Top 10 Coolest Travel Destinations for Anime Fans

On your next trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, these locations are must stops for any anime fan. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we are counting down our picks for Top 10 Anime Fan Travel Destinations.

For this list, we are considering only locations or events that easily embrace the anime community. If you are an anime fan, these should be on the top of your travel list.

Let;s make our first stop at the mystical land of J-World. Founded by Namco Bandai Group, J-World is an indoor theme park dedicated to the companies’ various properties including the mega successful “One Piece” and “Dragon Ball Z”. Once you step into the foyer and are greeted by a virtual projection of your favorite anime character, you know you’re in for a good time. Feel free to explore the various attractions based on all of Shonen Jump’s projects, and especially the manga based food court. Ramen for days.

Need to get your anime fix on and quickly? Simply step into your nearest Mandarake anime store and you will be able to find anything and everything anime and manga. Tokyo’s largest perveyor of anime merchandise, each Mandarake location sports a rather large collection of manga, DVDs, and collectibles of your favorite series. And of course you’ll also be able to find a large amount of doujinshi, completely hand-drawn by local artists. If one of the Mandarake stores doesn’t satisfy you, be sure to swing by Animate, the world’s largest anime store with nine stories of anime to explore.

On our next stop let’s take a look at the life of a true artist. A museum and neighborhood dedicated to the master Yokai manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, visitors are able to check out an authentic interpretation and analysis of the master’s work. A select few of the works you can check out are his flagships “GeGeGe no Kitaro” and “Akuma-kun”, but also other historical projects including is service in World War II. For a historical and thought-provoking trip, don’t leave this off your itinerary.

Ever wanted to check out a real life castle? Who wouldn’t right? If you’re an anime fan as well, make your way over to the Sendai prefecture and spend some time at the Aoba Castle. An important figure piece in the history of the region, Aoba was mainly used for ceremonial and administrative purposes instead of housing a military force. In art and media, Aoba Castle has served as inspiration to many shonen anime and you can see it’s influence everywhere. Now recognized as a National Historic Monument, the Aoba castle won’t be going anyway anytime soon.

Are you fan of manga more than anything? Then make your way on up to Kyoto and spend the day at the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Sporting a massive catalog of over 300,000 titles, the museum has essentially every title any manga fan is looking for. These aren’t just modern titles either, as you can also find titles from before World War II. Offering a very welcoming atmosphere and even how to write manga classes, any fan of the written version of your favorite series needs to make this their next stop.

We couldn’t make a trip to Japan without stopping for our totally not a problem and we can quit whenever we want Pokemon fix. The brand’s official shop, this is where Pokemon lovers can catch all the Pokemon merch they could ever want. There is no shortage of Pokemon merchandise out there, and this place is the Pokemon Mecca. Do you need to hone your Pokemon skills? The Center holds regular events and training seminars for players who just need a liitle help. Fun fact, the Pokemon, decorations, and theme of the store changes with the seasons.

Tezuka Osamu is often considered the Walt Disney of Japan. Most known for his most influential creation, “Astro Boy”, Tezuka Osamu is praised by the manga industry for his redefinition of genres and pioneering techniques still used today, among other monumental achievements. Fans can experience Osamu’s work in an entirely new way, by checking out a literal “Walk of Fame” featuring hands and feet of his characters. They can also check out early exhibitions of most of his works, to see how much each project has changed since their inception.

Ever wanted to check out a real life Gundam? Well this is as close as you are going to get without building your own. Showcasing an 18 meter tall replica of the popular RX-78-2 Gundam model out front, Gundam Front Tokyo is a must stop for every Gundam fan. Feel free to step inside, as there is plenty of concept artwork, a 360 panoramic theatre, and a room for just the various Gundam models throughout the years. While you don’t get to pilot the RX-78-2 out front, you definitely won’t leave disappointed. Be sure to also visit the Gundam Cafe, where you can have food dishes and drinks based off of your favourite characters!

Known by many as the famed studio behind such classics as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Princess Mononoke”, Ghibli is a showcase for the best that anime has to offer. If you’re lucky, you are even able to see the desk of Ghibli diety Hayao Miyazaki and learn how his works were created step by step. Containing not only a fine arts showcase but also a technology and children’s museum, Miyazaki claims that it should not just an experience but a portal to another world.

Before we release our inner otaku at our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Otome Road

Suginami Animation Museum

Tokyo One Piece Tower

Toei Animation Gallery

There is nothing quite like shopping in the great district of Akihabarara. Known worldwide as a Mecca for otaku, Akihabara has allowed itself to be moulded by the culture. A plce with manga, anime, and technology shops on every corner, it is no surprise that Akihabara hosts a massive amount of foreign otaku every year. If an anime fan can’t find what they are looking for in Akihabara, it probably doesn’t exist. If you don’t want to squeeze through the crowded stores of Akihabara, swing by the Tokyo Anime Center and snag some merchandise for the most modern and upcoming titles.

Do you agree with our list? What anime travel destination is on your itinerary? For more intriguing top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.