🌏 Destinations · All 🇯🇵 Japan · full guide Tokyo Osaka Tokyo Attractions 🎌 Japan Anime Guide 🧭 Travel Prep Guide About Contact 🇹🇭 ไทย🇬🇧 English🇨🇳 中文🇪🇸 Español🇫🇷 Français
🎌 Anime Itinerary · 6 Days

Japan Anime Itinerary — Akihabara, Ghibli & Scene Pilgrimage

Six days built for the real otaku — walk Akihabara until your legs give out, hunt second-hand figures at Nakano Broadway, step inside the Ghibli Museum (advance booking only), trace the scenes from the anime you love, then finish at Den Den Town in Osaka. We map the route day by day, tell you exactly how to get around, and help you keep the budget in check.

Home › 🇯🇵 Japan › Japan Anime Itinerary
Start Here

This Trip Is Built for People WhoCome to Japan Because of Anime

Picture yourself standing in the middle of the Akihabara crossing — game billboards as tall as the buildings, anime opening themes blasting from every shopfront, and the figure you've been hunting for years sitting in a glass case right in front of you. This is a trip built for moments like that. We're not going to march you through temples and gardens until you're bored — we've planned six days around what otaku actually come to Japan for: the figure districts, the second-hand shops, the Ghibli Museum, anime scene pilgrimage, and Super Nintendo World.

The route runs Tokyo (Akihabara + Nakano + Ikebukuro) → Ghibli Museum Mitaka → a day of scene pilgrimage → Osaka's Den Den Town. We tell you how to get around at every leg, give the latest 2026 ticket prices we've checked, and flag exactly which things you have to book in advance (especially the Ghibli ticket, which you absolutely cannot buy at the door) so you don't arrive heartbroken.

🎫 Straight up, before anything else: the heart of this trip is the Ghibli Museum Mitaka ticket, which is advance-booking only. It goes on sale at 10:00 (Japan time) on the 10th of each month for the following month's visits, and it sells out fast. Lock in your Ghibli day as the first fixed pin, then build the other days around it — and always check the latest times and prices on the official site first.
🤖
Days 1–2 Akihabara
Figures, games, maid cafés + Nakano + Otome Road
🎬
Day 3 Ghibli Mitaka
Ghibli Museum (advance booking) + Inokashira Park
📍
Day 4 Scene Pilgrimage
A seichi junrei day trip for the series you love
🍄
Days 5–6 Osaka
Den Den Town + Super Nintendo World
6-Day Overview

The Anime RouteDay by Day

Your main base is Tokyo for 4 nights, then you shift down to Osaka for 2 nights — lock in the Ghibli Museum day (Day 3) around the ticket slot you can actually get, then arrange the other days to fit around it.

DayBaseHighlightZone/StationBook ahead?
Day 1Day 1TokyoAkihabara — figures, games, cards, maid cafésAkihabara (JR/Hibiya)No
Day 2Day 2TokyoNakano Broadway + Ikebukuro Otome Road + Pokémon CenterNakano · IkebukuroNo
Day 3Day 3TokyoGhibli Museum Mitaka + Inokashira ParkMitaka (JR Chuo)Ghibli ticket (key)
Day 4Day 4Day tripScene pilgrimage seichi junrei — Hakone / Chichibu / WashinomiyaDepends on seriesCheck train times
Day 5Day 5OsakaShinkansen down to Osaka + Den Den Town (Nipponbashi)Nipponbashi (Sakaisuji)Shinkansen ticket
Day 6Day 6OsakaSuper Nintendo World @ USJ (optional) + fly homeUniversal City (JR)USJ ticket + Timed Entry
📅 How to read the table: Day 3 (Ghibli) is the hardest pin to move because it's tied to the day you can book a ticket — secure the Ghibli ticket first, then swap the Akihabara / Nakano / pilgrimage days around it. Day 6's USJ is an option for the Mario/Nintendo crowd; if that's not your thing, use it as a final collectibles-run day in Osaka before you fly home.
The 6-Day Route

What to Doand Where to Go Each Day

This is the heart of the page — six day-by-day blocks telling you which district to tackle when, how to get there, how long it takes, and which things to book ahead. Read it and copy it straight into your own plan.

The Akihabara crossing in Tokyo, Akihabara Electric Town, with game-shop billboards and the elevated railway 🤖 Tokyo1
Day 1 — A Full Day in Akihabara
Day 1 · Akihabara Electric Town

Start the trip in the capital of otaku culture — multi-floor figure buildings (Kotobukiya, AmiAmi, Animate), trading-card shops, GiGO/Taito arcades, and a maid café to try at least once. Work your way from the station side all the way down Chuo-dori (closed to traffic as a pedestrian street on Sunday afternoons) and you can easily fill the whole day.

