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Animate Ikebukuro Main Store

The world's largest anime merchandise store and a true mecca for anime fans is what you’ll find here at the Animate Ikebukuro Main Store. After a full overhaul in 2023 the store reopened with an even larger sales floor, complete with nine floors above ground and two basement levels. Take your pick and step inside to find hundreds of thousands of manga, character goods, and everything anime on the side.

• Ikebukuro
• Commercial Buildings

As an anime fan, visiting the Animate Ikebukuro Main Store feels like entering an ACG pilgrimage site! The entire building is massive, with everything from anime and manga to light novels, doujinshi, figures, merchandise, and video products. It's incredibly satisfying to browse.
The store also holds limited-time displays and special exhibitions for various titles from time to time. Displays such as character standees from Cosmic Princess Kaguya! and special theatrical-film exhibition areas let fans take photos up close and fully enjoy supporting their favorite characters. Whether you want to hunt for popular merchandise or immerse yourself in the anime atmosphere, this is definitely one of Ikebukuro's top must-visit attractions!

Omoide Yokocho

Walk just 2 minutes from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station to find yourself at a retro pub alley. With ticket shops and around 80 different establishments offering delicious food and drinks, it's a great place to enjoy the local cuisine and atmosphere.

• Shinjuku, Okubo, Yoyogi, Yotsuya
• Shopping Streets

If you want to experience Tokyo's most authentic Showa-era retro atmosphere, don't miss Omoide Yokocho next to Shinjuku Station! Once you pass through the iconic green entrance sign, you'll find narrow alleys packed with all kinds of izakayas. The air is filled with the rich aroma of charcoal-grilled skewers and cheerful laughter, creating a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere.
It retains the nostalgic feel of the Showa era and becomes even more beautiful at night. Office workers getting off work and visitors from around the world crowd into the cozy little establishments, drinking beer and enjoying piping-hot skewers and grilled offal. If you want to experience Shinjuku's most authentic nightlife and warm local hospitality, this is the place!

Fuji TV Headquarters Building

With the futuristic impression of its silver sphere, the Fuji Television Headquarters, designed by architect Kenzo Tange, is a landmark of Odaiba. There is also a floor offering tours of the TV station.

• Tsukiji, Odaiba, Toyosu
• Museums

When visiting Odaiba, you definitely shouldn't miss one of Tokyo's iconic landmarks, the Fuji TV Headquarters Building! Designed by master architect Kenzo Tange, the building has an extremely futuristic appearance. Its most eye-catching feature is the huge spherical observation room, Hachitama, suspended in midair, with a unique and striking design.
Inside, you can buy plenty of exclusive merchandise from popular Japanese dramas and anime. From the spherical observation room, you can also take in beautiful views of Tokyo Bay, Rainbow Bridge, and even Tokyo Tower. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, an anime or Japanese drama fan, or a traveler looking to admire Tokyo's waterfront scenery from above, this is an excellent must-visit attraction in Odaiba!

Akihabara Electric Town

Large and small electronics shops cluster in this prominent shopping town in Japan. Nicknamed as Akiba, it is a popular spot not only domestically but also globally. Home appliances, PCs, smartphones, the latest digital devices, of course, but animations, games, figurines, model trains and other pop culture items are gathered here.

• Akihabara, Kanda, Ochanomizu
• Famous Places

As an anime fan and subculture enthusiast, arriving in Akihabara feels as exciting as coming home to paradise! Giant anime billboards and colorful neon lights make the streets exceptionally lively at night, while major commercial buildings like GAMERS and Radio Kaikan are top spots for hunting for treasures.
From finely crafted figures and merchandise and anime posters to distinctive maid cafés and themed shops, the entire street is filled with strong 2D culture appeal and energy. Whether you want to find limited-edition merchandise, experience the rich subculture atmosphere, or simply stroll through the streets and enjoy the neon night views, Akihabara is definitely an iconic mecca you shouldn't miss in Tokyo!

Cape Nyudozaki

Cape Nyudozaki, located at the northernmost tip of the Oga Peninsula in northwest Akita Prefecture, sits directly on the 40th parallel north. This cape offers stunning views, with rolling green grasslands leading to dramatic 30-meter-high cliffs overlooking the vast Sea of Japan.

• Akita
• Nature Spots

At Cape Nyudozaki, the northernmost point of the Oga Peninsula, you're greeted by blue skies and breathtaking, endless views of the Sea of Japan! The most iconic sights here are the black-and-white Nyudozaki Lighthouse and the 40th Parallel North Monument. Any quick snapshot turns into a dramatic landscape photo.
At nearby shops such as Toudaisou, you can not only buy all kinds of local specialties, but also pose for photos with the highly distinctive Namahage statues at the entrance. When you get tired from exploring, you can enjoy authentic seafood set meals and a wide variety of dishes at the restaurants. With stunning scenery, cultural experiences, and great food, this is definitely a top attraction you shouldn't miss on the Oga Peninsula!

Akita Airport

A gateway to the Tohoku region connecting Akita Prefecture with cities across Japan, with flights to Sapporo (New Chitose, Okadama), Tokyo (Haneda), Nagoya (Chubu), and Osaka (Itami). It serves both domestic and international flights.

