Update: As of 01 June 2014, Japanimation has closed T^T They will be missed DDDD:
Japanimation is a second hand Japanese toys, furniture, and sundries store located in Quezon City — although it is more of a warehouse than an actual store. Buyers are required to dig through racks, boxes, and stands of randomly put-together display shelves to score finds. Items on sale can run the gamut from J-pop CDs and gashapon toys to crockery and clothing to cameras and PLAYSTATION units.
Collectors in-the-know have always refused to divulge the secret location of the store. The store has also made itself difficult to find when it would suddenly close shop and move to a different location. However, since they started participating in local anime conventions and events, Japanimation has become more widely-known, so the owners ended their nomadic existence and put up a permanent store in one of their old storage facilities.
The easiest way to get to Japanimation is by taking a jeep from Munoz, on the corner of EDSA and Congressional Avenue where McDonald’s Munoz branch stands. Just ask from the barkers which one of the many routes available will take you to Shorthorn and Road 20. Board the jeep and ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of Shorthorn and Road 20; you know you’re in the right spot if there is another McDonald’s store on the corner.
From the corner just hail one of the waiting tricycles and ask them to take you there — they should be familiar with Japanimation when you ask for it by name. If not, then simply asked to be dropped off at Sto. Cristo Church, which is right next door to the toy shop (MAP).
As I mentioned earlier, you have to dig through their stuff to find something you’d like to buy, so try to have a rough idea of what you’re looking for. Don’t go to the other extreme however and have something really specific, as they might not know if they have it or where they put it if they did. Try to have some expectations but keep an open mind. In my case, we went to the store once to try to find some 1/6th scale items for use with dolls; instead, I ended up walking away with an almost-new, in-box PEPTOBISMOL pink POLAROID camera for just PhP 150.
Buying in bulk is encouraged, since you can haggle for discounts if you purchase more. Don’t be a miser however and try to milk every last cent out of the deal. The ladies in charge of the store will dislike you, and you need them to be on your side — especially if you want information on shipment schedules or if you want them to set aside stuff for you for purchase at a later date.
Now for the rest of the reminders: if you are allergic or sensitive to dust, it’s advisable to bring a mask. Bring wet wipes or a bottle of alcohol and some tissues for quick, on-the-spot clean up. If you wear your hair long it would be better for you to tie it back as the warehouse is not air-conditioned. If you like, you can also bring a bottle of water and another shirt — digging for treasure is hard work! 😀
Have fun, and see you soon at Japanimation!
JPOP Manila 
DO WAN~~~~~
Rose~ was that the last piece? X3
LikeLike
oooh i’m not sure, naonao. we could just drop by the store and ask — you never know, right?
LikeLike
Road 20?! Damn, I know that place! Didn’t know there’s a toy store there. tnx for the heads up! ^^
LikeLike
no worries — have fun!
LikeLike
Hi! do you happen to see some Doraemon stuff?
thanks
LikeLike
@koorkoor there area a couple of character goods but the stocks (and the characters) vary with each visit.
LikeLike
pst. burahin niyo to. secret lang dapat yan. haha.
LikeLike
i was actually approached by the owners thanking me for sending so many new customers their way, and i’m really glad that this blog has helped their business, so sorry but unless you are the owners of the shop requesting for a post take-down then this article stays.
LikeLike
Yep. Secret place to nang mga collectors. I got my hard to find super robot and Ultraman, Kamen Rider stuff there. Shhhhhh….
LikeLike
again, unless you are the store owners asking for a formal take down, this posts stays. also, the last time i checked this was my blog and not yours, so i can post whatever the hell i felt like whether you wanted to keep it secret or not.
LikeLike
Before you ask her to pull down this post. If you think you can buy EVERYTHING that the store sells then by all means you can demand the owner of the store to stop all efforts to advertise and sell everything to you instead.
LikeLike
Ok, since it’s christmas, I’ll throw you a bone, you know where these people get their japanese goods? It’s simple really, Japanese Second hand stores buy these things in bulk, per container to be exact, a little googling and asking around at the pier will get you a good number of tips where auctions for these containers are held. Be ready to fork over at leat 50k per container tho’
LikeLike
Thanks for the map upload and heads-up with the dust thingy. I’m planning to go to Japanimation one of these days and I wanna be ready since it is far from here. Being the allergic one with dust, I really need to bring a mask and some alcohol with me…
LikeLike
are they open on sundays?
