Nakano Broadway Hours, Mandarake and How to Get There

Nakano Broadway is a 1960s shopping and apartment block one stop west of Shinjuku that became, from the 1980s, one of Tokyo's best places for secondhand manga, figures, toys and collectibles. Akihabara has more new releases and arcades; Nakano Broadway has more depth in older and rarer things, in a quieter, slightly worn mall where it is easy to lose a whole afternoon. It opened in 1966, so 2026 is its 60th year.

• Official site: nakano-broadway.com
• Tokyo tourism listing: GO TOKYO

Getting there

Nakano Broadway is at 5-52-15 Nakano, about five minutes' walk from the north exit of Nakano Station on the JR Chuo Line and the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. Walk straight through the covered Nakano Sun Mall shopping street and the entrance is at the far end. From Shinjuku it is one stop on the Chuo Line rapid, about five minutes. There is no parking.

Opening hours

The building is open from 10am to 8pm, but hours vary by shop, and many of the hobby shops, including Mandarake, open at noon. Come after midday; at 10am many shutters on the upper floors are still down. The whole building closes on the third Wednesday of February. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.

What's inside

The building has ten floors above ground and a basement, but the shops are on the basement to the fourth floor; the upper floors are apartments.

• Basement: a supermarket and food stalls, including a famous soft-serve shop with very tall cones.
• Ground floor: everyday shops, clothes and cafés.
• 2nd to 4th floors: the reason to come. Dozens of small shops selling manga, anime goods, figures, vintage toys, trading cards, idol goods, cameras and secondhand luxury watches.

Mandarake has its main store and more than a dozen specialist shops spread across these floors, each focused on one thing: manga, figures, cel art, cosplay, vintage toys, doujinshi and more. Look out too for Taco Ché, a small shop of independent and self-published comics and zines.

Entry is free.

Tips

1. Decide what you're looking for, or the hours will disappear.
2. Compare prices between shops before buying anything rare.
3. Bring cash. The big shops take cards, but some small ones don't.
4. Leave suitcases behind. The corridors are narrow; use a coin locker.
5. Stay for dinner. The streets around Nakano Station are full of izakaya and small bars.

Koenji, with its vintage clothes and record shops, is one stop further west and pairs well with Nakano. For new releases and arcades, see our Akihabara guide.

FAQ

Is there an English map? The official site has floor guides. Mandarake's shop names are written in English as well as Japanese.

How long should I stay? About 90 minutes to look around, three or four hours if you're hunting for something.

Is it worth it if I'm not into anime? For an hour, yes, as a slice of old Tokyo shopping culture. Vintage watches, cameras and toys appeal beyond anime fans.

Can I take photos? Shop rules vary, and many shops don't allow photos of their stock. Ask first, and don't block the narrow corridors.