12 Places For Otakus To Shop In Toronto

Ahh yes…I remember being in high school and wanting to buy anime merch and Japanese things, but I didn’t know where to go (and was too broke to buy anything anyways haha).

Lucky for you, Toronto has only expanded when it comes to shops in this category. Some places aren’t as obvious, but they shouldn’t be ignored if you’re looking for plushies, cosplay wear, trading cards and merch. Every location below is accessible by TTC.

Also be sure to check out my Unique Places & Events For Otakus In Toronto, and Authentic Japanese Snacks and Desserts In Toronto articles!

Pacific Mall

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4300 Steeles Avenue East, Markham (Take 53 From Finch Station OR 43A from Kennedy Station)

All hail the king! The biggest Asian mall in North America will, of course, suit all your Asian needs. If you haven’t been here before, I definitely recommend coming here when you have the full day to explore. It is not only huge, but there are many stores that sell similar stuff (there are over 10 phone case stores for example), so it can also be confusing to navigate and very easy to get lost, but that’s part of the fun.

You can find anime plushies and accessories, Japanese snacks and restaurants, and for those interested in Asian fashion, you can find cute clothes, shoes, hair clips, and coloured contact lenses. Just beware, change rooms are not available.

Just You – Sarah & Tom

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624 Bloor St W, Toronto (Between Bathurst and Christie Station)

Tom & Sarah is a small shop packed full of Japanese and Korean goodies. It is definitely the place to go to for adorable stationary, like notebooks, pencil cases, and backpacks, but they also have a decent collection of kawaii plushies, figurines, anime pins and keychains. Just beware if you’re visiting when a popular Kpop group had a comeback as this is where many fans get their albums, posters, and photo cards.

The Beguiling

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319 College St, Toronto (Take the 506 College Streetcar)

The Beguiling is a comic, manga, and graphic novel shop that has been around since 1987! They get new manga every week, and it includes ongoing series, unique titles, and some classics. Be sure to check out their website for what’s in shop and build your own manga collection!

Anime Xtreme

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315 Spadina Ave. H, Toronto (Just North of Dundas and Spadina [Chinatown])

I’ve only been here once almost 10 years ago, but I remember it being THE place for all your anime needs. Manga, figurines, posters, flags, cards, stationery, and much more. If you’re a fan of older anime, like Digimon, Sailormoon or Cardcaptors, this place will still have stuff available. It’s definitely a place to check out if you’re in the downtown area, but be sure you have enough money on hand as you will be tempted to buy!

401 Games

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750 Yonge St, Toronto (Just South of Yonge and Bloor)

401 Games is not just a place to buy board games and trading cards, but it’s also a place for you to sell cards that you’re ready to part with. They sell Yugioh, Pokemon, Digimon, and Dragon Ball Z cards, and they also host competitions and tournaments almost everyday. If you’re an otaku who is especially passionate about your trading cards and are looking for some competition and special cards, this is definitely the place to go!

Hot Topic

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220 Yonge St, Toronto (Toronto Eaton Centre)

Hot Topic? You heard that right! If you’ve never visited Hot Topic, it may be time to give this place a visit. While know for it’s gothic outfits, it’s actually a geek paradise as well.

When it comes to anime, you can definitely find mainstream graphic tees, hats, mugs, backpacks, pop figures, pins, books, and more. It’s definitely a place to geek out and maybe make a few new friends. I haven’t visited much, but I remember being shocked and so happy to hear ONE OK ROCK playing on their radio!

Conspiracy Comics

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3401 Dufferin St, Toronto (Yorkdale Mall)

Don’t let the name deceive you. They sell a lot more than comics! I didn’t know this place existed until they opened up a branch in Yorkdale Mall, and I probably would have walked by thinking it was just a comic shop, but they love their anime just as much as us. You can find anime T-shirts, mugs, backpacks, body pillows, Pop! Figures, socks, plushies, trading cards, pins and much more.

Navito World

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1008 Danforth Ave, Toronto (Walk From Donlands Station)

If you’re hoping to expand your anime figuring collection, this is the place to go. This is a place that specializes in figurines, so whether you are looking for cute chibi ones, mature sexy ones, or you’re a gundam collector, this is your paradise!

Mother Base

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29 Bellair St Unit #108, Toronto (Walk from Bay Station)

Similar to Navito World, Mother Base also specializes in Figurines. It is not as focused on anime, so they also sell figurines from Star Wars and Transformers, but don’t be mistaken!

They have collections from Dragon Ball, Evangelion, Gundam, One Piece, Naruto, Fate, Street Fighter, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure! Right now, they aren’t open for in-store shopping, but they are still open online.

Indigo

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Address: Various Locations Available in Toronto

Ahh yes, the biggest book store. Obviously, they are going to have a decent manga collection. If not in store, you can always order online as well. Definitely a place you can always check in to if you’re at a big mall in Toronto.

Page & Panel (The TCAF Shop)

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789 Yonge St, Toronto (Inside Toronto Reference Library at Yonge & Bloor)

Another great place for your manga needs. It’s a super small shop inside of the library, but definitely worth the visit if you just want to browse or find some new titles. I only visited once and the worker was very knowledgeable and recommended a few good titles for me.

Uniqlo

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3401 Dufferin St, North York (Yorkdale Mall)
220 Yonge St, Toronto (Eaton Centre)

Last on this list is Uniqlo. Uniqlo originated in Japan, so it only makes sense that they will have some anime inspired clothes as well. They currently have clothes designs for Pokemon, Demon Slayer, Jujitsu Kaisen and One Piece.

They have clothes from Mamoru Hosoda movies like The Girl Who Jumped Through Time and Summer Wars, and there is a collab with YOASOBI, a popular Japanese artist who made Yoru ni Kakeru (Racing into the Night) and Monster/Kaibutsu which is the opening for Beastars S2!

NEW!! – ANIME CITY

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222 Spadina Ave, Unit 102E, Toronto (Chinatown Centre)

Anime City Incorporated has been a local online store for some time now, but as of August 2023, they have opened up a store front in Chinatown! They have a huge collection of figurines and their most unique item is soft vinyl toys, but you can also find some plushies, VHS collections, and cosplay props! Definitely support them by checking out their new shop!

Conclusion

If you’re in a shopping rut and wanted to explore new places, I hope this list helps you! If there are other hidden gems in the city, feel free to share them in the comments below!

Also be sure to check out my Unique Places & Events For Otakus In Toronto, and Authentic Japanese Snacks and Desserts In Toronto articles. If you’re into Japanese Music, I got a lot of interesting posts on my Japanese Music Resources Page.