Gundam Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

If you like anime -- any anime -- you need to visit Sunrise World Tokyo. Part of the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City, it is a special place where you can see mecha, wear mecha (as custom printed t-shirts), and even drink mecha (in coffee form). Plus other favorite characters from the likes of Gundam, Code Geass, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Cowboy Bebop and more. The store is named for Sunrise Inc., the old name for Bandai Namco Filmworks, and is a collaboration with Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. A few of the many, many notable Sunrise anime titles include The Vision of Escaflowne, Dirty Pair, The Big-O, and Witch Hunter Robin, as well as adaptations like City Hunter. The animation studio has been going since 1972, so they're part of the collective consciousness at this point. What to expect Sunrise World Tokyo is not your average anime store. Here's what you can expect. Custom t-shirts One of the most popular purchases at the store is a t-shirt, and here's why. You can print your own, picking from over 100 different designs -- including rare promo posters from when Sunrise anime titles were broadcast on analog TV. It costs and takes about an hour -- the perfect amount of time to explore the rest of the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo, or take a break at the café. Note that the t-shirt printing service is only available from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Original merch A range of original Sunrise goods -- featuring all the big anime names and then some -- is available. Take home keychains, plastic model kits, hats, prints, mugs, and more. Speaking of plastic models, a drawcard of the store is its figures and models -- some of the best we've seen, displayed nice and pretty like in shiny glass cabinets. Freebies If your total comes to or more, you'll receive a lucky pick of a mini shikishi (paper board), featuring a newly drawn illustration. The selection changes regularly -- and some limited-edition shikishi are only available at specific Sunrise World stores (there are four -- more on the others below). Note that this does not apply to purchases from the café. Exhibitions Another highlight of Sunrise World Tokyo is its free exhibition corner, where you can see exclusive artwork and more. The displays change regularly. Also look out for the photo spot, a large tapestry of 30 Sunrise robots that makes the perfect backdrop to, well, both photos and your life. Autographs Don't miss the signed shikishi corner, where members of the animation teams have left their names and a few bonuses on little paper boards for customers to enjoy (in Japanese). The café After all that browsing and (most likely) buying, you'll want to make a pit stop at the on-site café, just a few steps away from the Sunrise World store. Fortune lattes The highlight of the menu is the "Fortune latte", which can be -- but doesn't have to be -- an actual coffee latte. Priced at , it's a piece of anime art. Choose from coffee, tea, flavored milk, cocoa, or soup, and then -- this is the hard part -- pick your design. There are 60 different prints to choose from, all characters from Sunrise's anime classics. Once've you chosen, you can watch your latte come to life on a special monitor. Then it's time to sit down and enjoy it. The artwork, by the way, is based on a thick layer of rich cream (that caught us by surprise). Food Also on the menu are a range of light bites and sweet treats, including hot dogs, sandwiches, and soft serve. We tried the fried fish sandwich, and it was pretty great. How to get to Sunrise World Tokyo Sunrise World Tokyo is inside the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo, in the World Import Mart building of the Sunshine City complex in east Ikebukuro. When you enter the store, head diagonally right -- you'll pass rows of crane games (no judgment if you stop to try a few) and soon reach Sunrise World. Also in the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo is a mega Gashapon zone -- which has premium gasha machines -- and a number of other Bandai Namco brand mini stores and exhibits. Note: Bringing a baby along? You'll find a stroller parking zone to the left as you enter the Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo. The facilities are also wheelchair accessible. Toilets are available inside the store. Other Sunrise World stores There are also Sunrise World stores in Yokohama, Hakata (Fukuoka), and Kyoto. While some of the products are the same at all of the stores, there are also different plastic model exhibits, and at the Yokohama and Hakata stores there is a neat gauge to compare your own height with that of the characters on the display. In addition, the on-site cafés are slightly different. Fans might want to make a pilgrimage to all of the different branches for the full experience. This place page is a paid collaboration with Bandai Namco Filmworks, Inc.

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