Story Sprawling Pop Culture Paradise: Tokorozawa Sakura Town By JNTO on 20 January 2021

Anime and manga fans now have a new place to explore and hang out. Just a 40-minute train ride away from Tokyo’s Ikebukuro lies Tokorozawa Sakura Town, located in Saitama prefecture. This huge, new development comprises a shopping mall, hotel, museum, and event space all dedicated to anime and manga. It is partly produced by KADOKAWA, one of Japan’s biggest publishing companies that focuses heavily on manga.

The entire complex is anchored by the futuristic Kadokawa Culture Museum, designed by star architect Kengo Kuma, which contains a manga/Light Novel library and an anime museum that showcases original works. The Da Vinci Store carries a large collection of books curated by the store’s own theme. while the pyramid-like Japan Pavilion is an event space dedicated to e-sports competitions, concerts, and movie screenings.

      Kadokawa Culture Museum

Da Vinci Store 

 Japan Pavilion Hall A

This multi-purpose complex turns anime, manga, and games into real-life experiences through pop culture events and exhibits. Dedicated fans can also spend a night at the anime-themed hotel on site.

Spend a night at the EJ Anime Hotel

Devoted anime and manga fans can spend a night at EJ Anime Hotel, an entertainment themed hotel. It has a 5G-enabled lobby with a giant screen that showcases scenes from an ever-changing roster of anime, with titles collaborating with the hotel.

Recent collaboration titles feature a huge range of genres, ranging from Osomatsu-san, a classic comedy anime about mischievous identical sextuplets, to Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T which is about a group of female students who possess unique psychic powers.

Each of the 33 minimalist rooms in the hotel is equipped with amenities including exclusive character merchandise from the room’s theme anime to take home. All rooms also feature a smartphone device which can be used to complete missions starring themed characters, with rewards such as downloadable wallpapers and voice clips. Even the wake up alarm is the anime character’s voice!

The rooms are also equipped with a huge 150-inch projector screen where you can watch your favourite anime or play games, with high-quality 3D sound and hue lighting to enhance the experience. To create a cosplayer-friendly environment, the hanging racks in the rooms are larger than most you can find in Japan, making them ideal for storing multiple costumes. A large, full-length mirror also adds to the convenience.

Rooms, ranging from deluxe rooms to suite rooms to a Japanese-style tatami room, are booked according to the anime titles available in the roster. All room bookings come with breakfast and dinner included, with dinner featuring an elegant fine dining meal inspired by the specific anime chosen for the room’s theme. Anime-specific cocktails are available at Lounge Tiam, the hotel bar, which come with themed coasters you can take home with you.

Access: Approximately 10 minute walk from Higashi Tokorozawa station

Address: Tokorozawa Sakura Town, 3-31-3- Higashi Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, Saitama 359-0023

Opening hours: Varies for each section

Website: Official Website (Japanese only)