LikeLike
they used to, but i am not certain if they are still open on sundays these days. i’ll check with them and let you know if there have been any changes.
LikeLike
guys anyone please help me get to this shop of collectibles…
im only interested and super liit and super cute na SD gundam… i was hoping that i could get a response from any of you,, thank you or please feel free to text me . 09226864231
hope anyone who has a warm heart can help me.
start over ako sa wla.
help me please. thanks
“whats a collector without a collection”
LikeLike
@superboy, i hope you read my post in full. if not, let me point you to two very important sentences:
You have to dig through their stuff to find something you’d like to buy… Don’t (ask for) something really specific, as they might not know if they have it or where they put it if they did.
nobody knows that exact stock at the store on any given day. you have to drop by and have a look for yourself.
if you really, really want a good selection of SD gundams, i suggest you head for TOY KINGDOM or TOYS R US instead.
LikeLike
hi whats the opening hours of japanimation? meron po kayang mga toy cameras? thanks
LikeLike
they’re open from around 10AM to 6PM. toy cams are sometimes available, but you’ll have to hunt them down in the stacks yourself. good luck!
LikeLike
do you have bjd dolls?or dolfie?.thanks
LikeLike
Hello. Much thanks to you, ma’am for blogging about this store. 🙂
If I be permitted, I would like to add an additional route going to the store.
I took an FX from our place in Caloocan that passes through Mindanao Avenue. I went off at the entrance to Road 20 (it’s the street going right, a waiting shed and some sidewalk vendors are the landmarks here) and got a P15 trike to Japanimation.
Going back to Mindanao Avenue is a breeze, too – tricycles charge the same fare to the entrance (P15), and FXs bound to SM North and MRT pick up passengers at that point.
Hope this helps. 🙂
LikeLike
What can i ride to go there from trinoma? 😀 (except taxi)
LikeLike
commuting instructions are already in the post; kindly read the entry thoroughly before asking questions, thanks!
LikeLike
hi! i read somewhere that they also have a store near galleria. would you know where exactly it is? THANKS!
LikeLike
Hi there, much obliged for posting this…looks like a visit to this place should be planned. I’m curious though–do they have Nintendo stuff, like old Family Computers, Game Boys, and Pokemon merchandise?
LikeLike
Yup, they they are all available — the stock just depends on the day of your visit since it changes with every shipment they get from Japan 🙂
LikeLike
I went there earlier today; wasn’t expecting much, yet I ended up with one treasure–one working, clean Game Boy (I even brought my own batteries, heh); all the others were either broken or not working properly, so this one find made me so happy! ^_^
Thanks to your superbly-written post, I didn’t even stop to ask for directions, I just noted the two McDonald’s at the corners like you clearly stated and found the place right next to the Sto. Cristo Chapel.
Many thanks again, Rose!
LikeLike
Hi! I was wondering if they had Jpop CDs whether its like-new to used.
I like the one that was released during 1990s or early 2000s.
And do I really buy in bulk?
Thanks!
LikeLike
Went to this shop yesterday. The shopkeepers told me that they won’t be restocking some of the CDs as they are the slowest to get sold. Guys if you know some Japanese in the country wishing to score old Japanese music and LPs this is still the shop to beat.
You don’t need to buy in bulk. 100 pesos for 3 CDs will go a long way. I’ve frequented the shop in 2011 then stopped in 2012 and sporadic in 2013. It’s only this 2014 that I started going to this shop every month spending at least 700 just to drive down the bulk discs.
If only I had the space in my room I could do away with more purchases but it looks like it’s not allowed.
LikeLike
Just to keep everyone updated, unfortunately the shop is now officially closed. The keepers said someone made a fire sale of all the items including the CDs. It just broke my heart although I have a feeling that there’s just someone in the metro that’s probably reselling those used CDs.
LikeLike
Any update? I mean may alam ba kayong Japan surplus shops sa manila na open pa? Thank you. Kahit anong back read gawin ko wala na din, mostly sarado na.
LikeLike