Nakano Broadway Travel Guide: Explore the Heart of Subculture Like a Treasure Hunt

Nakano Broadway opened in 1966 as a mixed-use building combining commercial facilities and residential units.
Japan was then in the midst of rapid economic growth, and new American-influenced lifestyles were becoming widespread.
Although it may be difficult to imagine from its current image, Nakano Broadway was also an advanced facility that symbolized its era and attracted attention for its shopping center.
As times changed and conventional retailers began to decline, the used-book store Mandarake opened in 1980 in a space measuring approximately 71 square feet.
This marked a turning point. Specialty stores dedicated to anime, toys, and other particular genres followed Mandarake, gradually creating a commercial culture unlike any other.
After Japan's economic bubble collapsed in 1991, even more specialty stores gathered here, and Nakano Broadway gradually established itself as a center of subculture.
It marks its 60th anniversary in 2026 and remains in operation today while continuing to foster its distinctive culture.

The commercial area of Nakano Broadway extends from B1 through the 4th floor, while the 5th floor and above are residential.
An overview is provided below.
When the building first opened, its units were sold according to designated uses that differed from today, with fresh food on B1 and fashion stores on the 1st and 3rd floors.
As units were later resold or leased, ownership and tenancy became increasingly fragmented, and the mix of stores gradually grew more eclectic.
There are no building-wide business hours or closing days. Because these vary by store, check the latest information if you have a particular destination in mind.

Nakano Broadway and Akihabara are both major centers of subculture in Tokyo.
Although both offer manga, anime, games, and more, they differ in scale, store distribution, and product selection.
The table below compares their respective features.
In short, Nakano is a place to explore a single building in depth, while Akihabara is best experienced by walking around the entire district.

One of Nakano Broadway's defining names is Mandarake, which operates more than 30 specialty stores inside the building.
Its sales areas extend across the 1st through 4th floors, with individual stores divided into specific genres such as anime, toys, figures, and idol merchandise.
For example, Mon on the 1st floor introduces visitors to Mandarake's distinctive world, while the Main Store and Main Store 2 on the 3rd floor primarily carry manga.
There are many other distinctive stores, making it easy to spend hours browsing at a leisurely pace.
Some especially notable locations are listed below.
Another appeal is the chance to encounter the culture of earlier eras while browsing nostalgic goods and collectibles.

Nakano Broadway is more than just a subculture destination. The building's history, dating back to 1966, is still reflected in its retro character.
Traditional stores and traces of the original building remain throughout the interior, while locally oriented businesses stand alongside specialty subculture shops, creating a setting unlike anywhere else.
New types of stores also continue to open, providing opportunities to encounter contemporary culture.

Daily Chiko, an iconic food shop that needs little introduction, is located on B1.
This long-established shop opened at the same time as Nakano Broadway.
Its signature item is an extra-large soft-serve ice cream stacked with 8 different flavors.
Its tall, colorful appearance makes a striking impression and has also made it popular as a photogenic treat.
Different flavors appear with the seasons and for limited periods, giving visitors something different to try depending on when they visit.

Watch stores specializing in luxury brands and vintage pieces are another feature of Nakano Broadway.
The 3rd floor, where many of these specialty stores are concentrated, is particularly worth visiting for watch enthusiasts.
Two especially notable stores are Jackroad and Bettyroad.
Founded in 1987, Jackroad carries a broad selection centered on men's watches, with more than 5,000 watches in stock at all times.
Bettyroad specializes in women's watches and carries popular brands such as Cartier and Chanel. Its selection of women's antique watches is also among the largest in Japan.
With such an extensive lineup, visitors may come across an unexpected favorite.

Mandarake is far from the only attraction at Nakano Broadway. The building contains many distinctive stores sure to capture the interest of dedicated enthusiasts.
Many stores focus on specific genres, including Taco che, which carries unusual collections, and the military shop LAZYCAT.
Of the complex's 207 stores, 85 are classified as subculture-related, making it relatively likely that visitors will encounter products rarely found in conventional large shopping centers.
The real pleasure lies in visiting these highly specialized shops one by one in search of carefully selected items.

One of the classic ways to experience Nakano Broadway is to search for unexpected finds while walking through the building.
Because highly specialized stores are grouped by genre, you may discover products that are now difficult to obtain or an item you have spent years searching for.
Even merchandise from the same work can vary by age, condition, and design, creating chance encounters that may stop you in your tracks.
Try wandering through the floors without a particular destination and carefully examining every corner of the shelves packed with merchandise.

Gachapon capsule toys are another part of the experience.
The machines offer a wide variety of genres, from items based on manga and anime characters to retro toys and miscellaneous goods.
Many of the products are unusual, and the items make fitting mementos or souvenirs from your visit.
In addition to the specialist HAL Shop on the 2nd floor, machines are installed in several other locations, making it fun to look for ones that catch your attention while exploring the building.

Galleries and amusement facilities are another attraction at Nakano Broadway.
There are frequent opportunities to view distinctive exhibitions free of charge, including at Hidari Zingaro, produced by Kaikai Kiki, the company led by internationally renowned artist Takashi Murakami.
Exhibition content and dates vary, but these spaces offer a different perspective on pop culture.
The building also has several arcades, including namco Nakano, with video and crane games, and Adores Nakano, which is said to be the tallest and narrowest arcade in Japan.
Art and games make an enjoyable addition to a shopping break.

Baishoin, popularly known as Arai Yakushi, is the largest temple in Nakano City.
Several shopping streets form a traditional temple town along the approach from Nakano Station to the temple gate, and Yakushi Ai Road Shopping Street is one of them.
The shopping street's name combines Arai Yakushi's reputation for helping with eye ailments with the Japanese word ai, meaning love. It was reportedly chosen to express the goal of becoming a shopping street loved by its customers.
Approximately 120 businesses are packed throughout the area in every direction, including restaurants and bars, specialty stores such as butcher shops, Japanese confectionery stores, and kimono stores, as well as hair salons, hospitals, and even a public bathhouse.

Nakano Central Park consists of 2 buildings containing offices and restaurants, along with a spacious green plaza.
By using the plaza in coordination with nearby universities and parks, this new Nakano landmark serves as a place for cultural creation, where local residents, students, and office workers can gather and interact.
Park Avenue, located in front of the buildings, is an open space covering approximately 7.4 acres.
Adjacent to Nakano Shiki no Mori Park, this open, leafy space is popular as an urban oasis.

This park in Nakano City was established in 1904 by philosopher Enryo Inoue, the founder of Toyo University.
Developed as a place for spiritual cultivation, the park contains buildings and facilities that visually represent the world of philosophy.
Structures dating primarily from the Meiji period remain throughout the grounds. These include the Shiseidō, dedicated to 4 philosophers from East and West who influenced Enryo Inoue—Confucius, Shakyamuni Buddha, Socrates, and Kant—as well as the Rokkendai, dedicated to 6 sages of the East, and the Mujinzō, which displays items collected by Enryo Inoue.