• Akita
• Airplanes & Airport

The moment you step into Akita Airport, you can feel the warm local hospitality! Bright red welcome banners featuring super-cute Akita dog illustrations are sure to make you smile. There are also huge statues of the iconic Namahage from the Oga Peninsula inside, full of distinctive Tohoku culture and perfect for photos.
The airport may be compact, but it's welcoming and convenient. Looking down from the airplane window at the coastline and stretches of greenery is also a delight. Whether it's the beginning or end of your trip to Akita, this place leaves travelers with a warm and lasting impression and has plenty of local character!

AEON MALL Akita

A large shopping center located in Goshonojizoden, Akita City, Approx. 28 minutes by bus from Akita Station and Approx. 14 minutes by car from Akita Airport. Centered on fashion and miscellaneous goods, it offers a wide range of specialty stores, from interior goods and sports items to pet supplies, with Approx. 155 stores, making it one of the largest in the region.

• Akita
• Commercial Buildings

If you're in Tohoku and want to shop and stock up, AEON MALL Akita is definitely the top choice! The mall's spacious, high-ceilinged glass atrium lets in plenty of natural light, making it especially bright and comfortable to explore. It's packed with clothing brands, variety stores, and dining options, and even has a well-equipped movie theater. Just seeing all the movie posters makes you want to stop and take a look.
The mall also occasionally hosts regional product fairs (there happened to be an Okinawa fair this time!), where you can buy all kinds of local specialties and souvenirs. Whether you're looking for an indoor attraction on a rainy day or want to shop, watch a movie, and enjoy good food all in one place, there's something here for the whole family!

Ginzan Onsen

This hot spring resort was developed along with the Nobesawa Silver Mine which prospered in the Edo Period. After the mine was closed, it was turned into a therapeutic onsen resort until a flood destroyed it in 1913. By early Showa Period, local businesses have helped restore the village close to the current landscape with western-style wooden multi-story buildings on either side of Ginzan River.

• Yamagata
• Hot Springs & Hot Spring Resorts

Strolling through Ginzan Onsen, with its romantic Taisho-era atmosphere, feels like traveling through time into a fairy-tale world! Walking along the clear Ginzan River, you'll see rows of beautifully crafted wooden ryokan buildings on both sides. The charming tanuki stone statues out front complement the old-fashioned streets, and every snapshot looks like a gorgeous postcard.
Follow the path deeper into the hot spring town, and you'll also find the magnificent Shirogane Falls. The cascading water and lush green mountains fill the air with negative ions, making it fresh and refreshing. Whether you want to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere, sample local food, or simply stroll and enjoy the scenery, Ginzan Onsen is Yamagata Prefecture's most worthwhile dreamlike destination!

Yama-Dera (Hōjusan Risshakuji Temple)

This mountain temple, of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, is properly known as “Hōjusan Risshakuji Temple.” It is a historical place, founded in 860 by Jikaku Daishi. It is believed that, with each step you take up the 1015 stone steps, your worldly desires are purged. Furthermore, it has also been worshipped since ancient times as a temple that helps to cut out bad relationships and forge good bonds.

• Yamagata
• Shrines & Temples

Climbing Hōjusan Risshakuji Temple (Yama-dera), you make your way up the stone steps while experiencing the exquisite atmosphere of Matsuo Basho's verse: “Such stillness—the sound of cicadas sinking into the rocks.” Along the way are an old-fashioned bridge, Jizo statues, and bronze statues of Matsuo Basho and his disciple Sora. The lush forest gives the entire climb a peaceful atmosphere.
At the summit, the Nokyodo and Kaisando halls perched on the cliff come into view. Looking out from above over the valley and endless mountain peaks, the spectacular scenery instantly soothes the exhaustion from climbing the steps! Whether you want to test your stamina, find peace of mind, or admire breathtaking natural scenery, Yama-dera is definitely a classic Yamagata attraction you shouldn't miss!

SUN MALL ICHIBANCHO shopping street

It was built as a south entrance to Tohoku’s first arcaded shopping street in 1954. The images of Lord Date Masamune, his helmet, his subordinate, Hasekura Tsunenaga, etc. decorate the street, which reflects the past grandeur of the “Movie Theater Town.”

• Sendai
• Shopping Streets

When visiting Sendai, you definitely shouldn't miss the bustling Ichibancho shopping street and the surrounding shopping district! The covered arcade is bright and comfortable, so you can shop to your heart's content even on rainy days. Department stores and shops line the area, and you can stroll all the way from Ichibancho to the enchanting nighttime surroundings of Sendai Station. The city's neon lights and lively streets create a great atmosphere at night.
The most unforgettable part was the charcoal-grilled beef tongue nearby! The thick-cut beef tongue was fragrant and seared outside, tender, springy, and juicy inside. Paired with special pickles and refreshing nanban miso, every bite was pure enjoyment. Whether you're shopping or discovering local food, this is definitely the perfect place to spend an evening during an independent trip to Sendai!