Hong Kong Otaku Shopping Guide: Our HK Travel Experience, Hong Kong Anime Shops, Toy Hunting, and Where Collectors Actually Go

For collectors, particularly those hunting for dirt-cheap items like me and reprice them 5x-10x, shopping for anime collectibles in Hong Kong may seem like a huge mistake. After all, it's easy for a first-timer to compare it with Akihabara. HK isn't really a place that gets featured for cheap items, but if you know where to go, then that's a different story.

Hong Kong is a luxury travel destination. It's a place for people with the money to burn: expensive food, taxi fares, clothes, entertainment services, three-star accommodations, and more. If you go to a store located in a mainstream shopping strip, you'll definitely not get a bargain.

Still, Hong Kong remains one of the better cities in Asia to hunt figures, gunpla, trading cards, and secondhand merchandise. Again, this is possible if you searched enough.

Having said that, Hong Kong rewards budget anime collectors who are willing to hit more than 12,000 steps a day, be extremely patient to check the maps constantly, and hold their phones long enough for English translation, if they don't know Cantonese.

First, we'll tell you about our trip, some tips for otaku shoppers, and the stores you should pay a visit to.

My Hong Kong Expectation vs What To Expect As A Budget Collector In Hong Kong

Take note: This is from the experience of someone who plans to visit Hong Kong again to learn more about its Otaku culture. I am not a local or a regular in-and-out tourist. Still, you can pick up a lot of lessons at my expense. Yup, that's funny, but definitely useful.

I have toy supplies coming from Hong Kong, which I sell locally in the Philippines. They are cheap because most of them are secondhand items. However, you have to weed out the fakes, especially the figures and the Pokémon cards. Some of them look really legit.

But since I am knowledgeable enough to spot the fakes, I'm focused on going to Hong Kong with the impression that it has more plentiful, cheap items that I can buy at really deep discounts. I initially thought that getting them straight from the source at raw prices (without the country's customs markups) was possible and practical.

I was wrong about that. Hence, I paid the price of walking here to there, checking the maps for thrift stores, and wasting enough time before I could find the pot of gold.

It seems that what comes into the Philippines are unsold merchandise in Hong Kong shops and pre-loved collections from households that are "clearing up". That explains the dirt stuck in some of my toys and the used tissue papers in secondhand bags I have to clean up before listing them online.

Thus, if you're getting the displayed items in Hong Kong, you're still paying for a huge markup contributed by the hefty real estate and maintenance costs.

On top of that, I booked a 4-star and a 5-star hotel in Jordan and Mong Kok, respectively. I live in a mountainous area where steep climbs are the norm, so I can say that it's a very easy job for someone like me to get around these flat areas on foot. That said, I should have booked a hotel in Causeway Bay instead of Jordan. This experience leads us to tip number one.

Clicking the image leads to the Amazon website

Serious Otaku Collectors Must Plan Their Hotel Bookings Wisely

Serious collectors must not mess up on their hotel bookings. If you're on a budget, it would help to book a 2-star property or a condo.

HOWEVER, and I must really stress HOWEVER, I am an adulting otaku traveling with an older partner with sleep problems and a senior parent, so having them stay in lodgings that could be noisy or have areas that reek of cigarette smoke is a bad gesture of a trip sponsor. I was feeling rich, haha. 😆

I was a huge consideration, too, as this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime vacations I believe I have to take before the world goes to sh*t. So if your situation is just like mine, then go ahead and book a club room at Cordis HK, just like I did.

But if every dime counts, then Airbnb or Agoda are good places to find a nice place to stay, according to friends who have frequented HK. Let's now focus on the areas where you should stay.

Stay Long Enough in Mong Kok —The Best Starting Point For Hong Kong Anime Shops

Yes. Definitely. Mong Kok. Hands down. First time in Hong Kong or not, there'll be no regrets if you book a hotel in this area.

Most serious collectors end up in Mong Kok eventually. The reviews on Google Maps will lead you there. Mong Kok gives you quick access to shops in nearby districts like Yau Mei Tei, and, as we mentioned above, Jordan.

Some of these shops are:

• Hot Toys — Mong Kok; premium collectibles, not budget-friendly but worth a walk-through for serious collectors
• Nibanme — Mong Kok area; figures and merchandise with a more curated selection
• Toys Beat — Mong Kok; general collectibles and model kits
• Toy Hunters — Mong Kok; name speaks for itself, worth checking for older stock
• PANDA — Mong Kok; mixed merchandise including figures and accessories
• Hobbyland — Mong Kok; model kits and hobby supplies

Sino Centre on Nathan Road is the building most people refer to first. This place has several floors of shops selling figures, model kits, trading cards, doujinshi, and accessories, with enough variety. If you buy within the same building, the prices can be competitive.

