VIDEO: Meet your favorite manga and anime characters at Tokyo Station 

(Photo by Takiguchi Takahiro/Stripes Japan)

Japan is home to countless manga, anime characters. Since many of them are loved across the world, you may already have one or more favorites yourself.

If you are a fan, head to Tokyo Station and meet your favorite Japanese characters.

You might wonder why the magnificent 110‑year‑old red‑brick station, one of the nation’s busiest train hubs, can be a home to kawaii manga and anime icons.

You will understand why once you make your way down past the train platforms and into station’s basement floor, home to a large shopping and dining area called “Tokyoeki Ichibangai.”

Among the vast array of restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops you’ll find Tokyo Character Street, an 80‑meter‑long area filled with 33 shops specializing in manga and anime. There you can find Ultraman, Snoopy, Pokémon, Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli and Sanrio characters among so many others.

(Photo by Takiguchi Takahiro/Stripes Japan)

Since its opening in 2008, the character sanctuary has always been lively with tourists, families with children and character otaku looking for goods featuring their favorite characters. Along with the popular Studio Ghibli, Sanrio and Pokémon shops, all major Japanese TV stations also operate their official stores here, letting you to buy TV‑station souvenirs without visiting the studios. You may even find some rare, original goods and limited‑edition figures available only on the street.

On the street there is also the Ichiban Plaza event space that hosts various TV and anime movie events where you can encounter your favorite characters in plush‑toy form.

So, head to historical Tokyo Station and meet your favorite Japanese manga and anime characters!

• Location: Tokyo Station [B1] (1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

• Hours: 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

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Takahiro Takiguchi
Takahiro Takiguchi
Takahiro Takiguchi is a writer based in Yokosuka, Japan. Takiguchi covers travel, food and culture stories for Stars and Stripes Japan. Follow along as Takiguchi takes readers to less crowded destinations around the mainland, you might also catch him out and about recording Speakin’ Japanese lesson videos for Instagram.