Akihabara – Electric Town
If you are looking for a unique experience in Japan then Akihabara is certainly at the top of the list. A full day can be spent searching the electrical hardware stores, playing at one of the game centers, scoffing on Ramen or sipping tea with a maid, or an owl…
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| Unique sub-culture | Not so kid friendly in some areas |
| Close to popular areas | Not into geek culture? |
Pro-tip! Sunday is pedestrian only day
On Sundays between 13:00 to 17:00 (summertime: 18:00) the main road is closed to traffic. Bicycles are also not allowed and there are officials who will tell you off should you dare to mount your bike even for a second.
What to do in Akihabara
Akihabara is the Otaku center of Tokyo and as such there are of course plenty of geek shopping to be done. However, if you don’t fancy creating more luggage for yourself, then there are a set of experiences in and around Akihabara that should be on your list.
Go eat Ramen at one of the many shops
Akihabara is well-known for its Ramen restaurants and you will find a bunch of lists online for the “top 10”. Nowadays Akihabara is fairly foreigner friendly so most shops off the main streets will have English menus. “When Japan” suggests you wander around and pick one you like the look of. If you want an easy experience then look for the Akiba Mengeki in the Akihabara UDX building. There are three Ramen places that share the same vending machines with full English support. You don’t need to talk to anyone and the taste isn’t bad.
Wander around the back streets
The area labeled “geek area” on this map is the main location of all the computer parts shops and maid cafes. Try walking down it without being beckoned by the cute girls in maid uniforms.
Go visit a maid/cat/dog/owl Cafe
“When Japan” has never done this but there are plenty of maid cafes and animal cafes to choose from. You can judge for yourself the morality of making animals play for our amusement – there are pro views and con views on the internet for your reading pleasure. Maybe stick to the cat and dog cafes if fondling owls and hedgehogs seems a bit cruel. Expect a couple of thousand yen for the experience, plus drinks (which will just be out of a can probably).
Play a few games
Akihabara has a tons of game centers, all of which are labeled on this map. There are some major brands like Sega and Taito, and then some more local shops like Asobox (if you ever wonder, there are no Asobox #1 and #2 stores for some reason). Learn how the prize games work by reading the “When Japan” guide before you have a go otherwise you will just waste your money. Probably best you just stick to the prize games although the other types of games are usually available on upper floors.
Visit a retro toy or games store
There are a bunch of stores that sell retro games such as the old Sega Genesis and Nintendo Systems, including game ROMs and accessories. Whatever you can remember from your childhood you can buy here. A popular place is Retro Game Camp.
Look around the figure shop
There are plenty of figure stores so finding one to browse will not be difficult. Some only sell boxed goods while others focus on rarer, second hand figures. The easiest store to go see everything on offer is Hobby Heaven, right next to Akihabara station. There are multiple floors of geek goods.
Visit the massive Yodobashi Camera store
There isn’t much here that you won’t find in any electrical store in Japan, but it is amusing just how many staff are required at these stores (hint: a lot it seems). Only buy things here after checking online as the prices are adjusted to take account of 10% points with each purchase. Plus buying a large item for delivery literally takes an hour while the staff wrestle with the paper forms and computer system. Buy little things only and never, ever buy a memory card as they are 3 times the online price!
Look around a sex toy shop (7 floors!)
Not something you might associate with geek culture, but it’s there.
Walk to Ueno Park
Ueno park is only 20 minutes away so there is no excuse not to walk. You can even buy a delicious cream Taiyaki on the way.
Other things to try out, or not?
- Visit Don Quijote and see an AKB48 show? Go loads of times and you can level up your membership for extra perks!!
- GUNDAM Cafe and AKB48 Cafe?
- Have a crepe or some Takoyaki from the shops outside Don Quijote and then be forced to eat them right then and there as walking and eating is frowned upon in Japan.
You may have guessed the pattern by now. The above are things you can probably skip doing.
Related articles about Akihabara
Ramen – Japanese Noodles
Ramen is the traditional noodle dish most outside Japan will be familiar with. Naruto loved Ramen noodles. Thick and greasy it is an aquired taste. Expect the best noodles and soup to be served at specialized places that have few things on the menu other than their unique soup. Common…
Prize games (UFO Catchers)
Table Of ContentsRotating Chocolate Push!Tower sweets and rampPulling boxesPincers push and dropCutting the string gameTakoyaki ball bounceRotating stop gamePush a thing into a hole gamesThe classic grab game – “UFO Catcher” The GoodThe Not-So GoodFun to try (set a budget)Will eat your moneyBlatant rigging on many games Prize games are…
Game centers
For Japanese people, game centers are an integral part of their childhood. These game centers can be found close to most major city stations and out in the more rural areas on the top floors of major shopping malls or in DVD/Anime stores. they are split into 5 major sections:…
Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara Walking Route
Start your day surrounded by temples and more traditional cultural legacies of Japan, then spend a few hours walking around Ueno Park, with its museums, zoo and stunning Lilly-pad lake, then move onto the polar opposite of both, the electric town of Akihabara, which is only a 20 minute walk…
Akihabara – Electric Town
What’s nearby Akihabara
Yorokeikoku – Hiking in Chiba
Travelers to Japan in November and December should make at least one effort to hike the countryside for the fall leaves display, with the stunningly deep red of the Japanese Maple the star turn.When JapanTweet When viewing Autumn Leaves in Japan’s busy fall season it is always a good idea…
National Museum of Japanese History
Uncover Japan’s history at the National Museum of Japanese History, located one hour away from Tokyo. This modern and comprehensive museum provides a unique glimpse into the country’s past. A visit may be ideal for those seeking a deeper understanding of Japan’s history. #SakuraHistoryMuseum #Japan #HistoricalDiscoveriesWhen JapanTweet The GoodThe Not-So…
Hondoji Temple
Hidden away in the no-man’s land between Tokyo, Chiba and Saitama, Hondoji Temple is an island of calm that has stunning displays of autumn leaves come the end of November, with very few foreign tourists.When JapanTweet Hondoji is a great temple to visit while in Japan during the end of…
Chiba city
Chiba city is located about two hours east of Tokyo and is the urbanized gateway into Chiba prefecture’s rural peninsular of sparely populated towns and flat expanses of rice paddies. When JapanTweet Chiba city is the last urbanized area before the expansive Boso peninsular to the east. While Chiba is…
Buzz-saw Mountain
Buzz-saw mountain (Nokogiri-yama) is an out-of-the-way gem about two hours by train from Tokyo station that is (so far) unspoiled by hordes of tourists. Buzz-saw mountain boasts 360° views from the top of a 300m shear cliff face, the biggest stone Buddha in Japan, and an invigorating decent through the…