Here is where I found this incredible shrine of vintage BULLMARK figures!!! Some of them cost almost $1,000 USD each, given their well-kept conditions.

My Vintage Bullmark Collection Encounter in Hong Kong. I got some of them, too.

Individual shops here range from meticulously organized to barely navigable. Still, both types are worth spending time in. As a wholesaler, with just one look, I know the kind of shop that sells at collector price compared to those that can accommodate thrift buyers that sell rare items at higher markups like me. The less organized ones occasionally have older stock priced well below what it would cost to source the same item online.

Nearby, Mong Kok Computer Centre and the surrounding area add more options, particularly for model kits and gaming merchandise. The neighborhood also has a handful of standalone anime retailers mixed into its general retail blocks that don't show up cleanly on maps. That aspect of the area hasn't really changed in years, as we've seen in older YouTube videos. Yup, I've somewhat researched before diving in. It's part of what makes it worth wandering rather than just point-to-point navigating.

One thing I have to include, though. One time I visited Sino Centre, most of the toy shops there were still closed at 12:00 pm, even if Google Maps says that their shops open at 11:00-11:30 am. The signs in some stalls say they operate from 3:00 pm onwards, so if you want to comb through each toy shop, I suggest you visit the place at around 4:00 pm.

Look Outside Mong Kok For Cheaper Anime Merchandise

Mong Kok is a lovely place, especially at night, if you love shopping, city lights, and luxury cars. But that's no reason to spend your days in Hong Kong in this district, as there are more shops you need to go to.

An MTR Station away is Sham Shui Po. It's where the budget finds actually are. The neighborhood has historically been Hong Kong's wholesale and surplus district. Now this, as a budget collector, is a place you should come to next.

Apliu Street flea market is the most well-known entry point. Here, electronics dominate the place, but there will also be stalls selling figures, model kits, and random merchandise. Most of them are shop overstock or estate clearances. Prices here are negotiable in a way that they generally aren't inside retail centers.

Again, we must stress that HK is not a counterfeit-free place. There will always be some bootlegs mixed in a sea of genuine stuff, or it can be the other way around, so take caution. Keep your phone with you for legit checks.

The indoor stalls along Kweilin Street and Ki Lung Street extend that energy into a more sheltered environment. Vendors here sell everything from loose trading card singles to older boxed figures that have cycled out of mainstream retail. For collectors who are comfortable doing some digging, this area has its share of rare finds. Here, I've also won a lot of absolute steals!

The tradeoff is that stock turns over unpredictably. What's there this week may be gone the next, and there's no real way to check inventory in advance.

Explore Causeway Bay and Street Shops For Official Merch and Cheap Anime Finds

Causeway Bay is like Tsim Shah Tsui. It's home to very pricey shops and restaurants. Unlike the expensive shopping strip, though, Causeway Bay offers a mix of must-visit toy shops. You don't need to buy; you just need to take a selfie in any of them.

Near the Causeway Bay station, they got two Pop Marts, a big Bandai Namco store, and, of course, Hong Kong anime figure shops with price ranges that fit people looking for thrift deals. I bought some Chinese Pokémon cards and anime figures in May Toys, and a few kits from Mark Toys and Mad Max.

Times Square and the surrounding retail cluster house several larger hobby shops and licensed merchandise stores. Animate has had a presence in Hong Kong, and the general mall circuit in this area is better for current-season releases and official goods if you want to be sure you are getting the real thing. For visitors who want a guaranteed stock of specific items, this end of the city is the more reliable option.

Before you move to Wan Chai, stop by Island Beverly. It's a small shopping centre a few steps away from the Causeway Bay MTR exit. They have attracted indie and import retailers with a more curated selection. However, the tenant mix shifts over time and is worth checking on arrival. Still, the point is you won't leave Causeway Bay without a shopping bag. You might even buy something at H&M because that's where I got a pair of gorgeous pants for $20 HKD and swimming trunks for only $10 HKD, which would normally cost $150-$200 HKD in the Philippines. Yes, cheaper than a Pokémon booster card!

A store in Tai Yuen, Wan Chai, Hong Kong has this shrine full of Astro Boy figures, anime, and some rare collectibles. It should have been a selfie, but I just watermarked instead.

Although near each other, Wan Chai is a contrast to what Causeway Bay offers. They have cheaper foods, bargain stalls, and toy shops facing each other on the same street, which they call Tai Yuen. Here, I feasted my eyes on a shrine of Astro Boy collection, a shelf filled with Gunpla and Tamiya kits, and diecast TOMICA collectibles. I got some mint SHFiguarts pieces for a very low price, which I sold for 7x higher!

