Tokyo Anime Center organizes in-depth, comprehensive special exhibitions devoted to anime, manga and game franchises. Run by DNP, Japan's largest printing company (and a major manga producer), the facility is made up of a shop area and a suprisingly large exhibition zone spanning several rooms.

Typical exhibitions showcase everything from original artwork and life-size cutouts to videos and full-scale 3D models of famous scenes. The retail area in front sells merchandise related to the current exhibition and also hosts regular popup events.

Unlike more general-interest anime museums, there's not a lot to engage with here unless you have some familiarity with the subject of the current show. On the other hand if you are a fan there will be quite a bit to see, so check the website's event calendar for upcoming shows that you might be interested in.

Although it's mostly focused on Japanese anime, we did enjoy a well curated exhibition celebrating thirty years of Shaun the Sheep and his colleagues. Admission for shows is usually around Y1,200, and the retail area is free to browse without buying a ticket. There's a corner full of capsule-toy vending machines if you want to try your luck.