopping. From goods and products of the characters featured in the Weekly Jump magazine to Pokémon plushies, video games, and other cute items. You will be surprised at the diverse lineup of themed products and lovely items that you can find in Sakae.
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jump is a weekly Manga magazine that has been home to the most popular series in the world. One Piece, Naruto, Rurouni Kenshin, Slam Dunk… all these worldwide known titles had been published in Shonen Jump. You can find official merchandising of all these classics in this store. They also have some products of newer series such as Kimetsu no Yaiba or My Hero Academia.
JUMP SHOP (週刊少年ジャンプ 名古屋店)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
Pokémon Center Nagoya
For all Pokémon lovers out there, Nagoya has its own Pokémon Center in Sakae. In this Pokémon paradise, you will find all sorts of Pokémon Center exclusive items, from cute plushies to stationary, as well as time-limited special products such as towels or bags portraying your favorite childhood monsters! They have a seasonal catalog that changes quite frequently in addition to a Nagoya exclusive collection.
There are two shops in Nagoya: Pokémon Center Nagoya and Pokémon Center Chubu Centrair Airport.
Pokémon Center Nagoya (ポケモンセンターナゴヤ)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 19:30
Address: Matsuzakaya Nagoya Main Building 5F 1-16-3 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-8430
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
Village Vanguard
Self-proclaimed “Exciting Book Store” Village Vanguard is much more than a simple book store, in fact, its book section is quite small compared to the variety of goods they sell. They sell peculiar items, from Bonsai to weird sweets. The best part of this store is their classic Manga and Anime products which are hard to find in other places.
If you want to experience the “Exciting Book Store” and have some fun, take a look at their weird exclusive products, while browsing for some Otaku jewels.
There are several stores in Nagoya but we recommend the Parco Store in Sakae because of its convenient location.
Village Vanguard Parco Store (ヴィレッジヴァンガード パルコ店)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 3-32-1 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
Book Off
Do you want to buy Manga in Japanese for an incredibly cheap price?
Well, Book Off is your place. This second-hand book store has an incredibly huge collection of Manga! Their prices for regular Manga books are 200 to 300 yen. But they have an even cheaper 100 yen section for older series!
Apart from Manga, you will find second-hand Anime DVDs and CDs. If you like Japanese music, they also sell second-hand music CDs. Most of their items are in optimal condition.
BOOK OFF SUPER BAZAAR Sakae Skyle Store (BOOK OFF SUPER BAZAAR 栄スカイル店)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Address: Skyle 8F 4-5-3, Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
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Wow! I really want to visit that place in Japan! It’s like a manga wonderland! Right now though, the closest I can get to that in AZ are manga Stores near me in AZ like where I got my first Manga from, and I’ve been a regular customer ever since! I just got so hooked on it!