秋葉原 • 東京
Akihabara Guide & Map
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こんにちは (KONNICHIWA)!
Whether it’s your first or fourth time visiting Tokyo, Akihabara is a must visit neighborhood conveniently located in central Tokyo. There are plenty of things to do in Akihabara to keep you entertained. Just take a stroll along Akihabara’s main street, Chuo Dori, and you’ll easily see why Akihabara is nicknamed “Electric Town” when you lay your eyes on all the multi-level electronic stores. Aside from electronic goods, Akihabara is also known for being the hub for otaku culture.
Otaku is a Japanese term that describes someone who is passionate, or even obsessed, with some aspect of pop culture. Akihabara is home to countless stores that specialize in anime and hobby goods. You can expect to find plenty of figurine and characters goods as well as supplies to supplement all sorts of hobbies and interests.
Akihabara is a great neighborhood to call home for your Tokyo trip, we stayed at the Akihabara Washington Hotel for two nights so we could be close to the action. With so much to see and do, Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s most lively entertainment and retail districts that deserves a visit.
Check out our other Tokyo area guides: Akihabara | Asakusa | Harajuku | Mount Takao | Shibuya
Things to Do in Akihabara
1. Take in Electric Town
Akihabara is appropriately nicknamed “Electric City” for the amount of shops in the area that sell electronic goods. If you like to keep up with the latest technology and check out new gadgets, you and Akihabara were meant to be.
2. Get a taiyaki shaped like Magikarp
If you’re a fan of the taiyaki, you’re in luck! We found a shop that sold the popular street snack in the shape of the infamous Pokemon, Magikarp. Taiyaki are simple fish shaped cakes often filled with a bean paste or custard that make for a great quick snack.
KURIKOAN
Address: 1-15-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda 101-0021, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 9PM
3. Check out a maid cafe
Maid cafes have exploded in popularity, offering an experience that’s unique to Tokyo. Most maid cafes charge a cover fee but we think it’s worth checking out at least once. In addition to the cover fee, you’re required purchase a food or drink item as well, which is cutely presented but mediocre quality (by Tokyo standards).
MAIDREAMIN
Address: 3-16-17 Sotokanda, 6F Sumiyoshi Bldg, Chiyoda 101-0021, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 11:30AM – 11PM (10:30AM on Sat, Sun)
4. Shop for anime and hobby goods along Chuo Dori
Walk out of Akihabara Station and you’ll find Chuo Dori, Akihabara’s main street located to the west. Along the main street and back streets, there are an endless number of shops that sell all sorts of anime and hobby goods.
5. Visit one of the many SEGA arcade buildings
A number of SEGA arcade buildings dot the Akihabara landscape, inside you’ll find all sorts of video games starting at just ¥100. Try your luck at one of the UFO (crane) games to win an anime figurine or adorable plush.
6. Have lunch or dinner at Go! Go! Curry
If you’re walking along Chuo Dori, keep your eyes peeled for Go! Go! Curry‘s bright yellow sign with its large gorilla mascot. Place your order at the vending machine, wait to be seated, and what seems like seconds after, a glorious tray of curry and rice will arrive that won’t disappoint!
GO! GO! CURRY
Address: 1-11-7 Sotokanda, Chiyoda 101-0021, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 10:55AM to 9:55PM
7. Check out a gachapon hall
Gachapon are Japanese toys sold randomly in capsule form from vending machines. They are quite the phenomenon in Japan and popular across all ages. In Akihabara there are a number of stores with walls lined with gachapon machines called gachapon halls. Each machine is different, choose one that catches your eye, good luck!
GACHAPON HALL
Address: 3-15-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda 104-0061, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 8PM (10PM on Fri, Sat and 7PM on Sun)
8. Shop for electronics at Yodobashi Camera
Located on the east side of Akihabara Station, Yodobashi Camera is Akihabara’s only electronic mega store. This place is a one stop shop for all of your electronic needs.
YODOBASHI CAMERA MULTIMEDIA AKIBA
Address: 1-1 Kandahanaokacho, Chiyoda 101-0028, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 9:30AM – 10PM
9. Grab a cheese tart from Pablo
Need a break after exploring all these stores? Head to Pablo mini located outside the west JR entrance of Akihabara Station for an out of this world cheese tart. Seriously, out of this world. Can’t go wrong with the original or matcha flavored cheese tart.
PABLO MINI
Address: 1-15-8 Sotokanda, Chiyoda 101-0021, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM
10. Visit the Gundam Cafe or AKB48 Cafe and Shop
The Gundam Cafe based on the popular robot series and AKB48 Cafe and Shop based on the popular Japanese idol girl group are two very different themed cafes located next to each another. They are two of Akihabara’s most popular themed cafes located north of Akihabara Station, worth checking out if you’re fans of either theme.
GUNDAM CAFE
Address: 1-1 Kandahanaokacho, Chiyoda 101-0028, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 10:30PM
AKB48 CAFE & SHOP
Address: 1-1 Kandahanaokacho, Chiyoda 101-0028, Tokyo
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 10PM (10AM on Sat, Sun and 11PM on Fri, Sat)
Do you need a place to stay in Akihabara?
We stayed at the Akihabara Washington Hotel for two nights and highly recommend it! The hotel was located right beside Akihabara Station and less than a 5 minute walk from Chuo Dori, Akihabara’s main street, where you can find most of the places on this things to do list!
Oh, and if you’re a fan of model trains, they have a room made for you! It comes with a fully functioning train set modeled after Tokyo and a beautiful view facing the south of Akihabara.
AKIHABARA WASHINGTON HOTEL
Address: 1-8-3 Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0025, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3255-3311
Check in: 2PM
Check out: 11AM
For more information, visit the official website.
>> Related: Akihabara Washington Hotel Review <<
Map of Things to Do in Akihabara
Which of these things would you do in Akihabara?
Comment below!
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Go Go Curry sounds like such a fun concept! Perfect for impatient people! And Gachapon sounds like a fun experience for people of all ages! My 3.5yo would love it!
My husband and kids would go crazy shopping for electronics in Akihabara. I would enjoy the model train museum. The cheese tart sounds great too.
I would love to indulge in 2,4 ,7.. While my kiddo will not leave the toy vending machine, I will not leave the hobby idea & anime place
Fascinating. I am planning to visit next year.
I have never been to Japan but it appeals to me as a destination. I would love to try the curries and other Japanese food. I hope they do have a vegetarian or vegan version though. Akihabara sure is offbeat!
An electric town!! Woah! That sounds interesting. Never heard of this place before but it is intriguing me now. The fish shaped cake looks yummy; so does the dinner at Go Go Curry. The lined up toys shop would be a favorite destination for the kids.
Akihabara looks like a fun part of Tokyo, being from the 80’s I love the neon Sega sign! I’d have a field day in a Sega arcade. The maid cafes sound like a fun experience too!
I’m a huge fan of Japanese curry, so the Go Go Curry will be the first place I would visit in the area. What an interesting blend of activities in one single place. Akihabara not is a place for Electronic one can spend good amount of time exploring all the unique places in the area. The Maid Cafe sounds interesting and the dessert served there looks delicious!
I dint know Akihabara is nicknamed "Electric Town". It looks so vibrant. Electronics shopping would be so much fun here. And food looks interesting too.
Thanks so much for this post! I’m going to head to this area and see some of the things you mentioned before Mario Karting – which you should put on this list for sure!
– Sarah http://www.cerealsarah.com
Thanks! There are so many helpful articles online nowadays. This helps to organize my time and what I can do there, and this one guide me on how to get to Akihabara.