From the Outside of this Business it's quite Plain and Unassuming!! But when you get inside and up the flight of Stairs!!! You're in a very Cool Shop that has a lot of Japanese Ethnic Merchandise!!! There are a Number of Cool Statues some made of Bronze and Other Materials!!! They Have Kimonos and Other Japanese Oriented Fabrics!! Japanese Art and Oil Paintings are Available. There is Dishes. And Cook Wear and Cutlery Available!!! Customer Service is Friendly and Knowledgeable!! This is a Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong !! Number 34 on the Top 50 Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025 List !!!! read more

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Attentive staff who are willing to help you find what you need. They have a good Pokémon collection as well as other Japanese art and gifts.

So many things to see inside this store. Its Japanese / anime haven (note the punctuation). We've been coming here to look for gifts for the holidays and there's a lot of cute things to choose from. Some are way cheaper her than Walmart. Remember that coin grabbing kitty in a box thing-a-majig??? It's about 12 bucks compared to Walmart's $24 stated price. Whoooah! There's a lot more things to see and check and if you can't find it here they would give you recommendations on where to go. Love the place the staff and the goods! read more

Nikaku Animart - Stained glass by the stairs... sooo pretty - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

Back in the mid 80's I used to buy anime books here all the time. Just walked in this last Sunday with the wife, and had a great chat with the staff about the old days, dropped a few $ on a new (to me) Zeta Gundam book (the first anime book I've bought in 20 years). They still have an awesome selection, especially in some older stuff. Highly recommended if you are looking for anime material! read more

Found some curbside parking half a block away. You have to walk up the stairs, which was a little daunting because it was dead silent inside. The shopkeeper was very polite and amiable, and didn't really meddle. He lets you look around at whatever you like, leaves you alone for the most part. I was lingering for maybe 20-30 minutes, and he seemed mostly unbothered, although I initially felt awkward about it. He did notice I was looking behind the movable DVD shelf, and offered to move the shelf for me. There's a lot of old school manga: Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Love Live, Prince of Tennis, even Yu Yu Hakusho (which I found surprising), etc. You might not have much luck with other series, especially the more recent ones. In particular, I was looking for HunterxHunter, but there were none. To my knowledge, there were no Naruto/Boruto or more recently popular shounen series either. I think they don't go out of their way to order and keep up with manga and anime. That makes sense because there's not much space in the store either. There are a lot of artbooks, but these tend to be expensive. They're usually expensive no matter where you get them, though-- maybe a few dollars cheaper online, but you'd have to pay for shipping. What caught my eye was the FFDot artbook for $47. At Kinokuniya, the FFDot is sold for $57. If you order directly from SE, it's $43, but the shipping tends to be an extra $8-20. This place is somewhat a hit or miss when it comes to what's available and what's not. The hits, however, are gratifying hidden gems. On the shelves above the register are Studio Ghibli merchandise (not priced that much lower than they usually are), various other rare and old anime merchandise, and KPOP posters. Yes, they sell KPOP posters? There's tons of random merchandise. Again, extremely hit or miss, depending on your interests and hobbies. Like, moving Spirited Away or Godzilla coin banks. I did find a veryveryvery old Gintama chibi figurine set, sold to me for $20.70. Upon inspection, it was unopened and all, but you could just tell how positively OLD this set was, with a minor paint chip from age. I bought it on a whim due to its old-so-probably-rare aura, and behold... after searching the internet for the set, I found it on two sites for about $30. I'm satisfied with that. On the other side of the store is more traditional Japanese gifts and crafts. There are also tshirts. And large posters: Dragon Ball Z, Cardcaptor Sakura, etc. Not that many though. Overall, + Rare hidden gems. A lot of older manga/anime. - Very limited selection (being the tons of older manga/anime). If you are fanatical about odd items or any old series, this will probably become a success story. If you are mostly interested in newer items, there is not much offered. read more

This place has tons of anime stuff so you can definitely get your otaku on. Ohh yea. It also has lots of various stationary, toys, stamps, magnets, glassware, fans and other Japanese-arts, crafts & gifts. I like coming here a lot, its a cute and friendly store. The staff is always helpful and friendly. They try to be there for you. I usually just come in here to browse and look at the cool anime stuff. I bought a neko bus from "My neighbor Totoro" from here. http://www.fluctuat.net/cinema/chroniques/images/totoro.jpg Prices seem reasonable, as most anime things are really expensive anyway. They also have a dvd rental/sell store downstairs. I would love to have a membership here and watch anime. Too bad I'll be addicted and not study for college. read more

