Akihabara

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.

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.

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,,

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!