Akihabara

Find everything from idols to electronics in Akihabara

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Akihabara is always crowded with tourists from all over the world. It’s famous as the center of the “anime” and the “manga” culture. It’s also popular as a sightseeing spot because of the many stores offering electronics made in Japan.
Address
Akihabara Station, Tokyo

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About

Akihabara Electric Town

Akihabara has gained a widespread reputation as Japan’s largest area for electronics. Taking advantage of the period of rapid economic growth, stores dealing in software and parts were established and Akihabara progressed into one of the leading electronics areas in the world. Furthermore, there has been a steady increase of stores selling game software which, by no surprise, has occurred simultaneously with the rise of anime and game ‘otaku’ (enthusiast) culture. Recently, there have been many Chinese and Korean tourists who specifically wish to purchase Japan-made rice cookers. There is no better place than Akihabara to go to when in search of ‘Made in Japan’ electrical appliances, which are sought after by visitors from abroad.

If you are looking to purchase electrical appliances, the best deals can be found at Sofmap, Laox and Yodobashi Camera. Both Laox and Yodobashi Camera are duty-free stores that tend to be the most visited chains amongst foreign travelers. These stores are known to employ eager staff that can tend to your inquiries in English. Visitors from abroad should take caution to not purchase products that are not compatible with the voltage in their home countries.

For all of your manga and anime merchandise, head to Akihabara

Many tourists who visit Japan are initially drawn to visiting the country due to their interest in Japanese animation. Recently, television stations in many countries have begun to broadcast shows such as Sailor Moon and Pokemon. Even translated manga books such as Naruto and One Piece are sold extensively in bookstores worldwide. Akihabara has become the hub of Japanese anime and cartoon otaku culture, and with the number of stores dedicated to selling anime-related merchandise, you will have no trouble finding your favorite anime books or goods. Radio Kaikan or Animate are the top recommendations for anime and manga related goods.

Maid cafes, Idols & Otaku Culture

If you are in need for a break in Akihabara, there are also many maid cafés throughout the area. A maid café is not any ordinary café; at maid cafes, customers are served by waitresses dressed as maids, idols or uniform-wearing students who in addition to serving food and drinks to you, will also treat like you like a king. This kind of distinct interaction can only be authentic and unique otaku culture that you would not be able to experience abroad.

Recently, many live houses solely dedicated to the all-female pop group AKB48, a musical phenomenon that has taken Japan by storm, have been developed in Akihabara alongside Don Quixote, a chain of discount goods stores. Devout, die-hard fans of anime, cartoons, and idol groups, are called otakus, and the distinctive otaku culture now known throughout the world originated from here. Otakus congregate and dress up as their favorite anime or cartoon character. Many feel comfortable to do so without judgement in a place like Akihabara, and in fact, they can get photographed like a celebrity. Akihabara is certainly a place where lovers of pop culture and anime join together en masse to freely enjoy their time in an open environment.

Akihabara should be on top of your sightseeing list if Japanese electrical appliances or insight into the otaku culture is of interest to you.

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Access

From the station, take the Akihabra Electric Town exit, which leads directly into the anime, manga, and electronics area.

From Shinjuku Station to Akihabara Station:
Take the Chuo-Sobu Line direct to Akihabara Station (23 minutes, ¥170)

From Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station:
Take the Keihintohoku Line direct to Akihabara Station (4 minutes, ¥140)

