Nakano Broadway: Pop Culture Wonderland

Above, the Nakano Broadway entrance from JR Nakano Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When foreign tourists can finally travel to Japan unhindered and without overbearing rules as was the case before the pandemic, one must-see location in Tokyo to visit is Nakano Broadway.

Nakano Broadway is considered a "mecca" for otaku shoppers while in Tokyo. I made it a point to stop in whenever I am in Japan. I've purchased a number of items there including Godzilla figures and, if you can believe it, "Nipper", the RCA Victor dog.

Above, RCA Victor's "Nipper" I purchased at Nakano Broadway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nippon.com posted an article on Nakano Broadway that is well worth a thorough read.

They start it off with:

At the end of the Nakano Sun Mall shopping arcade outside of JR Nakano Station can be found a holy ground for otaku: Nakano Broadway. Packed with stores selling anime figurines and other ephemera, it even attracts fans who make pilgrimages from abroad. An exploration of the past, present, and future of this iconic Tokyo shopping space.

From Success to Shutters

The year 2022 marked the fifty-sixth anniversary of the opening of Nakano Broadway. A long shopping promenade called Sun Mall extends from the north exit of JR Nakano Station; Nakano Broadway, a 10-story building with three basement levels, sits near the north end of this arcade. The fifth through tenth floors are residential, and residents have access to a rooftop pool, a playground, and a garden plot.

The bottommost two floors are mechanical facilities, but the first basement floor through the fourth floor are jam-packed with a huge variety of shops—as many as 350 tiny outlets. The number isn’t precisely known, for the turnover of shops is constant.

To read more and see some tantalizing photos, go here. 

The Other Otaku Heaven: Nakano Broadway

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since I first stepped foot inside the Nakano Broadway mall in 2001, it has been a "must" stop each time I've been to Japan ever since. Sometimes I've found some items I was interested in, sometimes not.

Nakano Broadway is a haven for those who are collectors of kaiju toys, anime, manga and other items of Japanese pop culture. Mandarake dominates the floors where collectibles are found. There are other stores of interest that are also worth checking out. Robot Robot is another favorite.

Japantravelinfo.com's "Only In Japan" has an article on the Nakano Broadway that collectors should read.

It begins with:

Any visitor to Tokyo interested in anime and manga will surely have Akihabara high on their to-do list. However, on the other side of Tokyo, Nakano Broadway is just as much a must-see for fans of Japan pop culture. A short walk north of Nakano Station, Nakano Broadway is a four story shopping mall whose second and third floors are entirely dedicated to anime, manga and collectibles. It can be easy to lose your bearings once inside, but the shops listed below are all notable for the range and quality of their merchandise.

Above, a RCA-Victor "Nipper" figure I picked up at Mandarake
at the Nakano Broadway mall.  Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

 To read the article, go here.

"His Master's Voice"

Above, Nipper in my bookcase.

During December's trip to Japan, I made a stop in the Nakano section of Tokyo to the Broadway Mall to talk to the book buyer at Mandarake about The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.


While there, I spotted a figurine of Nipper, the symbol of RCA Victor. You're probably familiar with Nipper and the slogan, "His Master's Voice." (See the History of Nipper.) I was sorely tempted to buy it on the spot, but decided to wait.

After my side trip to Niigata, I returned to Tokyo and headed back over to Nakano. I didn't see anything kaiju that caught my fancy, but I decided to pick up Nipper. It was only about $20.00.

Above, the entrance to the Broadway Mall in Nakano, Tokyo.

Nipper now proudly sits in a bookcase next to my Lucky Cat (that I bought on a previous trip to Japan) in my living room. The only thing I need is a gramophone to go along with Nipper.