📍Where: Akihabara, Tokyo · around Akihabara Station
🛍️What's good: new + second-hand figures, trading cards, retro games, gachapon
🚆Getting there: Akihabara Station (JR Yamanote/Sobu, Hibiya Line), exit on the Electric Town side
💡Tip: Keep your receipts for Tax-Free (bring your passport) — most big shops take part. Set a figure budget cap before you walk into the shops.
Japan Anime Guide →
Day 2 — Nakano + Ikebukuro
Day 2 · Nakano Broadway & Otome Road

A day for the serious collector — start the morning at Nakano Broadway, a single building packing in over 30 Mandarake branches, a goldmine of old figures, vintage goods and animation cels that hardcore collectors come to dig through. In the afternoon move to Ikebukuro: walk Otome Road (the shojo/doujin strip), drop into the big Animate branch, and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo at Sunshine City.

📍Where: Nakano (west Tokyo) → Ikebukuro
🛍️What's good: Mandarake/Surugaya second-hand · Otome Road · Pokémon Center
🚆Getting there: Nakano (JR Chuo, ~5 min from Shinjuku) · Pokémon Center is an ~8-min walk from Ikebukuro
💡Tip: Some Nakano Broadway shops don't open until around noon — check times. Each Mandarake branch specialises in a different genre, so work through them slowly.
Japan Anime Guide →
Day 3 — Ghibli Museum
Day 3 · Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

The day a lot of people look forward to most — a museum Hayao Miyazaki designed himself. No photos inside, so you can truly lose yourself in the Ghibli world; there's the robot from Laputa on the rooftop and a short film screened only here. Give it 2–3 hours, then stroll on through the adjacent Inokashira Park. It makes a relaxed day after two days of hard shopping.

📍Where: Western side of Inokashira Park, Mitaka, Tokyo
🎫Ticket: 1,000 yen (adult) · advance booking only via Lawson Ticket · on sale on the 10th of the previous month
🚆Getting there: JR Chuo from Shinjuku to Mitaka ~20 min + community bus ~5 min (230 yen), or a ~15-min walk through the park
💡Tip: On the day you must present your confirmation code + passport at the entrance, so arrive a little before your slot. Check the latest times and prices on the official site.
Tokyo Attractions →
Lake Ashi in Hakone with a red torii gate and Mount Fuji, a setting in the Evangelion universe 📍 Day trip4
Day 4 — Anime Scene Pilgrimage
Day 4 · Seichi Junrei pilgrimage

"Seichi junrei" — visiting the real-world locations behind anime scenes — is what makes this trip special. Japan has over 5,000 pilgrimage spots; pick one series you love and turn it into a day trip. Hakone for Evangelion fans (Tokyo-3 is based on the town), Chichibu for Anohana, or Washinomiya Shrine, the spot that launched the pilgrimage trend from Lucky Star back in 2007.

📍Popular picks: Hakone (Evangelion) · Chichibu (Anohana) · Washinomiya (Lucky Star)
🎞️What's good: photographing the real scenes · stamp rallies · town-only goods
🚆Getting there: Hakone via Romancecar/Odawara from Shinjuku · Chichibu/Washinomiya by train from Tokyo into Saitama (check the latest times)
💡Tip: Grab a pilgrimage map from the town hall or local shops — communities are very welcoming to anime fans. If you also love onsen, Hakone is the best value as a single-day trip.
Hakone Guide →
The Shinsekai district in Osaka with Tsutenkaku Tower, near the Nipponbashi Den Den Town area 🍢 Osaka5
Day 5 — Den Den Town
Day 5 · Nipponbashi Den Den Town

Take the morning shinkansen down to Osaka, drop your bags at the hotel, then spend the afternoon in Den Den Town — Osaka's electronics-and-anime district, the Kansai answer to Akihabara. Figures, trading cards, second-hand shops and cosplay; it's a touch less crowded than Akihabara and easier to walk. Finish with street food around Shinsekai/Dotonbori, both close by.

