Tokyo is a city that wears several masks. You have Shibuya’s ultramodern skyline and the majestic temples of Asakusa. But a destination where anime, manga, and tech enthusiasts exist in one paradise is Akihabara. Wondering what to do in Akihabara? Everything you need to know is in this guide.
Akihabara is what tourists pin on their maps when they want to shop for electronics. Yet aside from these, this place is also the best place to go in Japan for anime, video games, and manga. Let’s discover what you can do in this pulsating neighborhood.
1. Immerse Yourself in Otaku Culture at Electric Town
There’s no better way to start your tour in Akihabara than heading to Electric Town, which is what tourists list as number one on their itineraries.
Located just outside JR Akihabara Station, this street has electronics shops, maid café, and otaku culture venues in every corner. It’s best to explore it on foot to really feel Akihabara’s charm. Don’t forget to take your OOTD or OOTN shots!
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2. Have a Cute Girl Call You ‘Master'
You can get this experience in Akihabara’s maid cafés. If you’re a fan of animes, you’re for sure familiar with Misaki Ayuzawa of “Maid Sama!,” Rem of “Re:Zero,” and Maika Sakuranomiya of “Blend S.” Their characters are maids, dressed in black and white outfits.
These cute girls come to life in Akihabara, serving you delicious food and drinks, and even calling you “master” or “mistress.” At-Home Café, Cure Maid Café, and Akiba Zettai Ryoiki are three of the best maid cafés in Akihabara for first-timers.
3. See the Anime Cars in Person
These anime cars are trending on social – you might have seen them on your feed. As you head to Akihabara, you can finally see these cars in person. They’re named such because they’re plastered with anime characters all over.
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4. Visit the Millennium-Old Kanda Myojin Shrine
Believe it or not, this Instagram-worthy shrine is nearly over 1,000 years old. Kanda Myojin Shrine is dedicated to the gods who protect Tokyo.
What’s more, the shrine is also in collaboration with anime and tech, since it is within Akihabara. You can buy talismans with anime designs and even charms that can bless your electronic devices.
5. Enter a Game Center
With several world-renowned video games either made in Japan or featuring Japanese characters, game centers in this country are clear standouts. Be sure to check out the game centers in Akihabara where you can watch people playing arcade racing or drumming games, or the classic “Dance Dance Revolution.” You may also play them yourself. Who knows? You might even score a plushie toy.
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6. Pop Into Anime and Manga Shops
Anime fans, don’t leave Tokyo without visiting Akihabara. Here, there are a lot of anime and manga shops selling themed items like body pillows, keychains, cosplay costumes, and even school paraphernalia. If you’ve watched that anime, they’ll probably have its merchandise.
7. Visit Yodobashi Akiba, a 9-Story Electronics Mall
How big is the shopping mall in your area? Four floors, five floors? In Akihabara, there’s a mall with nine floors dedicated to electronics. Yodobashi Akiba is a gigantic electronics emporium selling everything from gadgets to electronic home appliances like rice cookers. Electronics everywhere. You won’t ask for more.
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8. Revisit Gaming’s Past at Super Potato
No, Super Potato is not a food market, but a store dedicated to everything vintage gaming. Whether you’re looking for games on the 1983 gaming console Nintendo Famicom or for the Sega Saturn console from 1995, Super Potato has them for you. Though vintage, they’re free of dust. You can play them the way gamers then did.
9. Buy Anime Action Figures
Some fans want to take their love for anime to the next level – they collect action figures of the characters in their favorite shows. If you belong to this group, you’d want to visit Kotobukiya Akihabara, a hobby store dedicated to anime and manga figurines. It’s the largest store of this kind in Akihabara.
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10. Slurp and Munch at a Video Game-Themed Restaurant
The maid cafés are, hands down, the most popular places to eat in Akihabara, but some gaming connoisseurs would want to take the road less traveled. They instead dine in video game-themed restaurants. For instance, if you’re passionate about “Final Fantasy,” you can grab a seat and table at Eorzea Cafe, named after the main setting of the game.
Visiting Akihabara will whisk you away to a district that seems to have popped out of your TV and computer screens, or manga pages. This is the top destination to experience the best of otaku culture.
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