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Last time I went here, this Jeff Albertson type (better known as the Simpsons' Comic Book Guy) was drilling us on the top 3 movies Miyazaki won awards for. He was serious on this challenge, and luckily we had the answers before he started "EH!"ing us. Two floors of housewares, clothing, stationary, and anime toys spread throughout. Lots and lots of DVDs and comic books for the otaku obsessed. If it's something old and nowhere to be found, chances are it might be here. They also rent too! Along with all the complete boxed editions of Sailor Moons, Ranmas, and Urusei Yatsura, Nikaku's own Comic Book Guy (just a patron like you and I btw) made our visit quite an experience. I just hope you are as fortunate as we were. read more

Nice little shop with tons of different kicknacks rangingg from kitchenware, teapots, sake cups, and anime goods! Tons of anime magazines and dvds, but I think deserve much of their credit for their vintage anime figures, mangas, and books. read more

Nikaku Animart - Anime and Manga corner. - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great little shop! Great prices and chill vibes! Employees very nice. Will soon visit again!

I can't go through a year without going to Nikaku. It's an old school art and toy store. Chances are that if you are looking for something old or rare, you will find it here. I mean, this is the place that had "Cardcaptor Sakura's" original soundtrack, old albums from Hayashibara Megumi-san and Inoue Kikuko-san and a "Karekano" card holder. Even if you are not an anime/manga/game fan, there are art supplies and you can also find a cute kana (Japanese calligraphy) chart. Unfortunately, the store is not a good place for strollers and wheelchairs. Also, the place is pretty easy to miss. Other than that, there's not much else for me to say. The people at Nikaku are wonderful. There are a lot of items to choose from. Just make sure you bring people with you if you carry a stroller or a wheelchair. +: There are so many items to choose from and the people are terrific! -: If you don't follow the last statement I said in my review, you're in trouble. read more

I was looking for something to do Sunday afternoon & gave the Nikaku a quick call to see if their hours changed, etc (this yelp listing had the potential to be outdated, but it's not :)). The lady on the phone was very nice-- Street parking on Sundays is free, and there's a great big lot across the street where you can park (for free on Sun) as well. This store (along with many others in SJ Jtown) closes at 4 on Sunday. It was a really good experience, very low key. I didn't go in with any particular expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It was sort of like stores when I was a kid in the internetless-mid 90s, except full of Japanese stuff -- dishware, some clothes/fabrics, and a corner with artbooks, anime magazines and manga, and random tchotchkes. The anime corner was pretty interesting, not a big selection, but a *well curated* collection of in-print/recently published artbooks. The prices were generally very fair. I picked up a copy of Ah My Goddess 30 year anniversary for ~$3-5 more than what i would pay at Amazon.jp. Worth the extra couple bucks. Less expensive than Kinokuniya. Very pleasant service. Thanks Nikaku! :) read more

This is a charming place reached by going up some stairs,past a stained glass window.There are a lot of anime DVDs to choose from.There is also a good selection of shirts from Japan with traditional subjects like beckoning cats and classic dragons,and things like pottery as well.Good place to find a gift or souvenir.Definitely an "old-school" feel here.Friendly service. read more

I have story about this place back from when I was in grade school. I was a big Sailor Moon fan when it came out. I knew this girl back in grade who was a big a fan as I was but she told me about a place in Japantown that has Sailor Moon books. Well she never told me the name or where to look . Anyway, after pestering my mom of going to Japantown to look for it , we did. We looked for this place up and down the street until my brother found it, which is kind of hard to find if you don't have any instructions going there. So boo on that bitch! Yes, I have a couple of Sailor Moon books thanks to my mommy buying them when I was in 4th grade. haha! It's not just anime items here. They have novelty items as well. It's big but small at the same time so if there's a lot of people it can become very cramp. The people that work here are really helpful. My friend's brother bought a couple of Naruto items and there was this frame that says something in Japanese. They even told us what the frame says and I think it's "memories." read more

Everyone knows that this is a little mecca for anime and assorted paraphenalia. You enter through the street door (WARNING: check the store hours before you go! Limited hours! Not open Mondays!) and you head up the long flight of stairs, trying not to trip. On your left you'll usually find con flyers and of course the calendar selection for this year. (Hint: if you're ordering calendars, order EARLY. In fact, order online and then just come to the store to pick them up.) At the top of the stairs make and immediate right and you'll be assaulted with all sorts of anime cuteness in the form of stuffed aminals, keychains, resin models, and more! They have a large case of DVDs for their current selection and an even larger selection of VHS tapes---this used to be one of the most complete stores to get VHS anime. There are racks of manga, magazines, mooks, and other things. Aside from the anime/manga section, the rest of the store (about 3/4th of it) is home to a wide variety of china, pottery, utensils, and stationery. Find that perfect Japanese tea set! All in all this is a wonderful little shop to visit, just beware the funky operating hours! Times visited: 100+ read more