Plan your trip to tokyo

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

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Reviews

6 years ago
anime paradise
Akihabara is an anime paradise with many unique cafes and electric stores. So bright and lots of people. If you are into anime, manga, and figurines, it's the perfect place for you.
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7 years ago
Nerds paradise
If you are a fan of games, anime, manga or movies there will be something for you in Akihabara. The many shops of Akihabara have all kinds of things related to anime, manga, games and even series and movies from outside of Japan. You can find figurines from your favorite game or the soundtrack to your favorite anime. For gamers there are arcades packed full of different kind of games, from Claw machines where you can try and win some awesome and crazy stuff to dancing games and fighting games. Between all the shopping and gaming, you can go and relax to one of the many Maid cafes in Akihabara which is a whole different experience from any other place you have been to.
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7 years ago
Bright
Animé town, I could spend hours here just browsing through the shops even just looking at the pictures in the Japanese only manga stalls. It's a shock to the senses in a good way plus there's cheap eats around. Note, the Tokyo Animé Centre was closed down in July 2017,,
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7 years ago
Geeky wonderland
If you like anime or manga then this place is a must for your bucket list. Every shop along any main road or side street is a little gem. Foodies would love the variety of fun restaurants or tasty streed food that has you salivating at the mere smell. A truly increadible place to visit more than once.
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7 years ago
What's going on?
I am sure that I am an exception, but I didn't like Akihabara much, even I grew up with Manga and Anime. For me it was almost impossible to get a sense of direction. If you know this area and shops well, I am sure it's heaven. As a tourist just having a look it was too much of everthing. After 1 hour we just left and I started to get a headache. Little culture shock in a way.
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8 years ago
Stimulus EVERYWHERE!
The first time I went to Akihabara I was blown away! So many lights! So much music! So many people! It's what my former 16 year old self imagined Japan to be! Do you like Manga? Anime? Games? Electronics? Cute girls dressed as maids? Cute girls dressed as maids running cafes? Then Akihabara is for you! Down the main street (Which is easy enough to find) is a plethora of Anime, Manga and Game stores. Along with plenty of Arcades filled with the latest Street Fighter, or whatever kids these days play. Side alleys are filled with Electronics stores, which sell all sorts of nick-nacks, such as LED lights, cables, the latest phones or laptops, you name it! Akihabara will have it somewhere! If you wish to experience and explore Japan's modern culture, be sure to visit Akihabara!
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8 years ago
Shut up and take my money
Let me tell you this. If you miss arcades. If you love anime. If you like to be surrounded by people who have the same nerdy interests as you, then this is the place you need to go. This place makes your gaming conventions and anime conventions look like a school yard. Everyday this place is busy, every day there is something neat to see. Every building has something to nerd about. If you do come, do it on a Sunday where they close the street so waste no time waiting for a stupid street light to tell you to cross. The buildings have banners of anime and gaming advertisements. Today's advertisement is assassins creed along with seraph of the end. I will say this also, don't be fooled by the look of this place. This place is extremely expensive to shop, remember that yen have dollar coins, so you will eat through your pockets at arcades, buying figures from second hand stores, and eating at maid cafes. Speaking of cafes, although I have never been, there is a maid alley and basement idol alley where they stand in the blistering cold promoting their place of work, so if it's cold out, go and have a meal with them.
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8 years ago
Anime-wonderland
If you love anime and manga, Akihabara is the place to go! There are lots of shops where you can buy manga and DVD's, and on the streets there are anime-banners and huge screens everywhere. There are also big game centers where you can play all kind of games. For example, fighting games like "Tekken" or music games as well. It's very impressive to see but also really crowded.
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8 years ago
Electronics, games, noise, anime, manga, and noise
If you like noise, then head over to Akihabara. It really is the home for all things electrical. I often visit here, but never for longer than needed. If you like video games then there are multiple arcades, if you like crane claw machines, then there are multiple game centres, and if you like manga and anime, there are multiple shops selling those things too. However, as much as I love Akihabara, it can be a little overwhelming for me, and I often leave with a dizzying AKB48 headache. Regardless, it really is a convenient shopping area that has all of the same things in one place. Worth a visit. Bring earplugs.
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8 years ago
Japan's pop/anime-culture hub!
I would recommend anyone visiting Tokyo to visit Akihabara, primarily because it is just so weird and unique. Wether or not you are an anime/manga fan, Akihabara is well worth seeing for its unique array of stores. Here you can shop (or window shop) for electronics, figurines, anime and manga goods, dolls, model trains, and just about any other toy you can think of. Another fun activity is trying out the number of arcades in the vicinity (the Sega arcade is particularly notable). The prices are fairly reasonable, and you can play some games that I have seen no where else - one such was a game where you were a salary-man who had to flip over a table (presumably due to stress?) at just the right moment in order to get higher points. Also don't forget to try Purikura (selfie machines), which is a funny thing my wife and I do every time we visit the area. Best visited around twilight while the shops are still open and the iconic neon signs begin to light up!
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