Wander around Tokyo's electronic hub and otaku capital: Akihabara, Japan
Now that travel's back in full swing, we've asked our very own Japan team members for local insights, tips, and spots to help you navigate Akihabara just like a local.
Prepare your pen and paper or notes app or — actually, you could just bookmark this page 🤪, as we share with you our Japan Klookers' recommended sites, what's worth trying, where and what to eat, and so much more. Let's get planning!
The famous district that’s depicted as Tokyo in anime
Photo Credit: Luciano Mortula-LGM on Adobe Stock
Bright lights, wide streets, and the biggest screens will greet you the moment you step out of Akihabara Station, it's like you jumped in your favorite anime (that is– if your fave does have Tokyo as a setting)! You'll also immediately notice the busy atmosphere of Akihabara but believe it or not, there's a certain calmness while you're walking around this active Tokyo district. The streets are wide enough for a leisurely walk, so you could browse through all the colorful shops as well as the famous Akihabara arcades.
Klook Tip: If it’s your first or nth time, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your Japan etiquette. Check out our tourist guide on Japan Etiquette - 15 Do's and Don'ts You Should Know.
During your stroll, you'll surely find electronic shops and a whole lot of anime and manga goods – in case you didn't know, these are the top things people look for when they come here, the multitude of electronics and the center of otaku culture!
Otaku: The term has many layers and has shifted meaning throughout the years but generally, it’s a word that refers to people who are big fans of anime and manga.
You can find almost all your favorite characters from classic video games and animated series like Final Fantasy, Doraemon, Cowboy Bebop, Slam Dunk, and many many more! There's even a massive building with all things otaku – collectibles, comics, anime merch, and cosplay goods… it has EIGHT FLOORS but more on that later.
Klook Tip: For an even more leisurely stroll, drop by on Sunday afternoons when they close off the main street to vehicles.
How to get to Akihabara Station
The most direct way to get to Akihabara Station is via the JR Yamanote Line. Whether you're coming from Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, or within Tokyo, you will be directed to transfer to that line. If you have the JR Pass, the JR Yamanote Line is covered.
There's also the Toei Shinjuku Line that will lead you to Iwamotocho Station (just a 5-min walk from Akihabara Station). You can use the Unlimited Tokyo Subway Ticket for this route.
Things to do in and around Akihabara Electric Town
🏎️ Drive around Akihabara on a go-kart
MARIO KART IN REAL LIFE – need we say more? Experience Tokyo from a unique perspective with a go-kart experience! Drive around the streets of Akihabara with a local tour guide and feel the thrill of driving through the vibrant district.
⛩️ Bless your electronics and pray for prosperity at Kanda Myojin Shrine
Photo Credit: Susann Schuster on Unsplash
There’s a Shinto shrine that’s just about a 9-min walk from Akihabara Station, as pointed out by our Japan Klookers, Emily from Marketing, Reina from PR, and Veronica from the Legal Team. You’ll find Kanda Myojin Shrine, made even more popular by the anime series, Love Live! School Idol Project. Many fans have since flocked to the shrine, even taking cosplay photos! You’ll even notice that the shrine has embraced its anime-culture fame with Love Live! School Idol Project themed omamori and ema.
Ema: These are the small board pieces you see in Shinto shrines where you can write a prayer or wish on then eventually hang them in a designated area in the shrine’s grounds.
Omamori: These are Japanese amulets that contain prayers and are used for specific purposes but generally used for protection and good luck.
The shrine is also widely visited by those who want to seek help with business, finding a spouse, and for protection from bad elements. There’s also EDOCCO Studio within the grounds where you could find souvenir shops and cultural experiences like matcha tea making, origami, and also witness Nihon-buyō, a traditional Japanese performing art of dance.
🎰 Find unique collectibles at Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan
Photo Credit: Ned Snowman on Adobe Stock
On your walk along Akihabara, spot the big yellow signage with “秋葉原ガチャポン会館” – that’s Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan! While you'll spot many of these capsule toy machines in the area, our Japan Klooker, Emily from Marketing, recommends to drop by Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan for its 500+ machines all neatly stacked up from floor to ceiling – the machines can even reach well beyond the signage!
