【4K】Japan Walk – Tokyo ,February 2021,Nakano 中野区 and Nakano Broadway中野ブロードウェイ #Tokyo #中野ブロードウェイ

【4K】Japan Walk – Tokyo ,February 2021,Nakano 中野区 and Nakano Broadway中野ブロードウェイ #Tokyo #中野ブロードウェイ

【4K】Japan Walk – Tokyo ,February 2021,Nakano 中野区 and Nakano Broadway中野ブロードウェイ #Tokyo #中野ブロードウェイ

Nakano (中野区, Nakano-ku)
Sometimes dubbed ‘Western Tokyo’s Akihabara’, Nakano, just a few stops away from Shinjuku, deserves its ‘otaku heaven’ moniker. But considering the size of Nakano Ward and its sheer diversity, even those not obsessed with manga are bound to find a slice suited to them.

The area has more or less survived Tokyo’s incessant modernisation drive: head slightly northeast from the station and you’ll find an old-school, partially pre-war block chock-full of izakaya, bars and more, while Edo-era temples and serene parks can be found further north still. It’s a bustling mix of office workers, university students and families, and the locals are generally very friendly, laid-back and up for a chat.

Nakano Broadway (中野ブロードウェイ) is a shopping complex in Tokyo famous for its many stores selling anime items and idol goods, inlcuding more than a dozen small Mandarake stores, which specialize in manga and anime related collectibles. The shopping complex is a short walk from Nakano Station, which is five minute train ride from Shinjuku via the JR Chuo Line.

There are four levels of shopping at the Nakano Broadway. The second and third levels are where the many anime and idol related shops are located. Here, shoppers can find manga, magazines, collectors’ items, animation character figurines, idol merchandise, game consoles, video games, animation/idol related CDs, as well as little souvenirs to take home, such as idol playing cards or key chains.

The ground level of the Nakano Broadway has shops selling clothes, shoes, tidbits and second hand goods. The basement level is a marketplace, where the locals shop for their groceries. Products on sale range from fruits and vegetables to meat and seafood.

Nakano Broadway
Leading to the Nakano Broadway from Nakano Station is the Nakano Sunmall, a 225 meter long, covered shopping street with a wide variety of shops, including food joints, cafes, watch dealers, jewelers, fashion boutiques, pharmacies, game centers, book stores and others.

On the side streets branching off from the shopping street are food alleys with various restaurants, including many izakaya (Japanese style pub/eatery), that serve all different kinds of food. Here one can experience the atmosphere of the bustling food crowd while taking a break from the shopping.

Food alley branching off from the Nakano Sunmall shopping street
Getting there and around
Nakano Broadway is a five minute walk along the Nakano Sunmall shopping street, which starts just across the north exit of Nakano Station. Nakano Station is served by the JR Chuo Line (5 minutes, 160 yen from Shinjuku Station) and the Tozai Subway Line.