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
Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
JR releases prediction of peak Shinkansen crowdedness for Japan’s Obon travel season
Starbucks Japan unveils new coffee drinks… for people who don’t drink coffee
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Life-size Legendary Pokémon Mega Rayquaza digitally greeting travelers at Tokyo train station [Vid]
Maximum entry fee for sento public baths in Tokyo increases slightly for adults next month
Starbucks Japan releases new “Afterword” collection that gives coffee waste a second life
Official Final Fantasy beers are going on sale in Tokyo this month, giant Aetheryte appearing too
Japan has a maid hotel you can stay in, and it’s now taking reservation applications
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Which country’s foreign tourists spend the most money per-person in Japan? Hint: Not the U..S. or China
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
Starbucks Japan adds a new summer Frappuccino to the menu, but is it as refreshing as it looks?
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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
Black Lagoon anime-themed cafes open now in Japan