Import Japanese goods are pretty much everywhere in Hong Kong. Japan's only a 4.5 hour flight away after all unlike UK which can be 14 - 19 hours so it only makes sense for the city to import from there. This includes mainstream Japanese pop culture/otaku Anime store merchandise localised in Traditional Chinese such as One Piece, Gundam and Dragon Ball which can easily be found everywhere.

However, goods for the niche show that most likely only Anime fans will know such as Psycho-Pass and Steins;gate can still be tough to find. Detailed (and expensive) scale figures are rare so you will need to know where to look to find the rarer merchandise.

I visit HK frequently so it's worth knowing about these places for me being a big fan of Japanese video games and Anime. It's also the next best places to visit when you can't make a trip to Japan so here are some of the places I have scouted.

Tips

Stores Don't Open Until Well After Noon

So, don't bother going out until after lunch time. Also be careful of your belongings when exploring the non-department store places as they can have pick pockets lurking but, you should be doing this while travelling anywhere anyway.

Best Avoid The Weekends

If you're not a fan of crowds, it's best avoiding these places during the weekends when it feels like the entire population of Hong Kong is out of their homes - especially in Mong Kok. The crowds are so bad there during the weekends you'll have very little to no personal space. And this is outdoors in the streets, not indoors!

With all that said, here's a list you can visit...

Causeway Bay

Sogo (Recommended)

Some time after writing this guide in early 2018, they started to require "membership cards" to access level 11 and beyond. You can get one immediately simply by filling in your name and email address on a form at the escalator where a staff member is posted. You can also install their store app but I haven't tried that method yet.

For your printed media needs you can find a range of magazines, comics, light novels and even art books all in its original Japanese text here. Unfortunately they don't always stock popular works such as Shinkai's artbooks for some reason.

There's an exit that leads directly into the department store from Causeway Bay Station so you can't miss it.

Then you head all the way up to the top floor to find Sobundo Bookstore (used to be Asahiya). You can only go up so far using the lift before you have to use the escalator to reach this section of the department store on level 11 where the "Sogo Club" starts. You also need a "membership card" (more on that later) to get to the bookstore floor too so it hasn't exactly become welcoming but might allow people to shop in more peace.

Their prices aren't in HKD unfortunately. You'll find lists showing their own JPY to HKD exchange rates which is usually slightly more pricier than the market rate but, it's still cheaper than importing the printed media yourself considering how heavy they can be.

They have a small selection of Jump related merch too.

Other than the pop culture goods, you can also visit their supermarket floor to stock up on Japanese food and snacks too. You'll find some products that aren't available in the local 7 Eleven or other convenience stores.

Their toys floor has some crane game prizes for sale but don't expect niche or scale figures there.

There's another Sogo in Tsim Sha Tsui but don't bother with that outlet as it only sells mainstream fashion and travel goods.

Don Don Donki

And just 5 minutes walk away from the Sogo above is Japan's rebranded bargains store, Don Quijote. There are multiple branches around HK including one in the popular tourist area of Tsim Sha Tsui but most of them are only a single floor high. This one is four floors high (or three if you exclude the food court floor) which means a bigger selection of goods of course.

As with most stores, this place only sells crane game prize figures for mainstream shows but it has a whole lot more variety of merchandise. Nendoroids are available too but they are localised Asian versions which maybe an issue if you want them to keep their value.

While Donki may pride itself in cheap prices, it's best to keep in mind it may not always be the case.

There's a rest area for customers too just pass the checkout counters which is pretty cool considering how crowded it is everywhere to find a seat without going into a restaurant. That said, it's still very busy most of the time, being in a tourist area.

Most of the store is food and daily necessities related and they have a theme song playing on loop which might get to your head.

Their own brand of Furikake (rice seasoning) is horrible so if you're thinking of getting that, you might want to avoid it; just watch out look for the packets with four yellow squares on the front and donki.jp printed on the back.

Mong Kok

There's a lot of places selling figures in this area and if you're a computer geek, you can visit the Mong Kok Computer Centre in the area too while you're here. You can usually buy something at 2/3 the price compared to back in UK thanks to the exclusion of VAT. However, I would avoid the cheaper unknown brands which have poor build quality and break easily. It's also quite a different story if your goods don't work as non-department store retailers aren't too fond of returns and will try to send you away...

You can also visit the "Ladies Market" which is a whole lane filled with street stalls selling a whole variety of goods including one or two stalls with bootleg merchandise such as tapestry/wall scrolls of popular Anime shows or games. The stalls have the signature red, white and blue stripes a lot of nylon bags have in Hong Kong on them so you can't miss them really and you're bound to come across them at some point.

Sino Centre (Recommended)

This place is in betweeen Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei Station so you can get off at either station. Yau Ma Tei you would get out at A2, go onto Nathan Road and head north in the direction of McDonalds. Mong Kok you would get out E2 and head south in the direction of Starbucks.

