Kotobukiya's New Akihabara Store


HLJ customers who visit Japan often ask us for advice about good hobby stores to visit. Since any visitor to Tokyo is going to want to stop by Akihabara, the electronics and otaku capital of the world, we highly recommend Kotobukiya's new retail store there, just opened!

CIMG5303.jpg CIMG5309.jpg CIMG5311.jpg
Kotobukiya's new store is in a prime location on the first floor of the "Radio Kaikan," just a few steps outside the JR Akihabara station's Electric Town entrance. About 150 anxious shoppers ultimately lined up outside the shuttered storefront prior to the grand opening. While a bit densely packed, things are very neatly organized within the shop.
CIMG5315.jpg CIMG5459.jpg CIMG5493.jpg
The Shimizus (the owners of Kotobukiya), in the foreground, make sure everything is in order before the grand opening. Their staff hustles to get ready to open the new store for the first time. And they're off! Customers crowd the store as soon as it opens.
CIMG5496.jpg CIMG5318.jpg CIMG5320.jpg
Looks like first-day sales are going to be promising. A good percentage of their stock is character-based merchandise, and much of it is from non-Japanese properties. There's apparel, too!
CIMG5329.jpg CIMG5380.jpg CIMG5453.jpg
Of course, no good otaku store would be complete without a fine selection of female figures. What flavor would you like that in, sir? Collection-type figures and models, packed in blind boxes, are still very popular.