Best Anime District in California — 55 verified listings

• Kinokuniya San Francisco — San Francisco. Located in Japantown's Kinokuniya Building at 1581 Webster St, this was the chain's first overseas bookstore (1969). The first floor features anime and manga merchandise, with deep stocks of art books
• Kinokuniya San Jose — San Jose. Anchored inside Mitsuwa Marketplace in San Jose at 675 Saratoga Ave, this Kinokuniya stocks Japanese novels, art books, manga in both English and Japanese, and anime/game merchandise. New releases hit
• Kinokuniya Los Angeles — Los Angeles. Long-running Little Tokyo location stocking manga in English and Japanese, art books, anime merch, figures, and stationery. A pilgrimage stop for LA anime fans alongside the surrounding Little Tokyo s
• Kinokuniya Costa Mesa — Costa Mesa. Located inside Mitsuwa Marketplace in Costa Mesa, OC's hub for Japanese books and anime culture. Stocks manga, light novels, anime figures, art books, and stationery. Serves Orange County's substantia
• BOOKOFF Costa Mesa — Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa location of the Japanese used-bookstore chain. Stocks deeply discounted used manga, anime DVDs and CDs, figures, J-pop, and Japanese books. A staple stop for OC anime fans hunting cheap man
• BOOKOFF Torrance — Torrance. South Bay Los Angeles BOOKOFF in Torrance carries used manga, anime CDs, figures, video games, and Japanese books at low prices. Embedded in one of LA's most Japanese-American neighborhoods. Located i
• BOOKOFF San Francisco — San Francisco. BOOKOFF San Francisco operates in Japantown selling used manga, anime CDs and DVDs, figures, video games, and Japanese books. A favorite spot for SF Bay Area anime fans hunting cheap finds. Located in
• Mitsuwa Marketplace Costa Mesa — Costa Mesa. Orange County's main Japanese marketplace anchored by Kinokuniya, BOOKOFF, and a food court. Hosts anime-themed pop-ups, vendor markets, and Japanese cultural events throughout the year. Located in Co
• Mitsuwa Marketplace Torrance — Torrance. South Bay LA's largest Japanese supermarket and Asian shopping center with a Japanese book section, gift shops carrying anime merch, and a popular food court. Regular site for anime collaboration even
• Mitsuwa Marketplace San Jose — San Jose. Anchors Kinokuniya San Jose and houses a Japanese book/anime section, food court, and seasonal anime collab pop-ups. Central destination for South Bay anime culture and Japanese imports. Located in Sa
• Mitsuwa Marketplace San Gabriel — San Gabriel. San Gabriel Valley Japanese marketplace with Japanese books, manga, anime merchandise corners, and a food court. Serves LA's eastside Asian community. Located in San Gabriel, California. Anime stores
• Mitsuwa Marketplace Santa Monica — Santa Monica. West LA Mitsuwa location with a Japanese gift shop carrying anime merchandise, snacks, and a small book/manga section. Convenient to Westside fans seeking imports. Located in Santa Monica, California.
• Mitsuwa Marketplace San Diego — San Diego. San Diego's Japanese marketplace offers a small books and manga section, gift shop with anime merchandise, and food court. Popular with Comic-Con and anime fans visiting the city. Located in San Diego
• Mitsuwa Marketplace Northridge — Northridge. San Fernando Valley Mitsuwa with Japanese books, anime merchandise gift shop, and food court. Serves the Valley's substantial Japanese and otaku populations. Located in Northridge, California. Anime s
• Mitsuwa Marketplace Cypress — Cypress. Mitsuwa's newest Orange County location, opened November 2025. Carries Japanese books and gift shop with anime merchandise alongside a full Japanese supermarket and food court. Located in Cypress, Cal
• Sanrio Japanese Village Plaza — Los Angeles. Official Sanrio store inside Little Tokyo's Japanese Village Plaza Mall, stocking Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and the full Sanrio character lineup. Plushies, stationery, apparel, and
• Sanrio Cupertino — Cupertino. Bay Area official Sanrio shop at The Marketplace, 19690 Stevens Creek Blvd. Stocks Hello Kitty plush, stationery, apparel, accessories, and the broader Sanrio character line. Located in Cupertino, Cal
• Sanrio Irvine — Irvine. Orange County official Sanrio store at 4249 Campus Drive. Plushies, stationery, bento accessories, apparel, and exclusive collaboration drops from the Hello Kitty universe. Located in Irvine, Californ
