Written by Shyam Bhardwa
Tokyo might just be the best place in the world for every flavor of trading cards.
From the rich history of Magic the Gathering to the nostalgic notes of Pokémon, Digimon, and One Piece, it’s all here. But, navigating the maze of Japanese trading card stores can be a hassle even for residents. So, here’s our list of some of the best stores to pick up and play.
Amenity Dream
Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Nakano, AkihabaraMagic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-gi-oh, Duel Masters, Vanguard, and more
Card selection:
Amenity Dream is simply a trading card wonderland. It’s known around Tokyo for keeping stock of almost every game around, from big blockbusters to the new minnows. Yet despite the mammoth task of juggling all these games, the stock is usually very up-to-date, with the latest releases on the shelf and plenty of variety.
The Amenity Dream stores are all easy to get to, with branches in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Nakano, and Akihabara. Though they do have plenty of cards on hand, there’s no electronic stock search system. Customers are expected to find copies of the card(s) they want in the store showcases and write down their prices before handing an order slip to the staff. Also, a warning ahead of time — all Amenity Dream stores only accept cash.
Big Magic
Ikebukuro, AkihabaraMagic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-gi-oh, Duel Masters, Vanguard, and more
Card selection:
Despite being named after one card game, Big Magic’s shelves are bursting with trading cards from plenty of others. Though the store is headquartered in Osaka, most of its branches are in Tokyo. Big Magic is best known for hosting some of Magic the Gathering’s largest events in Tokyo, such as Players Convention and Command Fest. Their in-store card selections are just as impressive, offering great prices on cards from both Japanese and Western card games.
Perhaps the biggest plus is both a website and in-store digital stock system, where customers can search for the cards they need and order. Since card names are printed in English and Japanese, it’s easy to comb through their collection without having to detour from a busy itinerary. But we’d still recommend visiting the stores in Ikebukuro and Akihabara since their showcases have the best deals.
Card Rush
Ikebukuro, AkihabaraMagic the Gathering, Yu-gi-oh, Pokémon, Duel Masters, Dragonball, One Piece
Card selection:
Card Rush, despite the name, are stores you’ll definitely want to take your time in. They specialize in stocking medium to high-end playable trading cards and collectibles to attract the hobbyist crowd. Their main advantage over the competition is pricing – they’ll usually have the best prices for cards, but that means stock comes and goes quickly. If you see a bargain, you really do have to (card) rush.
Like Big Magic, shopping at Card Rush is made easier through its website. There, you can search for the cards you need in English. However, in-store, you’ll have to hunt down your cards in their cases and take a staff member with you to pick them out. It’s worth the trek to Ikebukuro or Akihabara though, as their discount cases can have cards at up to 50% off.
Note: At the time of publishing, the Card Rush 1.5 Akihabra store is temporarily closed, but the Akihabra 0 TC and 2 stores are still open, as well as the Ikebukuro store.
Yellow Submarine
Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, AkihabaraMagic the Gathering, Yu-gi-oh, Pokémon, others (store dependant)
Card Selection:
Don’t worry — the only Beatles that you’ll find in this store will be on the playlist. Yellow Submarine is a combined hobby store specializing in card games, board games, and accessories. Being a jack of all trades meant they had to be choosy with stock, and Yellow Submarine went with collectibles. While there are loose bins of cards to look through, the majority of the card stock is premium collectibles and limited-edition merch. It’s an ideal spot to pick up a rare gift on the way home.
Like Card Rush, you look through the showcases of cards, then call a staff member to pick out your order for you. Unfortunately, Yellow Submarine doesn’t have a digital system or ordering website, so the only way to check their stock is in person. But if you’re a hungry hobbyist and want a bit of everything, it’s the store with the most variety.
Hareruya
Takadanobaba, Shibuya, Akihabara, KichijojiMagic the Gathering, Pokémon (only Akihabara), Duel Masters (Only Takadanobaba)
Card Selection:
Since its inception, Hareruya has been the name for Magic the Gathering. However, as the company continues to open branches around Japan, it’s also been branching out. Hareruya 2, in Akihabara, a five-story store specializing in Pokémon, recently opened. And just at the end of 2024, Hareruya 3, a Duel Masters store, opened its doors. Hareruya prides itself on its stock and often has trading cards from the entire length of the game’s history, along with rare collectibles.
To make finding the perfect cards easier, each store has a website and in-store collection system with English support. You can search your cards and have them delivered or pick them up in-store if you’ll be passing by. Don’t sleep on the in-store showcases, though, since you can pick up rare finds for rock-bottom prices if you’re lucky. Staff highly recommend their selection of gacha, lucky prize draws where you can win rare cards, accessories, and more.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
