-Shop cute Japanese products and cool products from Japan. This cute blog is about Japanese kawaii, kawaii Japan, kawaii fashion, Japanese pop culture and more. It's a kawaii blog from Japan, Japan blog in English by a Japanese girl.

Tokyo Kawaii, etc. -Cute kawaii information directly from Tokyo!-  
rss
youtube
    
 
 
 
 
 

Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

author Posted by: kirin on date Nov 12th, 2011 | filed Filed under: Kawaii Shop, Something Interesting

vintage toys, MANDARAKE and more
Nakano Broadway
nearest train station: Nakano
address: 5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0001
phone: 03-3388-7004

I suppose Nakano Broadway and MANDARAKE shops are familiar among foreign tourists. Anyhow, I dropped at that place for the first time, after I had a lunch with my husband near the area.
nakano broadway1 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

It’s at the North exit of JR Nakano station, and at the end of Sun Mall shopping arcade. I personally don’t like such a narrow place, but there are many interesting shops. If you like Japanese snacks, “okashi no machioka” is a good place to buy them with discount all the time. I have one of their branch stores in my station, but I don’t eat snacks that often, and so I never make the best use of the store. Haha!
nakano broadway2 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

nakano broadway4 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

There is a Tofu shop. They carry Tofu, soy milk and some Tofu related snacks and etc. You may find it interesting.
nakano broadway5 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

But I don’t like Tofu so much, so…I just passed there. :p
nakano broadway6 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

A fabric shop seems nice. I will check it out when I have a chance to remodel used clothing or something. I’m afraid I don’t think I can make something new from scratch when it comes to sewing. >_<
nakano broadway8 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

Some cosplay shops, but pictures are strictly prohibited. I took them from the angle where the shop staff cannot see me. :p
nakano broadway cosplay shop1 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

nakano broadway cosplay shop2 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

Oh, here’s the Nakano Broadway mascot, Pipi. Japanese people like to prepare a mascot character for anything. ^ ^;;
nakano broadway character Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

I noticed there are so many shops named Mandarake. But each one is special at one specific item. For example, one is specialized for figures and dolls, the other one is for plastic models, then the next one is for cosplay outfits, and also there is the one for manga and books…you know, it’s just like that. There is a place where you can bring your old toys or books and have them purchased by Mandarake. But when I was trying to take that picture, I was asked if I needed to be served by the staff. Oh no, I had nothing to sell. ^ ^;;
nakano broadway9 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

Strange T-shirts. Of course, a big sign of “No photo”. ^ ^;; I only want to share with TKE readers what we have in Tokyo~~. (T_T) The shop carried more fun/strange T-shirts. But the good thing about the store is that they never mistake Japanese printed on the T-shirts. lol I had to laugh at the Japanese-printed T-shirts I see people wearing abroad because the Japanese printed there is so strange and just funny! Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense at all. I know you see the similar thing to find us wearing a T-shirt with strange English printed. ^ ^;;
nakano broadway11 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

This is a Mandarake book store. Men are busy reading manga there. ^ ^;;
nakano broadway manga Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

I think my husband and I enjoyed these retro toys and vintage toys. There are some shops and Mandarake that carries old dolls, toys, signs and etc. which are priced so high because they are considered vintage and limited. But of course, “No photo” again…
nakano broadway12 Nakano Broadway and Mandarake

I was talking with my husband that we could have kept all the toys, plamodel (plastic models) and the gamewatch that played when we were kids. We were excited to find the toys that we played when we were little.

Nakano Broadway and Mandarake shops will be interesting especially to foreign tourists visiting Tokyo. As for me, one time is enough, but I may go back there if I find some things from my parents house that I feel like selling to Mandarake. lol

Have you been to Mandarake shops or any interesting shops in Tokyo?

Related Posts

tagsTags: , , ,

tag35 Responses to “Nakano Broadway and Mandarake”

  1. Lisa Said,
    November 12th, 2011 at 1:35 pm edit

    I remember those old toys from my childhood too!

  2. Troo Said,
    November 12th, 2011 at 6:14 pm edit

    I love Nakano Broadway. I find it far less tedious than walking around Akihabara for an entire day. Plus there is a shop that specialises in Techno music, so they have all the P-Model and Hirasawa Susumu CDs I could ever want :D

  3. Apple Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 1:13 am edit

    Kirin!!! A tofu shop!!! and snacks!!!

    I thought Nakano Broadway was just all about manga and cosplay and games stuff…like another Akiba…but….from your writeup, i really wanna gooooo there nowwwwwwwwwwww.

    the vintage toyshop look so interesting. i wanna go i wanna go!!! T^T

  4. winnie Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 2:25 am edit

    Hi Kirin,
    I have not been there but only stopped by at the station to change to another train line! hahaha :)
    This place seem interesting, Tofu shop(yummy), Mandarake.
    I will going to bring my girl there during her Winter Break or when she is less busy with her school workloads.

