How to Find an Anime Store Near Me

Finding an anime store depends on what you want — figures and merch (BoxLunch, Hot Topic, Kinokuniya), manga (BookOff, Kinokuniya), cosplay supply (indie shops), or claw arcades. Here's the playbook for each.

1. Use GamerGrid's anime directory

gamergrid.games/anime — 288 verified US anime stores including major chains, indie shops, claw arcades, and cosplay suppliers. Filter by state to find local options.

2. Major chains for merch and figures

BoxLunch (200+ US stores, anime/gaming-focused Hot Topic subsidiary). Hot Topic (600+ US stores, broader anime section). Kinokuniya (14 US locations — NYC, SF, LA, Seattle, Plano, Edgewater). Sanrio (10+ US locations). Pokemon Center NYC (only US official Pokemon retail).

3. Manga specialists

BookOff USA (8 US locations — NYC, NJ, LA, SF, Honolulu, Costa Mesa, Torrance) — best for used manga. Kinokuniya for new manga and Japanese imports. Strand Book Store NYC (large manga section). Floating World Comics (Portland).

4. Indie anime shops

Search '[your city] anime store' on Google Maps. Indie shops often carry better figure selection and rarer imports than chains. Concentrated in cities with Japanese-American populations: SF Bay, LA, NYC, Seattle, Honolulu.

5. Claw arcades

Tokyo Catch (NJ, NY, Hawaii, Tampa, San Jose, Plano TX). Round1 USA (has claw machine sections at 50+ locations). Fantasy Claw Hawaii. These boomed 2022-2025 and remain popular.

6. Cosplay supply

Arda Wigs (Houston warehouse). Cosplay Magic LA. Wig Is Fashion (online). Local cosplay supply shops in NYC, LA, Houston, Chicago. Search '[your city] cosplay supply' or '[your city] wig shop'.

7. Asian mall anime vendors

Mitsuwa Marketplace (8+ US locations — NJ, IL, TX, CA, HI) has anime store sections inside. H Mart plazas often have anime stalls. 99 Ranch Market plazas in CA have anime/figure stores nearby.

Frequently asked

What's the biggest anime store chain in the US?

BoxLunch (Hot Topic subsidiary) with ~200 US stores. Kinokuniya (Japanese) is the most authentic with 14 US locations and the deepest catalog. Hot Topic itself has ~600 US stores but anime is a smaller section.

Where can I buy Japanese imports in the US?

Kinokuniya (14 US stores) is the best in-person option. BookOff (8 stores) for used. AmiAmi, CDJapan, Big Bad Toy Store (online) for figure imports. Tokyo Tokyo, Anime Pop Up Shop, and various Asian-mall vendors fill the indie gap.

Is anime more expensive at chains or indie shops?

Chains (BoxLunch, Hot Topic) price at retail MSRP — predictable, no discount. Indie shops sometimes offer 5-15% off MSRP plus a wider selection of rare/used items. Imports always cost more than US-licensed versions.