How to Enjoy Nakano, Tokyo’s Otaku Paradise

Nakano Broadway is a commercial complex near the North Exit of JR Nakano Station. It is widely considered a "paradise" for "otaku", a Japanese term referring to people highly interested in various subcultures. The lineup of stores lives up to its reputation, starting with Mandarake, which deals with all kinds of products related to manga, anime, games, and more; CUBE STYLE, which rents out display cases for figurines; Card Shop Treasure, with the biggest collection of telephone cards in Japan; and many more. The various capsule toy corners in the building are also something that enthusiasts won't be able to resist. Furthermore, it is also possible to encounter slightly unusual Japanese food there, such as the Instagram-worthy soft serve ice cream from Daily Chiko, or the around 1,000 varieties of snacks at Okashi no Machioka.

Nakano Sun Mall is a 224m-long shopping street that can be found directly in front of the North Exit of JR Nakano Station. Check out the stores while you're here - not only do they offer reasonably priced goods and services, but they're well loved by the locals. One example is Bonjour Bon Bakery Nakano Branch, whose most popular bread, the Maple Melon Bread (175 JPY), won the top prize in the melon bread category at the 2015 Bread of the Year awards. Other shops that offer great deals include Claire's, the biggest accessory chain in the world; Daiwa Shoes, where shoes can be bought for around 1,000 JPY; and UNIQLO.

Nakano is actually also home to many ramen shops. Here are two ramen restaurants that are extremely popular among ramen lovers.

People love the double base soup at Aoba, which is made by combining meat-based broth with Japanese-style fish based broth. It was created by the owner, who values contact with customers so much that the restaurant was purposefully designed to only have seats by the counter. To enjoy this rich and tasty soup, try the Chuka Soba (730 JPY (incl. tax)).

A restaurant that is currently very popular thanks to its rich and distinctive soup made with pork bones and soy sauce. The restaurant's recommendation is the Seaweed and Soft Boiled Marinated Egg Ramen (850 JPY (incl. tax)). During lunch, patrons can get a bowl of rice for free (50 JPY at any other time). A must-try for people who like ramen with a rich taste!