There's a few game and pop culture stores dotted around the place that also sell the more detailed scale figures when you head upstairs.

If you can't find an artbook or printed media at Sogo, then you just might find it here. I even managed to find a raw copy of the Your Name art book here.

Music fans looking for signed photos of your favourite Asian JPOP/KPOP idols will probably want to visit here too.

Incubase Arena

Came by this place when a Kamen Rider exhibition ad caught my eye. Seems like it didn't open until after 2021 and has been hosting a number of paid exhibitions including a Chainsaw Man one.

Who knows what exhibition you might find if you decide to visit. There's a themed cafe area you can hang around too.

It's kind of hard to find unlike In's Point or Sino Centre which has a big sign on the main road. You need to look for Chong Hing Square on the opposite side of the road and Sino Centre, then take the escalator to the basement floors. One side seems to be for exhibitions while the other is an ACG goods shop.

Rather than stock up a whole range of merchandise like Animate, they seem to have a number of shelves dedicated to different shows; a mix of mainstream and more niche ones. When I visited they had sections for Madoka, Apothecary Diaries and even Bocchi the Rock. Makeine: Too Many Loser Heroines (which is supposed to be good) got its own shelves too.

They used to do wall scrolls (bootleg ones) in various places around Mong Kok but now they've all seemed to have disappeared. Good to see this place selling them. There are even more expensive movie posters and canvas art.

Other than that, there are a small range of prize and Nendoroid figures, Again, mainstream selection mostly and can be a bit pricey.

Moko Plaza

there was a whole floor full of stores selling Anigoods. A lot of competition. One store Microworks ACG has some nice posters you can admire too.

As usual, mainly non-scale figures, Nendoroids, small merch, plushies, crane game/prize draw figures like for Kimetsu but had a fair number of scale figures too. Hatsune Miku is quite a hit in HK so a lot of her merch too but if you see her name in full Kanji, it's obviously localised goods. Common merch like the prize and Popup figures go at around $150 which is decent and similarly priced to those in Akiba. 

There are niche merch such as medals for video games like Nikke. One place even had a Proplica of Kyojuro's sword.

Lashinbang best known for pre-owned goods in Japan but a lot are unopened. In HK's case, they don't have any gradings as to what quality the opened goods are.

Other than mixed Anigood stores you'll also find official Moomin and Chiikawa stores here too. There are also chain brand food stores you'll find in Japan here too such as Sushi Row, Gindako.

If you want to enjoy your Anime goods in a spacious shopping centre instead of the cramped spaces of other places like In's Point or Sino Centre (which used to be dodgy and sold pirate goods), it's a good place to hang out.

TOP Plaza

"This Place of Ours" isn't as big as Moko or feature brand name chain stores but it's still bigger and less dodgy feeling than Sino Centre or In's Point. You also can't miss it as there's a dedicated B1 exit to it from the MTR Mong Kok station.

Both Lashinbang and Microworks have a branch store here but they are not as big as in Moko. There isn't much in the way of figures but there are plenty of other ACG merch.

It was good to see HK's Animate hadn't completely disappeared and had actually re-opened here right next to Lashinbang complete with cardboard cutouts of 2D boybands in true Animate style. Plenty of girls were stopping by outside to take pics with them so I had a hard time getting a clear shot.

They also stock raw books, not just localised Taiwanese versions any more. As with Japan's Animate and its previous small store, don't expect figures here. Just lots of small character merch like for Haikyuu. There was a section for Bang Dream, some Bocchi the Rock merch and plenty of Bishonen character goods for the ladies which again, is fairly Animate.

To... Top it off. There's a roof top garden to hangout but it's mostly young people; couples and mostly ladies. Otherwise it's a pretty nice quiet spot to chill, overlooking the busy Nathan Road where the other popular Anigood stores are located.

Well, you do get the odd content creator there with their gimbal and big cameras.

One bit of critique is it tries a bit too hard to recreate a Japan atsmosphere; videos in Japanese played on big screens, popular JPOP playing over the speakers. The vibe isn't too bad if you can't make the trip (and don't mind being surrounded mostly by young ladies).

Langham Place, Kaiten

This place is just right behind underground exit E1 so as soon as you come out, look backwards and the tall building there (probably with lots of people) will be it.

You can then take the elevator up or a very long escalator that goes all the way up which is fun in itself (unless you're acrophobic). The escalator is quite a popular selfie spot so you'll catch plenty of people posing on their way up or down.

They used to do movie posters but not any longer it seems. There isn't much pop culture goods but, if you head to the 11th floor you can find a variety of goods. The layout just reminds me of Nakano Broadway in Japan but have fun finding the lifts!

They also have a Tamashii Nations figure store and Chiikawa Cafe if that's your thing.

