There’ll be more to do than just shopping at the new Animate flagship location.
It’s been a rough couple of years for Tokyo’s otaku-oriented businesses, with landmark dojinshi shops and video game arcades closing down. But there’s a happy exception coming soon, as Animate, Japan’s biggest anime/manga specialty store, is building a gigantic new location in the city’s Ikebukuro neighborhood.
Following a massive expansion to the existing Animate Ikebukuro branch, the new Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store will have nine above-ground floors, plus one more below the surface. First announced last December, newly released details show it’s not just a shopping spot, either, but more of an otaku entertainment complex. In addition to selling various types of anime/manga/video game merch, the building will also house a theater, art exhibition gallery, snack stand with character latte art beverages and icing cookies, and three separate theater halls/event spaces for concerts, stage shows, dramatic readings, talk shows, and other fan festivities.
The floor guide lists:
● 9th floor: Animate Hall Black, Animate Hall White (event spaces)
● 8th floor: Space Galleria (revolving exhibitions of anime, manga, light novel, and video game art)
● 7th floor: Animate Only Shop (pop-up stores with art panel displays and photo corners)
● 6th floor: CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games
● 5th floor: Character goods
● 4th floor: Character goods
● 3rd floor: Manga, art books
● 2nd floor: Manga
● 1st floor: Character goods, Gratte (drink stand)
● Basement level: Animate Theater (event space)
▼ A My Dress-Up Darling exhibition will be Space Galleria’s first event
The Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store opens on March 16, and also serves as a 40th anniversary celebration for the chain, which opened its very first store, also in Ikebukuro, in 1983.
Source: Animate via IT Media
Top image: Animate
Insert images: Animate (1, 2)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter for more reasons to go to Ikebukuro.
Gigantic new anime store opening soon in Tokyo, and here’s a sneak-peek【Photos】
Tokyo’s gigantic new anime store will be among largest in the world, and it won’t be in Akihabara
Tokyo government opening anime art archive museum this fall
Gigantic eight-floor anime figure shop skyscraper opening in Tokyo’s Akihabara this month
Tokyo Ghoul anime cafe opening in Tokyo, to the joy of ghoulish gourmands
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Secret Starbucks sausage customization sparks sweet joy in Japan[Taste test]
Awesome Ghibli Howl’s Moving Castle figure is also a puzzle and an organizer[Photos]
Japan’s Mos Burger creates tempura rice bowl bento boxed lunch burger, but not for its menu
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cup Noodle pouch satisfies our never-ending need for instant ramen
Japan’s first hotel with a human washing machine is now ready for you to come and bathe in it
Draw like a Studio Ghibli anime artist with exclusive watercolour set approved by Hayao Miyazaki
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Chiikawa Park opens next month in Tokyo’s Sunshine City shopping complex
The bizarre anime hair of Detective Conan can now be yours with Ran and Conan hairbands【Photos】
Tokyo’s Ranma 1/2 cafe is open, and we just stuffed ourselves with awesome anime nostalgia
Japan’s largest anime megashop to open new branch in Akihabara specifically for women
Detective Conan collaborative cafés to open across Japan, will serve drug that turned Conan tiny
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Awesome life-size anime figure display exhibition opens in Tokyo this month
Tokyo Skytree to be lit up in Jujutsu Kaisen colors on Halloween in months-long art collaboration
Rotating Inuyasha Anime Art Exhibition to open in five Japanese cities beginning next month
Urusei Yatsura Cafe opening in Tokyo, four other cities to celebrate manga/anime’s 40th birthday
Combination cat cafe/manga cafe in Tokyo is an awesome place to spend 10 minutes or a whole day
Limited time Your Name anime-themed cafes to open in Tokyo and Nagoya in January! [Pics]
Why is this entertainment complex skyscraper in Tokyo almost deserted in the afternoon?
Shonen Jump exhibition featuring classic ’90s manga and anime to open in Tokyo
Utena Cafe opening in Tokyo this summer to celebrate landmark anime’s 20th anniversary