• Sanrio Pasadena — Pasadena. Sanrio's Pasadena boutique at 415 South Lake Avenue carries the full Hello Kitty / Sanrio character line including plush, stationery, accessories, and seasonal exclusives. Located in Pasadena, Califor
• Sanrio Westfield Topanga — Canoga Park. San Fernando Valley Sanrio at Westfield Topanga mall, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Stocks the official Hello Kitty / Sanrio lineup with regular launches of new collabs and seasonal items. Located in Cano
• Sanrio Del Amo — Torrance. South Bay Sanrio store at Del Amo Fashion Center, 21712 Hawthorne Blvd. The full Sanrio character lineup with strong Torrance Japanese-community foot traffic. Located in Torrance, California. Anime st
• Sanrio Smile Shop Universal City — Universal City. Sanrio's flagship-style Smile Shop inside Universal CityWalk at 100 Universal City Plz. Stocks Hello Kitty and Sanrio plush, apparel, stationery, and tourist-friendly exclusive merchandise. Located in
• Sanrio Surprises Arcadia — Arcadia. Sanrio Surprises boutique at 400 S. Baldwin Avenue. Stocks the full Hello Kitty / Sanrio character line with rotating seasonal merch. Located in Arcadia, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushi
• Sanrio Monrovia — Monrovia. Old-Pasadena-area Sanrio store at 166 W. Foothill Blvd. Carries Hello Kitty, My Melody, Pompompurin, Kuromi and the rest of the Sanrio lineup. Located in Monrovia, California. Anime stores carry figur
• Sanrio Surprises Temple City — Temple City. San Gabriel Valley Sanrio Surprises boutique at 5783 Rosemead Blvd. Stocks the Hello Kitty / Sanrio character lineup including plush, stationery, and apparel. Located in Temple City, California. Anime
• Anime Jungle — Los Angeles. Long-running Little Tokyo Mall anime store packed with figurines, plushies, DVDs, manga, and trading cards. A staple of LA otaku culture for over two decades, located in the basement shops of Little T
• Anime Station — Los Angeles. Hobby shop at 330 E 2nd St in Little Tokyo carrying action figures, plushies, keychains, and merchandise from Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Naruto, and other major series. Compact and tightly curate
• Little Akihabara — Los Angeles. Little Tokyo Mall pop-up store hosting Square Enix and Bandai collaborations. Stocks figures, gachapon, anime merchandise, and rotating brand pop-ups modeled on Tokyo's Akihabara district. Located in
• Kiddleton Little Tokyo — Los Angeles. Japanese-style claw machine store in Little Tokyo at 335 E 2nd St Unit 115. Rows of crane games stocked with anime plush, Sanrio characters, Pokemon, and Japanese collectible prizes. Open daily aftern
• Arcane Maid Cafe — Arcadia. LA's only permanent maid cafe, operating since 2016. Serves Japanese comfort food, boba, and espresso while maids perform Akihabara-style live shows, sing, and host TCG tournaments and anime trivia ni
• Cali Claw Arcade — Los Angeles. Los Angeles claw arcade with rows of high-quality claw machines loaded with anime plush, Sanrio, and pop-culture prizes. Located in Los Angeles, California. Claw and crane game arcades replicate the J
• Katachi — San Francisco. San Francisco Japantown anime store supporting the community for nearly two decades. Stocks blind boxes, figures, anime merchandise, and apparel. Located in San Francisco, California. Anime stores car
• Senpai's Cafe — Los Angeles. Anime and manga themed cafe serving milk teas, boba, coffee, Japanese snacks, takoyaki, and hot bites. Features a manga library and hosts anime trivia nights and themed car meets. Located in Los Angel
• Outfitters Wigs — Los Angeles. Hollywood wig shop at 6626 Hollywood Boulevard with a strong cosplay and anime-character wig selection. Offers custom orders for cosplayers. Located in Los Angeles, California. Cosplay supply stores s
• Hollywood Toys & Costumes — Los Angeles. Long-running Hollywood Boulevard costume and wig shop with a strong cosplay, anime, and Japanese character section. A favorite resource for LA cosplayers. Located in Los Angeles, California. Cosplay s
• Halloween Town — Burbank. Burbank year-round costume and wig superstore with a strong cosplay and anime-character supply section frequented by LA-area cosplayers. Located in Burbank, California. Cosplay supply stores stock wig
