Japan's pop culture is a global magnet, and it brings a younger, fast-growing traveller to your agency — one who books experiences, not just sightseeing. Anime, gaming, manga and themed dining turn a Japan trip into a pilgrimage. As your ground operator, Explera builds and runs these tours with the local knowledge that a guidebook cannot match.
Why pop-culture travel matters
This is a high-intent, high-spend segment: fans travel specifically for it, plan around it, and spend on merchandise, experiences and themed stays. It also broadens your client base beyond the classic culture-and-cuisine traveller, and it pairs neatly with the mainstream sights parents and partners want.
Experiences we operate
### Tokyo's pop-culture heart - Akihabara — electronics, anime, retro gaming and collectibles, with a guide who knows the floors that matter. - Nakano Broadway and Ikebukuro for deeper collector and otaku culture. - Themed cafés and only-in-Tokyo dining concepts for groups who want fun.
### Studio Ghibli and animation - The Ghibli Museum (Tokyo) and Ghibli Park (Nagoya area) — timed, limited and beloved; book far ahead. - Animation and manga museums across the country.
### Gaming and pilgrimage - Gaming arcades, retro and esports experiences in Tokyo and Osaka. - Anime pilgrimage (seichi junrei) — guided visits to the real locations behind favourite series.
Pair these with a Universal Studios Japan day for an unbeatable young-traveller itinerary, all within our tours & activities.
How agents package it
- Anchor a Tokyo day in Akihabara with a specialist guide.
- Pre-book the limited venues (Ghibli especially) the moment windows open.
- Balance the trip with mainstream sights so mixed groups are happy.
Build a pop-culture itinerary
Tell us the fandom and the dates, and we'll design it with access confirmed. Reach the Explera trade desk at b2b@explera.jp or +66 93 656 8090, or sign in to the B2B portal. IATA 96215733, JATA member, whole-of-Japan, white-label for the trade.