Other than that, it's mostly mainstream brand shopping here so it's really busy compared to all the other smaller places listed above.

In's Point

Used to be a great place for rare scale figures but not quite any more... Pretty much feels dead.

If you go to Yau Ma Tei Station, Exit A2 then go onto Nathan Road and turn left you'll eventually come across it.

I re-visited around 2pm and barely any stores were open... It feels more like a "dump the goods and hope it makes money" kind of place now. Pokemon card fans might enjoy browsing the place because there's quite a few stores in here.

There are the one or two scale figure stores that seemed to have survived but they mostly only accept pre-orders.

Sham Shui Po

Dragon Centre

Exit Sham Shui Po Station C2 and head north towards the main street, Yen Chow Street and it will be on the left. This place actually isn't that far from the Golden Computer Arcade - less than 10 minutes walk.

I'm guessing they think scantily clad 2D ladies mean "moe" but they're not the first to get it wrong. Pretty bold having prints that big considering it's Hong Kong.

It used to have a lot of merch but now gachapons and claw game machines have take over most of the floors.

ACG merch might be limited in variety but if you want cheap prize game, non-scale figures, I suggest going here. It might be because it's further out from central Mong Kok they can sell for $100 or less - with the odd exceptions of course.

Like Sino Centre, plenty of KPOP idol merch too.

Golden Computer Arcade

Can't miss this place. As soon as you exit D2 you're there and it hasn't changed (well, apart from all the pirate good stores gone now). Top floor still packed with video game sellers while basement is filled with computer hardware, a lot of Anime themed hardware too.

Games go at 2/3 of the price thanks to HK's exclusion of VAT as mentioned before. Finding actual Japanese copies of games however can still be a challenge as most are Asian versions in places like this. Difference? Means if you play online it most likely won't be Japanese people you'll be playing with and only Asian DLC will work with the game.

Wan Chai

Oriental 188 Shopping Centre

Exit A4 turn right and head in the direction of Standard Chartered. Once you see Emperor Group Centre head down Heard Street next to it then turn left at the end.

This place which used to be rife with pirate game/Anime stores seems to be a shadow of its former glory now.

It has a fair number of game stores but not as packed as Golden Computer Arcade in Sham Shui Po to recommend.

Bootleg Figures and Asian Version Goods

Bare in mind unless you're visiting reputable large department stores like Sogo there can be a lot of bootleg goods in Hong Kong.

Arcade crane prize figures are popularly sold despite the "not for sale" tag. They're not to scale and aren't as detailed or well painted as scale figures but are still quite good quality. In Japan, pre-owned figures like these can go for as low as 200 yen in Book Off.

If you do decide to go for them however, watch out for bootlegs which will be missing the manufacturer's logos on the box such as CraneKing and Banpresto. They can cost the same as what authentic prizes would sell for on the market (around £10 - 15) yet, these figures will have some horrible paintwork where a lot of shiny paint is used instead of matte and faces can look off. They might not even stay upright and the sculpting's not so clean either so not worth the money IMO.

Bootleg scale "China version" figures 1/7 or bigger on the other hand can be really good which usually cost 1/3 - 1/5 of genuine Japanese figures that can cost up to £150 or more. Again, packaging will be missing the manufacturer's logos and also holographic seal of approval. Faces can look slightly off, only single tones of colour instead of nice gradients, bits of paint chipped off - especially on the props such as weapons but overall they look fairly good. It makes me wonder if they're figures that never passed the QA tests and were thrown out. All figures are made in China after all but with Japan known for quality, they must have some extremely high quality tests to pass.

Other than that, anything smaller than 1/7 and the quality will probably be worse off such as details from the clothing could be missing and parts being poorly assembled with lots of glue visible all over the place.

It boils down to asking to see the figure if in doubt really. Most of the sellers will be honest about it being bootleg.

If it's Good Smile's Nendoroid figures you're after, genuine figures only cost about the same price of a video game (or cheaper even) at around £30 so you might as well just go for it with a reputable seller such as AmiAmi or HobbyLink. Or just a big reputable department store like Sogo or Donki above. Only downside is they might be "Asian versions" which won't go for decent prices if you plan to sell them again later so check the packaging.

If you must get them from an independent retailer then check the quality yourself - they will have the same flaws as the scale figures such as the face looking really different.

As for video games, you'll find most of the places such as Oriental Shopping Centre and Golden Computer Arcade mostly stock Asian copies. These usually come with English/Chinese manuals and sometimes have the in-game content translated too. The main problem is they are mostly linked to the Asian online stores so if you try to play online such as on PSN you'll end up needing an Asian account which also applies to DLCs and save files you might carry over.

So be sure it actually has a Japanese age rating on it if you want to be able to use the Japanese DLC.

And that ends the list of places I managed to scout. Happy Japanese pop culture shopping!