• Izakaya Moe — Los Angeles. Anime-themed bar and restaurant serving Korean corndogs, pizza, and craft cocktails in a fully anime-decorated setting. A dedicated otaku hangout. Located in Los Angeles, California. Anime-themed bars
• EightyTwo — Los Angeles. Downtown LA Arts District bar/arcade with classic arcade cabinets and anime-themed nights. A frequent stop for LA's anime and gaming crowd. Located in Los Angeles, California. Anime-themed bars run co
• Anime Empire — Westminster. Orange County anime store in Westminster's Little Saigon area carrying figures, plush, manga, apparel, and Japanese imports. Located in Westminster, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies, p
• Bandai Namco Cross Store — Los Angeles. Little Tokyo's first US Bandai-branded retail store featuring Gunpla model kits, anime figures, gachapon, and Bandai-Namco property merchandise. Located in Los Angeles, California. Anime stores carry
• Toon Pop — San Diego. San Diego anime and pop culture shop stocking figures, manga, plush, and imports. A popular SDCC-week destination. Located in San Diego, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies, posters, appa
• Anime Empire Pomona — Pomona. Inland Empire location of the Southern California anime store carrying figures, plush, manga, and Japanese pop culture goods. Located in Pomona, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies, poste
• Katachi SF — San Francisco. Japantown San Francisco anime, swords, knives, and collectibles shop. Stocks anime blind boxes, Demon Slayer swords, and Japanese pop culture goods. Located in San Francisco, California. Anime stores
• Anime Island CA — El Cerrito. Family-owned East Bay anime store at 4060 El Cerrito Plaza founded 2023. Born from years of anime marathons turned into a community store with figures, manga, and plush. Located in El Cerrito, Califor
• GUNNZO — San Diego. Old Town San Diego model kit and Japanese toy store specializing in Gundam plastic kits. Two locations including Hobby Station pickup point. Located in San Diego, California. Anime stores carry figure
• Anime 619 — San Diego. San Diego independent anime store offering figures, plush, manga, and Japanese imports. Local destination for the 619 anime community. Located in San Diego, California. Anime stores carry figures, plu
• Asayoru Maid Cafe — Monterey Park. LA's permanent brick-and-mortar maid cafe at 500 N Atlantic Blvd Ste 125 in Monterey Park. Japanese inspired food, desserts, drinks, and moe maid magic with daytime and evening performance shifts. Loc
• Dreamland Maid Cafe — Los Angeles. America's largest indie maid cafe based in Los Angeles. Hosts pop-ups and is opening a permanent storefront in 2026 with full menu and maid performances. Located in Los Angeles, California. Maid cafes
• Clawesome — San Mateo. Downtown San Mateo Tokyo-style clawcade opening late 2025 with anime plush, Sanrio, and collectible prizes. Located in San Mateo, California. Claw and crane game arcades replicate the Japanese UFO-cat
• Anime World Northridge — Salinas. Northridge Mall Salinas anime shop. Carries figures, plush, manga, cosplay, and Japanese pop culture merch. Located in Salinas, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies, posters, apparel, blin
• Western Costume Company — North Hollywood. Largest costume house in the United States serving designers, cosplayers, and the film industry. Carries vintage, theatrical, and custom-built costumes. Located in North Hollywood, California. Cosplay
• Adele's Costumes — Los Angeles. Family-owned LA costume shop since 1945 known for designing and crafting custom theatrical and cosplay costumes. Located in Los Angeles, California. Cosplay supply stores stock wigs, contacts, EVA foa
• Anime Empire — Los Angeles. Anime fashion store offering apparel, accessories, and streetwear inspired by popular anime series with mall pop-up presence. Located in Los Angeles, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies,
• Anime Pop SF — San Francisco. San Francisco anime store stocking figures, blind boxes, plush, and Japanese pop culture imports for the Bay Area community. Located in San Francisco, California. Anime stores carry figures, plushies,
• Kimono My House — Emeryville. Emeryville warehouse hosting one of the world's largest collections of Japanese sci-fi and anime toys. Open by appointment and event days. Located in Emeryville, California. Anime stores carry figures

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