📍Where: Nipponbashi, Osaka · the southern stretch of Sakai-suji
🛍️What's good: new + second-hand figures · cosplay shops · Osaka-style maid cafés
🚆Getting there: Tokyo→Shin-Osaka shinkansen ~2 hr 30 min (Nozomi) · then the subway to Nipponbashi/Ebisucho
💡Tip: If you use a JR Pass, the Nozomi isn't covered — take the Hikari instead (check the latest 2026 timetable). An IC card (ICOCA) is handy to carry.
Osaka Guide →
Day 6 — USJ (optional) + fly home
Day 6 · Super Nintendo World @ USJ

A last day for the Nintendo crowd — Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan brings Mario's world to life for real. Ride Mario Kart, wear a Power-Up wristband, and collect coins across the zone. It has a single entrance and exit, so entry is capped — you'll need a Timed Entry. If Nintendo isn't your thing, use today for a final collectibles run in the city before you fly home and it's still worth it.

📍Where: Universal Studios Japan, Osaka · Universal City Station (JR)
🎫Ticket: you need a Studio Pass + a zone-entry pass (Timed Entry/Area Guarantee) · most 2026 Express Passes throw in Timed Entry
🚆Getting there: JR Yumesaki Line to Universal City, then a ~5-min walk
💡Tip: If you don't buy Express, enter the park early and reserve Timed Entry in the USJ app immediately (some days the free slots are gone by around 10:30). Download the app before you go.
Osaka Attractions →
Transport · Getting Around

How to Move Between Districtsand Get Down to Osaka

This trip is mostly city walking plus one shinkansen leg down to Osaka. Get these three things straight and travel gets a lot easier (2026 times/prices may shift — check the latest before you go).

In Tokyo
Carry an IC Card and Ride All Day

Akihabara–Nakano–Ikebukuro–Mitaka are all linked by JR + the subway; tap an IC card (Suica/PASMO) and you're on. Nakano is on the JR Chuo, ~5 min from Shinjuku · Mitaka is on the same line, ~20 min. Base yourself around Akihabara/Ikebukuro and getting around is easiest.

Down to Osaka
Shinkansen ~2 hr 30 min

Tokyo→Shin-Osaka by Nozomi ~2 hr 30 min · if you use a JR Pass the Nozomi isn't covered, so take the Hikari (a little slower). From Shin-Osaka transfer to the subway for Nipponbashi/Den Den Town · work out whether a Pass is worth it before you buy one.

Book Ahead
Lock the Fast-Sellers First

Booking order: Ghibli ticket (10th of the previous month, gone in minutes) → USJ ticket + Timed Entry for Super Nintendo World → shinkansen seats (easier to reserve in advance). Fix the Ghibli day first, then arrange everything else.

Where to Stay

Pick a Base That Makes theAnime Route Easiest

This trip splits into Tokyo for 4 nights + Osaka for 2 nights. Stay near a major train station first and getting between districts becomes far less tiring and saves you time.

🤖
Tokyo — around Akihabara
Stay near Akihabara and you can carry your bags of figures straight back to the hotel; it's on the JR Yamanote, so other districts are easy.
🎀
Tokyo — around Ikebukuro
Close to Otome Road + the Pokémon Center, with hotels across the price range; the JR Chuo gets you to Nakano/Mitaka easily.
🚄
Pick a Major Station First
A spot next to a major train station cuts walking and transfers a lot — especially on the day you have to drag your luggage between cities.
🍢
Osaka — around Namba/Nipponbashi
Walk to Den Den Town + Dotonbori, and USJ isn't far by train — ideal for your last two nights.
💴
Budget for Accommodation
A business hotel/capsule runs about 3,500–7,000 yen a night — a solid starting point if you'd rather save the budget for shopping.
📅
Book Free-Cancellation Rooms
Your Ghibli day may move with the ticket slot you get — choose free-cancellation rooms first, then lock things in once the plan settles.
🏨 Start hunting for a room: compare stays near the stations — Tokyo hotels on Agoda and Osaka hotels on Agoda — or open the city guides below for deeper picks.
Map

The Anime Routeon One Map

See clearly where each district sits — Akihabara, Nakano and Mitaka are all in greater Tokyo, then the trip heads south to finish at Den Den Town in Osaka. Tap the pins to explore.