    Thank you for sharing these interesting information.

  5. kirin Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 2:32 pm edit

    Haha, I thought you'd like this place! ^__^

  6. kirin Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 2:35 pm edit

    Oh YES, I thought of you immediately when I saw this tofu shop! ;)
    (My husband also mentioned your name right away!)
    The vintage toy shop was fun to look around. It was very surprising an old doll can cost for several man yen. lol

  7. kirin Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 2:38 pm edit

    Hi Winnie,
    Me either. I rarely get off at Nakano station. To be exact, I don't hang around Nakano – Koenji area so often.
    Oh I think you and your daughter will find this place interesting. :) Give it a try!

  8. Troo Said,
    November 13th, 2011 at 2:57 pm edit

    LOL <3

    I like okashi no machioka. They have a good variety for such a little shop. Do they have a bigger store somewhere else? I love the Calpis-flavoured sweets, but they can be hard to find.

  9. Rhyscurrency Said,
    November 14th, 2011 at 2:34 am edit

    Can u tell me the name of the song please? love your videos and all your stuff! you seems to be a great guy!

  10. kirin Said,
    November 14th, 2011 at 12:21 pm edit

    They have so many branch stores around Kanto area so…I have no idea which one is bigger. http://www.machioka.co.jp/shop/index.html

    Niki no kashi (@Ameyoko, Ueno) is also famous for its discounted snacks, but I think you know that. :p http://www.nikinokashi.co.jp/

  11. Troo Said,
    November 14th, 2011 at 2:53 pm edit

    Ooo, yes! They're great fun!

  12. Alberto Said,
    November 14th, 2011 at 4:01 pm edit

    Seeing the images, the place looks nice. It seems the perfect place to walk in a rainy or hot day (if there are air conditioned, of course)

    I noticed some details in the photos that I think are quite interesting: in the 3rd photo, I can see Pringle Chips at 139yen. That is 1.32 €. I always thought that Japan was very expensive, specially in Tokio, the capital city, but 1.39€ for a big can of Pringles is the normal price here too ^_^

    The 6th photo, where you show us the fabrics shop, it reminds me the 1980 – 1990 years here, at Spain, because now there is no such kind of shops. Also I noticed that most of the fabrics in that shop looks like outdated patterns and colours. I don't think a girl now uses such patters in their clothes. So, I think those fabrics are meant to be used to make Kimonos or some other classical clothings. Am I correct? Do you, Japanese people, still sew cloths? Is that normal? Here, sadly, nobody sew.

    The 10th photo, the photo with that blue robot, that shop seems to sell old useless things that at first sight look nice but after two days passed, nobody look them. Hahaha
    And that guy in front of the shop looks so bored… he has emotionless face, his hand in the pocket, and so laziness he seem…. hahaha If he's your husband, you know now that men don't like to go shopping ^_^ Only exception is going shopping a technology things :p

    I was going to take some photo of a classical market here at my city where or women and men sell what they produce in their fields. Today I couldn't go there, but I promise I will send you the photos some day. :-)
    Also, when I go Madrid (I always go on winter), I will take photos or even a video of some interesting markets like your Nakano Broadway.

    Cya :-)

  13. Talvez... Said,
    November 15th, 2011 at 9:51 pm edit

    Reading this, one doubt remained in my mind: what's wrong with taking photos?

  14. Joe Russell Said,
    November 16th, 2011 at 2:13 am edit

    What are the goals of Tokyo company?

  15. kirin Said,
    November 16th, 2011 at 2:46 am edit

    1: All the commercial facilities in Japan are fully air-conditioned during summer and winter time.
    2: Kimono is made of silk, and we normally cannot sew it. Only professional kimono makers can do it.
    I think housewives will come to this store to buy some fabric to make a bag or clothing for their kids. I didn't take a deep look inside the store so I cannot say they carry retro pattern of fabrics.
    3: He is my husband, and yes he was bored, haha! He doesn't like shopping, either. But those who are hanging around those shops were mostly guys and the maniac.
    4: Please! I'd love to see those photos! ^_^

    Thanks!

  16. kirin Said,
    November 16th, 2011 at 2:48 am edit

    That's also my question, "What's wrong with taking photos?!" But almost every shop in Japan tells us not to take their pictures. I think they are afraid of someone's copying their products or the image of the store. I always want to say that I am not a spy or anything but only that I wish to share how things are in here for my readers~~~!!

  17. Rhyscurrency Said,
    November 16th, 2011 at 5:16 am edit

    I went there like last week, it was fun, I got a nendroid, and Ironically enough it was "Nakano" Azusa XD

  18. Feli Said,
    November 16th, 2011 at 11:59 am edit

    Oooo~ WOW! I will definitely visit this place if i ever get to visit Japan again! I can't believe i didn't know there was such a place @_@

  19. kirin Said,
    November 17th, 2011 at 7:49 am edit

    I thought this place was already introduced in a guide book, but if didn't know it, it was good that I wrote about it. ^ ^

  20. Troo Said,
    November 17th, 2011 at 9:29 am edit

    I think a lot of guidebooks ignore Nakano Broadway and focus on Akihabara.

