Pop Culture Hotspots in Perth

When I go out shopping for something in Perth, in that horrible, dull period between conventions, my usual stop has become Empire Toys on Hay Street.  The inner layout of the shop has changed a lot lately, and they recently moved a couple of doors down, so if you're familiar with them but haven't been in a while, just walk a little bit further and you'll find them.


Empire is one of my favourite places to go in the city. They stock everything from Star Wars to Doctor Who to Death Note. I'd say the only downside is that they lack a little in the tchtotchkes department. They could do with having more phone straps, keyrings and such diddy little items. They do have some anime printed cushions though, a great stock of action figures, plenty of manga, and I've picked up a couple of Torchwood novels from there, too. 


To get the smaller items, I usually go to Tokyo Underground. They have a lot of Gundam sets, along with anime printed cushions, bags, wallets and plushies. They also have a few stands, but a fair portion of them are counterfeited, and I'm not a collector of those items, so I avoid them.  They're worth checking out in any case, just for the sake of the smaller items that are difficult to find elsewhere in the city.


I used to go to Borders for manga, because it was generally cheaper than other places sold it, but alas, since they closed their doors I have taken to waiting for Wai-Con in January and Supanova mid-year to buy manga. They sell it for $10 a volume, direct from publisher, so it's easier to pick up an armful there than to let the extra dollars add up over time and end up spending more.


Dymocks has begun to stock manga, but as far as I've seen, the range is a little limited.


Another good place to go, especially for girls, is Morning Glory. While it's not an anime or manga shop, it does sell a lot of cute things, especially from Korea. They have a smattering of Japanese items, but if you're a fan of K-Pop, their collection of posters should satisfy you, and they are equipped with various small items such as stationery and money boxes.


JB Hi-Fi has a great range of anime on DVD, along with a decent amount of Asian films.


Perth in general is well equipped to serve the anime fandom, but I still feel it could do with more. It's still nice to have so many options for shopping, especially in a country where anime fans are sparse compared to other locations.


Do you know of any other shops that sell related items? :3