Otaku Tips

6 Things That Keep the Shopping Funand the Budget Intact

💴
Set a Figure Budget Before You Go In
Collectibles are the hardest thing to control on this trip. Set a clear daily limit and carry cash only — it genuinely helps you stop.
🔁
Compare Second-Hand Shops First
Mandarake/Surugaya price by condition and by branch; the same item can vary a lot, so walk through several shops.
🧾
Use Tax-Free
Many big shops refund the tax once you hit the threshold. Carry your passport and keep your receipts to claim at the counter.
📦
Leave Luggage Room / Ship It
Boxed figures eat space — leave a big suitcase free or ship them home (EMS) if you go heavy.
📶
Activate an eSIM Before You Fly
You'll be navigating Google Maps shop to shop and checking train times on pilgrimage day — having data on you the whole time helps a lot.
🕙
Check Opening Hours First
Lots of anime shops don't open until around 11:00–12:00. Plan the morning around districts that open earlier, then hit the shops in the afternoon.
🧮 Map your whole-trip budget first: run the numbers with the Japan trip budget calculator and check whether a JR Pass is worth it before you decide · for mobile data, see the Japan eSIM / WiFi guide.
Related Guides

Read These Before You Go — Anime, Theme Parks, and Cities

🎌

Japan Anime Guide

A deep dive into the otaku districts, figure shops, maid cafés, second-hand stores, and scene-pilgrimage spots across Japan.

Anime Guide →
🎢

Japan Theme Parks Guide

Super Nintendo World, USJ, Tokyo Disney, and how to book tickets / Express Pass to make the most of your time.

Theme Parks Guide →
🗼

Tokyo Attractions

Akihabara, Nakano, Ikebukuro, and Tokyo's best districts, plus how to get around the city.

Tokyo Attractions →
🍢

Osaka Attractions

Den Den Town, USJ, Dotonbori, Osaka Castle — cover Kansai in just a few days.

Osaka Attractions →
📆

Japan 7-Day Itinerary

Want to add cities beyond the anime route? See the classic 7-day Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka plan.

7-Day Plan →
ℹ️

Japan Travel Prep

Visa · eSIM · IC card · JR Pass · yen · power plugs · etiquette — everything before you fly.

Travel Prep →
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ —the Anime Itinerary

How do I get tickets to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka?
The Ghibli Museum is advance-booking only — there are no tickets at the door. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 (Japan time) on the 10th of each month for the following month's visits. Overseas visitors book through the international Lawson Ticket site; create an account in advance and enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. The most popular slots sell out within minutes. On the day of your visit you present your confirmation code plus passport at the entrance to exchange them for the actual ticket.
How do I get to the Ghibli Museum from Tokyo?
Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Mitaka Station, about 20 minutes. From Mitaka's south exit, hop on the community bus (it has a Ghibli design) for about 5 minutes; the adult fare is 230 yen. Alternatively you can walk along the canal through Inokashira Park in about 15 minutes. The museum sits on the western side of Inokashira Park. Check the latest times and prices on the official site before you go.
Where can I do anime scene pilgrimage (seichi junrei)?
Japan has over 5,000 anime pilgrimage spots. Famous ones that are easy to reach from Tokyo include Hakone (Evangelion / Neon Genesis), Chichibu in Saitama (Anohana) and Washinomiya Shrine in Saitama (Lucky Star, which kicked off the whole pilgrimage trend back in 2007). Pick a series you love and build a single day trip around it — most local communities are very welcoming to anime fans.
Where can I buy good, cheap second-hand figures in Japan?
The most popular second-hand shops are Mandarake and Surugaya. Nakano Broadway has over 30 Mandarake branches in one building, focused on vintage goods, old figures and animation cels. Akihabara has both new and used. Good-condition second-hand figures are usually clearly cheaper than new ones, so compare prices across several shops before buying and check the condition and the box carefully.
How much does an anime trip cost per day?
Not counting collectibles, an anime trip runs roughly 8,000–13,000 yen per person per day (accommodation 3,500–7,000 + food 2,500–3,500 + city transport 800–1,500 + admissions/activities). Your figure and collectible budget is separate and hard to control, so set a ceiling before you walk into the shops. The Ghibli ticket is 1,000 yen, while USJ tickets and the Express Pass are big-ticket items you should set aside money for.
How do I prepare for Super Nintendo World at USJ?
Super Nintendo World has a single entrance and exit, so entry to the zone is capped. You need both a Studio Pass (park admission) and a zone-entry pass — either Timed Entry or an Area Entry Guarantee. Most 2026 Express Pass holders get Timed Entry for this zone included. If you don't buy Express, enter the park early and reserve Timed Entry through the USJ app immediately, because the free slots run out fast (some days by around 10:30). Download the app ahead of time.
Ready for Your Anime Trip?

Lock In the Ghibli Ticket First
Then Book Your Stay

Start by targeting the day you'll book the Ghibli Museum ticket (the 10th of the previous month), then build the other days around it. After that, find a stay near a station in Tokyo and Osaka early — and open the anime guide for more districts and standout shops.

🎌 Open the Japan Anime Guide 🏨 Search Tokyo Hotels →
🔴 Search Tokyo Hotels Anime Guide