I've been coming into this shop since I was a five-year-old. That was a whole twenty years ago. I always loved walking up the steps after Japanese school and checking our their anime and manga selection as a kid. It's a great place to take more grown-up adult types as they can peruse the Japanese style stationary and wares while you check out the anime corner. The prices are pretty steep (as is most merchandise of this type) , but they carry a wide-variety of books, posters, keychains, and random t-shirts that are probably deadstock from the nineties. I'm always impressed with their selection and I hope this will be a place I can come back to in another 20 years. It hasn't changed a bit either! It's been the exactly the same since the early nineties! read more

I'm not a big fan of anime, but if I was...this would be my spot. This store seems to have a whole mess of anime figurines. They also have a variety of Sanrio-Hello Kitty trinkets. I came by here during the Spirit of Japantown festival last October and it was packed with people checking the stuff out. May be worth a stop if you're curious about anime figurines and other like items for those who are big fans. read more

I used to come to this place pretty frequently when I was still in high school and totally into Anime. I haven't been to this place for nearly 10 years until recently, and I swear, the place hasn't changed much at all! Great assorted Japanese art store, but I think people come here mainly for the Japanese Animation selection which looks like it might have shrank since the last time I've been here. Probably still the only place you can get a series on VHS, lol. The place is clean, somewhat easy to find, and a classic. Brings back old memories. read more

Nikaku is just off Jackson close to the tail end of San Jose's Japantown. There's nothing desirable about the location especially for a retail store. It isn't wheelchair accessible. It's obscure. It's looks dated, but it's been in that same location for last 22 years. I remember discovering this hidden gem when I first had lunch at Minato years ago. Today, the store looks exactly the same as in 1986. There's an inconspicuous little glass door between Sakamoto Barbershop on the left and the entrance to Minato restaurant on the right. The door opens up to a flight of steep stairs leading to the main emporium upstairs. As soon as you reach the top, the friendly proprietor and proprietress will try to get your attention and greet you. A genuinely friendly and warm couple who's willing to assist you with any questions. I was surprised by the wide range of Japanese products they carry. From origami to tatami, katana to manga, cups for sake to Japanese cloisonnes, they have it all. Also available, are Japanese cookbooks, videos, anime characters, games, tableware, ceramics and everything Japanese. Prices are surprisingly reasonable compared to SF & LA J-towns. I got several cute and unique Christmas gifts for under twenty bucks. Perhaps the place can use a little modernizing to update its look. Btw, when you're going back down the stairs, remember to admire the beautiful stain-glass piece overhead. read more

I stopped by when I came to San Jose to visit family because it was the nearest Japanese store to the house I was staying at. It was easy to miss the entrance because the store is located on the side of Japantown. This was my first time entering a store like this, so I was a little overwhelmed at their selection. They have a lot of manga and anime tucked carefully into the side of the store.The man working at the register read a magazine cover for me to see what posters were inside it, I thought that was really helpful. They also have posters, stationary, and other Japanese items. The items in the store are fairly priced, although being an otaku isn't cheap. read more

I love this shop -- they have a such a cool assortment of items that I always find great gifts for any occasion here. Not only do they have housewares and decorative items, but their collection of Anime and Anime related items is an additional bonus to coming here. Personally, I always stop by here to keep my incense collection nicely supplied as the owners always carry my absolute favorites ^_^. Nothing's better than coming home to a wonderfully scented house (sans evil spirits, too, lol!) that doesn't overwhelm or bring on memories of shopping on Haight St. read more

This is one of my most favorite stores in the Bay Area. The customer service is top notch and the offerings varied and unusual. I have shopped at Nikaku since the late 1980's for wedding gifts and beautiful serving ware for my own home. They also have a lot of neat Japanese kitchen/cookware and home decorative items. I have also purchased a lot of their origami paper over the years as well as the glass display cases used to display Japanese dolls (but I use them to display other items and keep them dust free). The shop is tucked away off the main drag of Jackson Street on 6th Street. Be sure to take a peek the next time you're in Japantown. I love supporting local small businesses and Nikaku is a real gem. The shop is up a medium sized flight of stairs so I enjoy the slight workout each time I visit :) read more

In addition to anime movies, this is a nice gift shop with artwork, ceramics, serving ware, and cook ware. I use it as a source for gifts such as sake sets, cast tea sets, chopsticks, and serving dishes. I have been a customer for more than a decade and can almost always come away with a unique gift that will be appreciated. After shopping, have lunch or dinner at one of the many fine restaurants. Parking can be difficult to find and on Sunday mornings there is a farmers market that is busy. Be sure to bring change for the meters that are in effect Monday through Saturday. read more

Ihttp://www.nikaku.com/ It is a store full of Japanese gift items, pottery, housewares. I found hard to find hanafuda cards (Japanese flower card game). Had some high end kanzashis (hair ornaments). Also had a larger selection of sensu (folding fan) and uchiwa (flat round fan) for Obon odori then Nichi Bei Bussan, further down the road. read more