Gachapon: Gachapon are capsule toy machines, unique to Japan. The best ones are said to be in Akihabara.
The toys you can find in these machines are A LOT. You can find Pokemon figurines, Gundam toys, food keychains, even animals acting like office workers – the options can be so quirky and random but that's what makes gachapon so much fun!
Klook Tip: If you find a ball that has a sticker on it, show it to the store clerk because it’s a chance for you to get a free turn!
Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan is one of the oldest operating gachapon shops and what makes this shop even better is that they have about 50 new releases each month! So if you happen to drop by Akihabara again after some time, you’re sure to find a new set of figurines to collect.
When you see, Akiba, know that it’s also what the locals call Akihabara. Akiba comes from the fire protection deity, Akiba Daigongen. Akiba also means “autumn leaves” and is a euphemism for fire – fire was actually a main problem in Japan before the 20th century and Akihabara was set up as a “fire-proof area”.
Maid Cafes, Coffee Spots, and Boutique Shops to check out
🍛 Maid Cafe Experience at Maidreamin Tokyo
A trip to Akihabara isn’t complete if you don’t step into the super kawaii world of Maid Cafes! A must-visit as suggested by our Japan Klookers, Emily, Reina, and Veronica, Maidreamin Tokyo is a dreamland where all things are cute and fun, you’ll even be given your very own “passport”!
Klook Tip: You’ll encounter the word, “moe” in Maid Cafes and this just means, “cute” or “endearing” 💖
The waitresses are dressed in cosplay maid outfits and are friendly and very approachable, they'll even ask you what you would like drawn on your food (they really make it look so easy). Be prepared to take a lot of photos because it will definitely be the cutest food you'll ever have.
☕ Aki-Oka Artisan
Photo Credit: @with_brompton on Instagram
One of the nicest strips of boutique shops and cafes you'll see is Aki Oka Artisan. As recommended by our Japan Klooker, Yuri from Marketing, it's the perfect chill spot where you can find locally-made clothes, jewelry, bags, and coffee shops that you probably won't find anywhere else.
You can find this artisan street under the JR railways tracks between Okachimachi Station and Akihabara Station and trust us, it really is a pretty place!
Retro Games, Mandarake, Radio Kaikan, Manga Shops, & More
👾 Super Potato
Photo Credit: @kiwisteena on Instagram
If you love retro video games, our Japan Klooker, Emily from Marketing, says you should definitely add Super Potato to your Akihabara itinerary. It's a major retail shop that has all kinds of video games and gadgets! You could even find a collection of old games and even arcade games.
⚡ Radio Kaikan
Photo Credit: 健太 上田 on Adobe Stock
One of the most iconic buildings in Akihabara Electric Town that you should check out is Radio Kaikan. It's that tall and colorful building with bright yellow signage and red and blue font that's hard to miss! Our Japan team members, Emily, Reina, and Veronica share that you can find all sorts of things in this massive building from manga, to electronic stores, even CDs, and so much more.
🚂 Ecute
Photo Credit: kawamura_lucy on Adobe Stock
Take your window shopping up a notch when you visit Ecute. Our Japan Klooker, Yoshifumi from our Business Development team, shares this lovely shopping spot where you'll see an historic Tokyo train station built under a railway bridge back in 1912 and has since been restored into a trendy shopping area. Here you'll also find a string of restaurants and bars for a chill nightcap.
You'll immediately notice the warm hue of the red bricks that line the former railway station. Apart from the shops, you'll also see the many remaining details of the old station that the developer made sure to keep.
🛍️ Mandarake
Photo Credit: @how_youfigure on Instagram
An 8-floor emporium of all things otaku… prepare yourself for Mandarake! It's known as the largest store that sells all things otaku in Akihabara where you can find the best character goods and insane deals. If you've been meaning to visit anime shops, this is IT. Mandarake also has buy-back counters where you could sell some of your collection if you've been meaning to pass them on to a loving home. These counters can be found on the first floor.
Other things you can find in Mandarake are cosplay items, all kinds of manga, DVDs (YES, they're still alive and thriving), rare anime figures, retro games, and so much more… you might actually need a whole afternoon for Mandarake.
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