Exploring Kotobukiya: A Haven for Anime Figure Enthusiasts

Are you a fan of figures?
If so, you should definitely visit this shop when you come to Japan.

This is Kotobukiya, an anime shop that was established in 1953 as a toy store and has since become a well-established company with 65 years of history. Despite being a toy store, they began releasing model kits as their own products and were the ones to sculpt "Rei Ayanami" and the "Evangelion Unit-01" from "Evangelion," which later sparked the figure boom.

Today, they develop and sell a wide range of products, from their own original brand plastic models to beautiful girl figures. Fans appreciate the high quality that maximizes the charm of each character.

Location:
Located about a 5-minute walk from Akihabara Station, it's tucked away just one street back from Akihabara's main road. The entire building is dedicated to Kotobukiya's shop, with each floor on the 3-story building divided into different categories.

Who Should go there?
Anyone looking for high-quality figures should definitely check it out.

Kyle’s Review
Shop Size: ★★★☆☆
Number of items: ★★★★☆
Crowdedness: ★★☆☆☆
Rare items: ★★★☆☆
Uniqueness: ★★★★★

Shop Size: ★★★☆☆
While the entire building is Kotobukiya's shop, it's not particularly spacious. There's plenty of merchandise on display, but it can feel a bit cramped due to the limited walking space.

Number of items: ★★★★☆
In terms of sheer quantity, it might not match up to some second-hand shops, but the variety is impressive. Alongside popular anime merchandise, they also offer products from Godzilla, Star Wars, Studio Ghibli, and various game franchises. Additionally, they sell cases and shelves for displaying figures, which collectors will appreciate.

Crowdedness: ★★☆☆☆
This shop is quite popular, so despite not being on the main road, it can get quite crowded. Particularly on the first floor, where many shoppers gather.

Rare items: ★★★☆☆
As they primarily deal with new items, you won't find rare discontinued products here. However, they do handle pre-orders for made-to-order items, sometimes with exclusive Kotobukiya bonuses.

Uniqueness: ★★★★★
Kotobukiya's figures are known for their exceptional quality. Take a look at these photos. The quality of each figure is outstanding, making them perfect for display in any home.


One particularly impressive piece is the Dark Souls Ornstein figure. It's a massive statue standing at approximately 67cm tall, created by First 4 Figures. While its retail price is ¥79,750, a quick check on eBay shows listings as high as $1099 (approximately ¥160,000).
Such rarity and demand make it a sought-after item. Even if Kotobukiya doesn't sell it, just being able to see it adds value to the experience.

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Happy hunting!