Manga & Anime Events in Tokyo

Planning to live out your anime and manga dreams in Tokyo this September? This month might mark the end of summer in Japan, but the sweltering hot weather of Japan’s summer doesn’t just disappear overnight, and typhoon rains don’t always come according to your schedule. So for days when the weather isn’t quite cooperating and you’re looking for inside entertainment, or for any time you just want to dive deeper into the deep well of Japan’s pop culture, the Japankuru team has searched for some of Tokyo’s best events for otaku of all kinds. To make the most of your trip to Japan, even when the inconsistent weather makes planning a little difficult, fill your Tokyo itinerary (or just find a fun weekend activity) with this little list of our most anticipated September 2024 manga and anime events!

① Junji Ito x Sanrio Pop-Up Shop

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This unexpected partnership between artist Junji Ito (an expert in horror manga and cute kitties) and Sanrio (the world-renowned creators of Hello Kitty) might just be a match made in heaven. Featuring beloved characters like Hello Kitty, and also Tomie, the exclusive Junji Ito x Sanrio collection features five different sub-collections featuring different characters from both the worlds of Junji Ito’s manga and Sanrio’s many characters. The merchandise is only being offered at two locations in Japan (Tokyo/Osaka) for an extremely limited period, so fans of cute-meets-creepy will want to head over to the pop-up shop at Shibuya PARCO to see this wild collaboration before it’s too late.

Junji Ito x Sanrio Pop-Up Shop (伊藤潤二×サンリオキャラクターズ POP UP)
Event Dates: August 23, 2024 – September 9, 2024
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② Ghibli Park & Ghibli Exhibition

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Love Ghibli, but can’t quite fit a visit to the Ghibli Park in Nagoya into your schedule? This exhibition includes a little bit of everything from Ghibli’s new theme park, from behind-the-scenes displays showing off exactly how Ghibli Park became a reality, to some of the very same exhibits being shown in Nagoya. Learn about Ghibli’s animation process, get a close look at original illustrations and paintings from Hayao Miyazaki and the whole Studio Ghibli team, and then take lots of fun pictures with all your favorite characters. (You can even go inside the Catbus!)

Ghibli Park & Ghibli Exhibition (ジブリパークとジブリ展)
Event Dates: June 28, 2024 – September 23, 2024
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③ Pokemon and the Blue Sky Skytree ~Shining Memories of You and Pokemon~

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Travel hundreds of meters into the air this summer to enter the world of Pokemon on the sky-high observation decks of Tokyo Skytree! From Pokemon anime playing on the floor-to-ceiling windows, to meet and greets with Pikachu and Quaxly, plus a huge variety of photo spots, special merchandise, and of course cute Pokemon-themed drinks and snacks to enjoy at the cafe, Tokyo Skytree isn’t just the tallest free-standing tower in Asia – for a limited time, it’s a Pokemon paradise.

Pokemon and the Blue Sky Skytree ~Shining Memories of You and Pokemon~ (ポケモンと青空スカイツリーⓇ ～キミとポケモンのかがやく想い出～)
Event Dates: June 25, 2024 – September 24, 2024
▶︎ Event Details

More Tokyo Events for September

If you love Japanese culture and want to see a broader selection of upcoming events in Tokyo, there’s plenty more where these came from, and not just in September either. Don’t forget to check the Japankuru event calendar for more manga and anime-themed events in Tokyo, plus many more festivals, exhibitions, and other fun attractions all over Japan!

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