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Immerse in the Worlds of Anime, Manga, and Games

Anime, manga, and games transcend entertainment, inspiring and resonating with fans worldwide. Japan is home to various museums and attractions that immerse visitors in these unique worlds, making them highly recommended for fans and curious travelers alike.

1. Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum

©Tokiwaso Manga Museum

The legendary Tokiwaso apartment was home to some of Japan’s most influential manga artists during their early years. Among them were Osamu Tezuka, the “god of manga” and the creator of Astro Boy; Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of Doraemon; and Ishinomori Shotaro, the creator of Kamen Rider. These artists gathered to hone their skills and inspire one another. The museum faithfully recreates the apartment’s exterior, layout, and even a manga artist's studio with unfinished sketches from that era.

The original Tokiwaso, demolished in 1982, ©MUKAI SASUKE

The area around the Tokiwaso, which nurtured the origins of today’s manga and anime culture, is home to many character monuments and places associated with famous manga artists, making it a popular destination for many fans. It is also located just about 3 kilometers from Ikebukuro and Nakano, which, along with Akihabara, are often referred to as otaku towns, making it an ideal stop on your itinerary.

Characters from Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Emperor), ©Tezuka Productions
The so-called "Otome Road" in Ikebukuro, lined with anime-related shops
©Tokiwaso Manga Museum

Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum

Address
3-9-22 Minami-Nagasaki, Toshima, Tokyo (Inside Minami-Nagasaki Hanasaki Park)
Link
https://tokiwasomm.jp/en/

2. Ghibli Park

© Studio Ghibli

Ghibli Park is a park that brings to life the world of Studio Ghibli, such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Located about a 40-minute train ride from Nagoya Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo and Kyoto, you can step into the park as soon as you arrive at the station. Within Aichi Prefecture's Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, there are five areas, including the "Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse" and "Valley of Witches." At Ghibli Park, you can stroll around feeling like a character from a Ghibli film. Watch Ghibli films beforehand to make the experience even more memorable.

Ghibli Park

Address
1533-1 Ibaragabasamaotsu, Nagakute, Aichi (Inside Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park)
Link
https://ghibli-park.jp/en/

Tickets are by reservation only and are not sold on-site.

3. Nintendo Museum

© Nintendo

This museum showcases Nintendo’s legacy, from traditional card games to iconic gaming consoles like Wii and Nintendo Switch, as well as legendary titles like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Located in Uji City, famous for matcha, it's easily accessible by riding a 20-minute train from Kyoto Station. Entry tickets must be reserved in advance through a drawing.

Visitors can enjoy exhibits featuring a comprehensive display of Nintendo’s past products, including games, toys, and playing cards. There is also an interactive area where guests can experience various forms of entertainment reimagined with modern technology, born from Nintendo’s craftsmanship. Workshops are available where you can create or experience hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game that served as the foundation of Nintendo's creativity. (These workshops require a separate reservation on the day of your visit and an additional fee.)

Nintendo 64 Display
Hanafuda Crafting

In the experiential exhibit area, visitors can enjoy activities like Zapper & Scope SP, a Mario-themed shooting game, and Big Controller, where two players co-play a classic Nintendo game using a supersized gaming controller. This trending attraction offers fun for all generations, from children to adults.

A shooting game where you aim at Mario-themed screens
Team up in pairs to tackle games using oversized controllers

Nintendo Museum

Address
56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji, Kyoto
Link
https://museum.nintendo.com/en/

Tickets are reservation-only (through a drawing).

4. The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum

The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum celebrates the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, the manga and animation maestro behind iconic masterpieces such as Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Emperor). The museum's distinctive exterior draws inspiration from his works, with beloved characters greeting visitors in the plaza and at the entrance. Inside, visitors can explore Tezuka’s life and creations, browse a library featuring foreign-language editions of his books, and participate in an animation workshop that recreates the early stages of animation production.

A display capsule inspired by the life-support device featured in Phoenix (Hi no Tori)
A diorama of Takarazuka City

Why not explore Takarazuka, where Osamu Tezuka spent his formative years transitioning from a sensitive boy to adulthood, and discover the underlying themes in his works?

The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum

Address
7-65 Mukogawa-cho, Takarazuka, Hyogo
Link
https://www.city.takarazuka.hyogo.jp/tezuka/

5. Gōshō Aoyama Manga Factory

The Gōshō Aoyama Manga Factory is a museum dedicated to the manga Detective Conan and its creator, Gōshō Aoyama. It features valuable exhibits tracing Aoyama's life, as well as reproductions of Detective Conan's original artwork, making it a facility that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Don't miss the opportunity to experience inventions and tricks created by Dr. Agasa, one of the main characters of Detective Conan.

JR Yura Station, fondly known as Conan Station

The road from Conan Station, the nearest station, to the Gōshō Aoyama Manga Factory is called "Conan Street." Along the way, visitors can encounter numerous characters, including the Kudo Residence and Conan statues, as featured in the Detective Conan series.

A Conan statue on Conan Street

At Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, you’ll be greeted by statues of Conan and the heroine, Ran, as well as sections replicating tricks from the series. The airport is filled with Conan-themed attractions, making air travel the recommended way to get to Tottori Prefecture.

Conan and Ran welcoming you at the airport.
©GOSHO AOYAMA
/SHOGAKUKAN

Gōshō Aoyama Manga Factory

Address
1414 Yurashuku, Hokuei, Tohaku, Tottori
Link
https://www.gamf.jp/english/