Summarizing the notable stores in this area, we'll have:

• May Toys — Causeway Bay; accepted credit cards, good for figures and Pokémon cards
• Mark Toys — Causeway Bay; kits and collectibles, credit cards accepted
• Mad Max — Causeway Bay; model kits
• Animate — Causeway Bay; official licensed merchandise, current-season releases
• Island Beverly — small mall near Causeway Bay MTR exit; indie and import retailers
• Hung Hing Toys — Wan Chai; credit cards accepted, general collectibles
• Tai Yuen Street — Wan Chai; open street market with facing toy shops, diecast, gunpla, and Tamiya kits

Consider Booking A Hotel In Hong Kong Island

The famous Victoria Harbour separates Kowloon (the area of Hong Kong that includes Mong Kok and Tsim Shah Tsui) from Hong Kong Island (the area where you can find Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, and The Peak). You can quickly and cheaply cross using MTR. No, we won't recommend a taxi unless you fear the rapid escalators because you are traveling with a senior parent. Lol 🤣.

The distance between Mong Kok and Causeway Bay is huge enough that it warrants booking a place around Admiralty or Central. I assume you'd also want to ride The Peak Tram or see Madame Tussauds. These two places are conveniently located between the shopping district and some of the tourist spots in Hong Kong. It's something we didn't do, but if I'd come back this year, I might book somewhere near Wan Chai.

The bottom line, you can get almost anywhere in Kowloon if you're in MongKok, so don't make the mistake of booking a hotel in Jordan because you want to experience the Victoria Harbour and Tsim Shah Tsui strip at night. Don't get intimidated by the map. They are actually closer than they appear. However, you must take that from someone who lives in the highlands of the Philippines.

Spend More Time Finding Bargain Anime Items In Hong Kong Streets

If you come to HK as an Otaku with the intent to collect, then you have to mean it. Enjoy the food at Temple Street, jog at Victoria Park in the morning, have a wine tasting at a bayside hotel, or relax at a spa, but don't forget to give toy-hunting adequate time.

You won't get a steal deal if you only scrape the surface. Dig your fingers deep enough into the corners of HK streets so you can find something unexpected for a giveaway price. Going to Sino Centre isn't enough.

Most of the sellers in that area are aware of the value of their items. They are holding on to those for a long time. If you buy and sell toys, you'll know that it'll be difficult to flip eBay-priced items with a higher markup. Also, I don't think you'll want to negotiate if you don't speak fluent Cantonese, so you'll have to rely 100% on your toy-hunting abilities. Yes, this is not a normal blog where negotiating prices is considered advice, and if you got a "discount", doubt instantly that you got one. If you know, you know.

If you have that hoarder and collector spirit like me, then it's natural for you to enjoy the time you spend going through the shelves until you find something that could sell 3-5x higher than the price you bought it for. It's in the air. Once you enter the premises, you'll quickly feel that the good find is sitting somewhere waiting for you.

Try going to stores that call themselves thrift shops instead of toy shops. I also got a baggage-full of real snips (eco-bag lol) since these sellers know less about the toys that end up in their inventory. You'll need luck and enough time, though, as it's rare to spot some, so going to thrift shops may be worth the while for someone staying long enough.

Want motivation? Think of it as a challenge. This toy-hunting profit should cover your food, hotel, and flight expenses!

Hunt Anime Toys on a Budget In Hong Kong, but Come Well-Prepared and Stocked

Stocked with cash. Buy with the intent to get the most profit, but it doesn't mean that you should only have enough money for toys and eat or sleep poorly.

Fund your Octopus card if counting coins and paper money confuses you. You can buy them in MTR stations. Bring your credit and debit cards. You'll need them.

Don't make the grave mistake of not buying an e-SIM card before leaving your home country. You'll need a connection of your own once you land. Relying on the establishment's Wi-Fi has always been a hassle.

Some stores don't accept JCB, so it's a good thing to also bring cards from Mastercard and Visa. Most of these shops, like Hung Hing Toys in Wan Chai and May Toys and Mark Toys in Causeway Bay, accepted credit cards. I loved the cash-free experience. I am not a fan of app payments either, as my phone has to be kept ready for valuation through Google Lens.

While this is a guide for budget collectors, it's still best to come with enough money because you might come across something you'll like that you can't get elsewhere. While spending a full day in Mong Kok is manageable with a tight budget, you wouldn't want to be around the shopping districts with all the sale items without the capability to shop and possibly pay for excess baggage. So save up and be financially prepared for a Hong Kong trip for it to be fun at an Otaku level. 😉

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