I actually like this store better than the one on the main strip, although the selection for toys and figurines is a little more limited. Prices here are great, more towards what you should be paying instead of some outrageous markup that you usually find at comic shops. They have a pretty good selection on manga as well as japanese art books (which can be pretty hard to find). They also have a lot of ceramics and other gift type sets that you can buy. The store itself is tricky to locate. Just turn the corner and look for stairs on the left. read more

I still remember the first time I went here as an otaku (American anime junkie) just out of high school. It was like visiting Disneyland for the first time as a five year old. This is a true Japanese arts store that has an incredible section of 'real' Japanese Anime goods. Everything here is directly imported from Japan, and what you may not see in the store, they can special order for you. Besides Kinokuniya bookstores, this is the place to find specific anime art books and magazines, along with the latest releases on DVD's (imports, so make sure you have a region-2 player). Even though I've long lost dropped anime as a hobby, it's nice to drop back in every now and then to get a little refresher down memory lane and see what's new as well. The staff is still the same and friendly as usual. And for non-anime fans, their Japanese gifts there are great as well. traditional Japanese doll collectors will find plenty hear, along with ceramic pieces as well. read more

Total chill spot. So much character and the lady behind the counter was uber friendly to my at-the-moment well-behaved kids.

This place is so adorable. You enter downstairs and walk upstairs. I was looking for some hana fuda cards. As a child I remember coming in here for little toys or knick knacks. So i thought I'd check in here... and the lady was very helpful and nice. I had a very nice conversation with her. They were currently outnof the traditional hana fuda cards... bhut i was actually looking for a more inexpensive nice colorful set. And this set was very nice and cheap and colorful and still had a nice thickness and weight to it. And was way under 10.00 even with tax. I'd definitely come back. It's not a big store, but definitely reminded me of Japan and had a little bit of everything. read more

This is a real deal Japanese store where the customer service is outstanding. It's basically a gift shop with a lot of anime DVDs, tea sets, dolls, and little decorations. We got a set with little ceramic sumo guys on a platform for my father's birthday, and first of all the store clerk (owner?) RAN to the display to help us, took great care to make sure all the pieces were there and wrapped properly, and then gift-wrapped it the fastest and neatest I've ever seen! Love this place, will definitely go back. read more

Nikaku Animart (the anime retail side of Nikaku Japanese Arts) is probably the oldest mail order anime company in the US. I should know, I used to work there back in the 1990s. The employees there are top notch. Some of the people I used to work with, still work there. Both Akio and Jan will go out of their way to help you with anything you need. I still go back there at least a couple of times a year. Not so much for anime anymore, more for the arts and crafts. read more

Excellent store! Very nice man who runs this shop. Tons and tons of anime and Japanese imported manga. If you're interested in a manga and anime and also Japanese style cooking wear, come here!!! read more

AWSOME place for Japanese stuff, has some legit stuff. Lots of manga and DVDs good plus to go at support a local shop

Its rating depended on what you are looking for. Selection is OK if you are looking for Japanese style kitchen-ware (plate, tea cup ... etc.). Don't expect the latest style as most of the goods are old stock. If your are looking for Stationary, Anime items, paper ... etc. then you will be better off going to Kinokuniya Book Store instead. read more

Nikaku is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Up the flight of stairs it offers a decent selection of Japanese ceramics, housewares, and gifts. There is a large video selection and a small magazine collection. When I was last there, a little boy was laying on some chairs with his hands in his pants. I didn't get a chance to compare prices. read more

They have the typical Japanese kitchen utensils and a few shelves of manga and magazines. Some items look like they're older because the color has faded but overall it's a quaint little stop for gifts :) read more

This place is absolutely PERFECT for those otakus out there and people interested in the japanese culture. Most items here are old school Japanese items such as bentos, ceramics, cards, cook books, etc. The anime items are at the counter with the owner. SUUUUUUPER old japanese artists' album are sold, but not many. If you know the very famous Ozaki Yutaka nikaku only sells albums before his time. the prices aren't too expensive really. The owner is very nice so 1 star for that and another star for the charms and cookbooks available. read more

This place has a nice assortment of Japanese goods ranging from chopsticks to katanas, but the anime/manga section is what will draw you to this place. They boast an impressive collection of merchandise: dvds, books, posters, magazines, and figures. Unfortunately, I have not yet encountered this place's comic book guy that Aileen A. mentioned. One day though... read more

awesome! i'm very glad that there is tghis litle store here in san jose. a perfect store for otaku like me! i was also glad to meet some people with the same interests that i have. awesome! awesome! read more

This was a favorite hang out when I was in college. Lots of Japanese anime and manga. Not a lot has changed since then. They probably still have some stock from the 80s. It is like a treasure in Japan Town. read more