    All Nakano Broadway needs is a C&C Curry House and the replacement is complete! :3

  21. zanaasensei Said,
    November 17th, 2011 at 12:25 pm edit

    Hello….
    I went there when studied at Nishi Shinjuku around 2004…
    Actually i have purchased the Japanese tea set from one of shop there for my mum…

  22. Feli Said,
    November 18th, 2011 at 5:13 am edit

    Ooo,i see! Thank you for making this post!

  23. kirin Said,
    November 18th, 2011 at 5:49 am edit

    I've never been to C&C Curry, but is it different from Coco Ichibanya? I didn't like Coco Ichibanya's curry, I could make it with better taste. But on the other hand, I hear that GoGo Curry is very popular overseas. (I've never tried it either, but I think GoGo Curry is basically for men.) http://www.gogocurry.com/menu.html

  24. kirin Said,
    November 18th, 2011 at 5:50 am edit

    Yes, there was a tea shop I guess. They were selling some Japanese tea leave containers.

  25. Troo Said,
    November 18th, 2011 at 11:16 pm edit

    Yeah, I find Coco Ichibanya's curry a bit… weird. But I really like C&C's.

    I'm so glad that I made an S&B Curry Roux up for dinner this evening or that GoGo menu would be driving me insane right now! LOL

  26. Troo Said,
    November 19th, 2011 at 7:55 pm edit

    You're welcome :)

  27. Shimin Said,
    November 20th, 2011 at 3:19 pm edit

    Wow!! So cool! I would love to go to the textile store! I love making skirts :3

  28. kirin Said,
    November 21st, 2011 at 11:38 am edit

    There is a textile store in Shibuya (on the way to Shibuya 109, I guess) as well. Also, Yuzawaya is very popular with fabrics and many tools and materials of crafting. http://tokyokawaiietc.com/archives/4598

  29. Kleran Said,
    January 12th, 2012 at 11:16 pm edit

    Waa I love all this stuff! la tela para hacer vestidos lolita es lo que me mato ♥-♥ es una lastima que muchas veces no se pueda comprar desde el extranjero, por ejemplo yo quiero comprar un videojuego de edición limitada pero no hacen envíos al extranjero :( Se que muchas veces las personas que consiguen cosas niponas lo hacen por medio de intermediarios, pero no se si sea seguro, podrías hacer algún post sobre esto? de lo agradecería de todo corazón :D

  30. kirin Said,
    January 13th, 2012 at 8:58 am edit

    Te entiendo. Has leido este post ya? http://tokyokawaiietc.com/archives/4673

    Es muy facil. Busca a las cosas de japon que quieres comprar en internet, y dame el enlace. Voy a hacer una pagina como esta. http://www.flutterscape.com/product/no/15006/lie-…
    Entonces ven la pagina y si te gusta el precio y todos, puedes comprarlas a traves de mi y FlutterScape.

    Does this make sense? Sorry I'm learning Spanish and sorry if above doesn't make sense well. You can contact me via contact form for more. http://tokyokawaiietc.com/contact ^_^;;

    Disculpa para mi pobre espanol!! ^ ^;;;;;

  31. Kleran Said,
    January 26th, 2012 at 10:10 am edit

    *w* de verdad? really? thank you very much! =3 ♥

    oh, sorry I don't see that post before ^^u, I'll check it ;) and don't worry about, your spanish actually it's very good :D

    Muchas gracias de nuevo, en cuanto reúna todo lo que quiero comprar te contacto :3

    XD y disculpa tu mi pobre ingles T___T

  32. kirin Said,
    January 27th, 2012 at 2:59 pm edit

    Hola Kleran,

    No te preocupes, tu ingles es mejor que mi espanol. ^ ^;;
    Sobre FlutterScape, hay una cosa que hablar contigo. Han cambiado su politica, y no quiero usar el servicio ya.
    Pero hay muchos vendedores registorados para FlutterScape, y puedes comprar las cosas que quieres a traves de ellos.

    Lo siento por el cambio.

  33. Kleran Said,
    January 31st, 2012 at 7:51 am edit

    Hi Kirin!

    aww que mal :( en caso de que tenga alguna duda puedo pedirte ayuda?

    Y no te preocupes, muchas gracias :D

  34. kirin Said,
    February 1st, 2012 at 9:29 am edit

    Que lastima, si. -_-…
    Y en caso de que tengas alguna duda, es mejor que pedir al vendedor porque el es responsable de su pedido.
    Perdon. No es lo que esperaba, tampoco. (T_T)

    Mira, mi espanol no es bueno, pero si hay algo que le puede ayudar, digame por favor. Y yo tambien puedo practicar espanol.

     Add A Comment

trackback Trackback URI | rsscomment Comments RSS