Child Travel Tips

There are many large toy stores in and around Tokyo, and after years of travel and research I've compiled a guide some of the best around.

Hakuhinkan Toy Park – Tokyo

Location: Ginza, Tokyo
Nearest stations: Shimbashi or Ginza (approximately 4 minutes walk)

Hakuhinkan was one of the leading toy stores I went to Tokyo as it is mentioned in almost all guidebooks. It is by no means the best toy store, but it's worth the detour. The first floor contains a beautiful selection of new products and gadgets strange and that's where I tend to spend most of my time. The remaining floors contain a good selection of Western and Japanese toys, so if you do Looking to get some toys to bring to friends and parents this is a good place to visit.

Yamashiroya

Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Ueno

Now, it's really a great store, Yamashiroya is spread over several floors that is absolutely packed with toys, games, gadgets, you name it is here somewhere. It contains a wide selection of Japanese toys and Western, with a beautiful Transformers and Star Wars selection. It is very difficult to go into this store without having to spend a little money, even if it comes in machines outside Gashapon.

A strange rule in this shop is that you must pay for your items on the floor, they are on, so you move up spending your money, you end up with bags more and more objects that you bought in stages below.

Monster Japan

Location: Ebisu, Tokyo
Nearest station: Ebisu

Monster Japan is a small shop hidden in the floors top of the building in Ebisu, Tokyo and specializes in toys and American imports. Even if all the toys are imported, you can always find a bargain, especially if the exchange rate is good. They have good beaches Star Wars, Transformers, GIJOE, and toys for all the latest movies.

Kiddy Land

Location: Harajuku, Tokyo
Nearest stations: Meijijingumae, Harajuku

Do not let the name fool you, Kiddy Land is not just for kids, although you will find a really busy place. Spread over seven floors, it is a fantastic toy store for all the world.

On each floor you will find another line of toys from around the world. They have the largest collection of Snoopy and the Peanuts toys I think I've ever seen and a great selection of some of the many cute and cuddly characters, larger Japanese anime cartoons.

Kiddy Land is a store chain with stores in other places in Japan.

Astro Mike

Location: Harajuku, Tokyo
Nearest stations: Meijijingumae, Harajuku

Astro Mike is a little toy shop hidden in the back streets of Harajuku, Tokyo. Even if only a few meters square in size it is packed floor to ceiling with toys of all kinds. From Smurfs to Star Wars that's about all there. Staff has always been very friendly and willing to help making it worth a visit, and it is only a short walk from Kiddyland.

Akihabara

Location: Akihabara, Tokyo
Nearest station: Akihabara

Although Akihabara is best known as the Electric City sale of all known electronic products and gadgets, is also an ideal place for a collector of toys.

Once you exit the station of Akihabara you are surrounded by shops large and small gadgets sales galore. But between them you will find many toy stores. Animating have a store here, but Most are small independent stores that come and go. Whenever we visited, there were different stores to find. This is also the best where to go for Gashapon machines, which are mostly corners and outside most stores.

Nakano Broadway

Location: Nakano Tokyo
Nearest Station: Nakano

Nakano Broadway Mall is the place is probably the biggest and best collection of shops and toy collection in Tokyo. Located on the second floor, third and fourth, it is absolutely packed with small shops specializing in all kinds toys old and new collectors.

Some of my favorite shops in Nakano and are Mandarake Robot Robot. Mandarake has loads of different stores here each focusing on a different domain. The shop is a cosplay look. You can even take your old collection there to trade money cash.

It is easy to spend a whole day here just browsing through the many small shops, each crammed to bursting with stuff.

Sunshine City

Location: Ikebukuro
Nearest station: Ikebukuro

Sunshine City is one of the best all round shopping Tokyo, we often spend a whole day to look around. On the front of toy shopping there quite a Toys R Us in the basement that never fails to deliver. It has always a good selection of Western and Japanese-style toys. And some of the toys of preschool children are so damn cute, it is difficult to obtain another no Doreamon for your collection.

The exterior of Sunshine City you will find a small row of shops specializing in manga and which animate K-Books.

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