Nakano Broadway ~Welcome to the Kowloon City~
10/06/2016
Did you know that there is “Japanese Kowloon City”, near Shinjuku, and just 5 minutes away using Chuo-line?
The name of the complex building is “Nakano Broadway.” It is a shopping mall that have about 300 varieties of shops from comics, animation, music, toys, jewelries, and to the restaurant. In 2016, it is already 50 years past from the time broadway have been established. The retro atmosphere is waiting for the visitors. Today, we would like to introduce the subculture of Nakano broadway from different point of view.
The characteristic about Nakano broadway is the quantity of the stores and variation of items. Broadway has stores from basement 1 to 4th floor, and the place is in the arcade, so visitors don't need to worry about the rain.
It feels like you are in the museum, and can satisfy the items that is gathered. There are 26 second-handed shops in the broadway. In Mandarake, they sell premium books that cost about few millions, and or the items that is only 3 for 210 yen. Other than comics, they also sell valuable items, so maybe you can find the items you were searching for at this shop too.
Nakano broadway is also famous for the visitors that they will get lost easily. The escalator on 1st floor will go up straight to 3rd floor. If you want to go up to the 2nd and 4th floor, you need to climb up stairs.
We will show you some recommended shops you can go when you get lost!
◇Mandarake Henya
We can say that Mandarake is the one of the symbol of broadway shops that have a large sub culture. They located on 4th floor, with a lot of weird items from comics, figures, BJD, and etc.
The entrance is the motif of Torii (the gateway), and if you enter you can see the clear showcase with retro toys. The toys we called,”Japanese pop antique” is attractive just looking at it, and the strange thing you will forget the time past by.
◇TACO ché
They located on the 3rd floor, and they sell the published magazines and goods that you can`t able to purchace in general market. There are art graphic books, the design key holders that relief for some reasons, and limited items by famous instructors. You can find the items that you only can find and purchase at here. This place will give you pleasant surprise and you can discover new things here.
◇Bar Zingaro
Bar Zingaoro is a concept cafe & bar that connects to the “Zingaro” gallery series. The open space cafe has the stylish atmosphere with the modern art artist Takashi Murakami`s designs.
There is colorful shaved ice that you can have it only in Summer. The original syrup made by staff will make the atmosphere more comfortable and colorful. The Uji matcha shaved ice is the most popular item among foreigners, but how about trying the taste you only can`t enjoy it at here? That is Espresso & Coffee Jelly shaved ice! A lot of people enjoy having it of the replacement of drinking coffee. The bitter espresso favor will spread over your tongue . Other than this menu, there is also special single origin, and a varieties of alcohol menus.
How was it? Please stop by at Nakano broadway, the place that change the face everytime you go.
