The Ultimate Anime Day Out Dundee: Akuma Market & Beyond
Are you looking for the perfect Anime Day Out Dundee? With the Akuma Anime Market returning to the Wellgate Shopping Centre this Saturday, we’ve put together an extensive guide to help you make the most of the City of Discovery. Whether you’re a regular at Comic Con Scotland events or a local looking for things to do in Dundee, here is how to plan your visit for the ultimate geeky weekend.
Start Your Anime Day Out Dundee at Akuma Market
Your morning kicks off at the Wellgate Shopping Centre (Level 2). This event is a specialized alternative to a standard Comic Con, focusing 100% on Japanese pop culture. For fans of Manga and Anime, this is the heart of the local scene and has become a staple for fans across the country.
- What to find: Expect to browse over 30 specialist traders. You’ll find everything from imported plushies to rare Gunpla kits, high-end statues, and official Pokémon merchandise.
- Artist Alley: One of the highlights is the Artist Alley, where local creators sell handmade charms, stickers, and zines inspired by hit shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Studio Ghibli classics.
- Cosplay Culture: Don’t be surprised to see plenty of people in full costume. The Wellgate’s open layout is perfect for meeting other fans and taking photos. Whether you are a professional cosplayer or just a fan of alternative fashion, the community here is incredibly welcoming.
Refuel: The Best Japanese Food in the City
Once you’ve shopped the market, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite. Luckily, Dundee’s food scene has exploded, offering some of the most authentic flavour’s for fans of Japanese cuisine. No geek day out is complete without a stop for boba and ramen to keep your energy up.
- Su Sushi (Reform Street): Just a 5-minute dander from the Wellgate. This is a top-tier spot for Ramen and Sushi. We highly recommend their steaming bowls of Tonkotsu or their fresh Salmon Nigiri. It’s a cozy spot that feels like a hidden Tokyo eatery.
- CUPP Dundee (Reform Street): Right next to the food action, CUPP is a must-visit for Bubble Tea lovers. If you’re a fan of traditional flavors, their Matcha Milk Tea is earthy and rich. For something sweeter, try a Brown Sugar Boba with extra pearls.
- Boba CiTea (High Street): Located closer to the waterfront, Boba CiTea offers a massive range of fruit teas and popping pearls. It’s a great spot to grab a drink and take a “boba aesthetic” photo for your Instagram or TikTok feed.
Explore More Hidden Gems in Dundee
Dundee is known as the UNESCO City of Design, and much of that reputation comes from its history in video games and comics. To truly complete your experience, you should explore some of the other landmarks that make this city a pop culture hub.
- Lost Galaxy (Perth Road): This independent shop is a gem for anyone who loves tabletop gaming and collectibles. While they cover a broad range of geek culture, their selection of hobby supplies and their “community first” vibe makes it a great place to hang out.
- HMV (Murraygate): The Dundee branch of HMV has a surprisingly deep selection of Anime Blu-rays and Manga. If there is a specific volume you’ve been struggling to find online, it’s always worth a look on their dedicated pop-culture floor.
- V&A Dundee & The Waterfront: Take a walk down towards the River Tay. The striking architecture of the V&A museum provides a futuristic backdrop for Cosplay photography. Even if you don’t go inside, the surrounding plaza is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the view.
Ending Your Anime Day Out Dundee: TCG & Gaming
As the market winds down around 4:00 PM, the fun doesn’t have to stop. Wrap up your evening by heading to one of the city’s dedicated gaming spaces to meet local players or try out a new Trading Card Game.
- Highlander Games (Annfield Road): If you picked up some new Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at the market, this is where you go to test them out. Highlander Games is the heartbeat of the Dundee TCG scene, hosting regular tournaments and casual play sessions.
- Cake or Dice (Commercial Street): This non-profit board game cafe is the perfect “wind-down” spot. They have a massive library of over 400 games. It’s a very inclusive, safe space where you can grab a slice of cake, sit with your squad, and geek out over your Akuma Market hauls until late after your Anime Day Out Dundee
Travel & Planning Tips for Dundee
Getting to Dundee is easy, whether you are coming from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Aberdeen.
Parking: We recommend using the Wellgate Multi-Storey (DD1 2DB). It gives you direct access to the shopping centre, which is handy if you end up carrying a lot of heavy manga volumes!
By Train: Dundee Station is an architectural marvel and sits right across from the V&A. It’s about a 10-12 minute walk to the Wellgate.
By Bus: The Seagate Bus Station is even closer, just a 5-minute walk from the market.
