How to Buy from Japan: Every Way to Get Japan-Exclusive Items, Pros and Cons
How to buy from Japan when an item is sold only there: Amazon.co.jp, stores that ship internationally, proxy and forwarding services, resale, or a trip.
Guides
Best Anime Merch Websites in the US, UK, Canada and Australia: Legit Stores We Checked
Best anime merch websites in the US, UK, Canada and Australia: legit stores from Good Smile Company's partner list, plus its own stores in the US and UK.
Where to Buy Anime Merch in Japan: Anime Stores City by City
Anime stores in Japan, city by city: where to buy anime merch, what kind of shop each big chain is, TV station shops, and shops at the airport.
Akihabara Anime Shops: Where to Go, Building by Building
A guide to Akihabara anime shops for travelers, building by building: Radio Kaikan floor by floor, then animate, Mandarake, SURUGA-YA and more.
Ikebukuro Anime Stores: Sunshine City and the East Exit
A guide to Ikebukuro anime stores for travelers: animate's flagship, Sunshine City's Pokémon Center and Cross Store, and shops for women fans.
Tokyo Character Street: Anime and TV Shops Inside Tokyo Station
A guide to Tokyo Character Street inside Tokyo Station: JUMP SHOP, DRAGON BALL STORE TOKYO, and shops from all six Tokyo TV stations.
Odaiba Anime Stores: Three Malls by the Bay
A guide to Odaiba anime stores in three malls: THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO, ONE PIECE and Godzilla shops in DiverCity, secondhand toys in DECKS, and more.
Anime Shops in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Nakano Broadway and More
Anime shops in Tokyo beyond Akihabara: Shinjuku Marui Annex, Shibuya PARCO and MAGNET, Harajuku, Nakano Broadway, and Tokyo Solamachi, floor by floor.
Anime Shops in Osaka and Kyoto: Den Den Town, Umeda and the Nintendo Museum
Anime shops in Osaka and Kyoto: Den Den Town in Nippombashi, LUCUA SOUTH in Umeda, Shinsaibashi PARCO, Kyoto's Shijo Kawaramachi, and the Nintendo Museum shop.
Tax-Free Shopping in Japan (2026): How the New Refund System Works
How tax-free shopping in Japan works under the refund method: pay tax at the shop, then get it back after a customs check at the airport, plus anime-shop tips.