Akihabara electric town — Akihabara Electric Town

Akihabara, or Akiba, buzzes with energy as Tokyo’s paradise for anime and a haven for everything otaku-related. The district is packed with tiny boutiques and massive malls selling figures, trading cards, electronics, manga, accessories, and more. This unique blend makes Akihabara the ultimate pop culture epicenter.

We take you on a tour through Tokyo’s most hectic and colorful area, taking a look at the hidden gems you can find in Tokyo’s Otaku Walhalla.

In this Akihabara Guide

The evolution of Akihabara
Electric Town
Akiba’s Otaku stores
Maid Cafes
The food
How to get to Akihabara

Akihabara main street otaku — Akihabara main street

The evolution of Akihabara

Akihabara's journey from a postwar black market to a technology and subculture hub shows Tokyo's dynamic spirit. Initially a place for black-market electronics parts, Akihabara quickly transformed into a center for Japanese pop culture and technology.

Today, it showcases Japan's innovation and depth of its pop- and otaku culture through a full ward filled with niche shops that range from priceless vintage toys for collectors to second hand cameras. Looking for an obscure figure from a 90s anime? Chances are Akihabara has it, but you’ll have to dig deep.

Akihabara Electric Town

When you step out of Akihabara Station, you find yourself in the heart of Electric Town, the energetic core of Akihabara. This district is renowned for its towering buildings, each packed with shops specializing in anime, trading cards, and video games. The sheer volume of merchandise on display is overwhelming, with striking visuals and sounds bombarding you from every direction. These high-rise buildings double as massive billboards, reflecting Akihabara’s status as a haven for otaku and a hub of Japanese pop culture.

Akibahara’s Otaku stores

Akihabara's cultural significance placed it on the map as the worldwide Otaku oasis, drawing hordes of anime, manga, and gaming fans eager to immerse themselves in Japan's vibrant otaku culture. The district's streets are filled with specialty stores dedicated to anime, manga, retro video games, and collectibles, creating a paradise for enthusiasts seeking to expand their collections.

These shops range from big retailers like Animate, to small second hand resellers tucked away in Akihabara’s alleys. We’ll provide you with an introduction to Akihabara’s otaku stores here. But if you really want to dig deep, our ‘Ultimate Guide to Akihabara Otaku Stores’ is coming online soon.

akihabara at night — Akihabara Main Street at night

Animate

Animate is always a safe bet if you’re looking for anything anime, video games, or manga related. Standing as Japan’s biggest anime and manga retailer, Animate Akihabara opened a renewed location in Akiba in 2022. The location holds eight floors of otaku goodness. Floors B1 until 6 feature popular anime titles, figures, and accessories. Their top floor is an event space where often autograph sessions and talks events are organized.

Mandarake

Again, nothing new if you have been into otaku culture for some time. Mandarake Akihabara is an eight story complex with all kinds of Japanese anime and toy collectibles. Each floor is categorized by theme so it’s easy to find your way. Compared to Animate, Mandarake focuses more on reselling second hand gems and collectibles, ideal if you’re on the look for some unique finds for a good price.

Surugaya Specialty Stores

While not a massive retailer, Surugaya is the absolute ruler of Akihabara. With over seven shops in Akihabara, Surugaya wins the prize for having the most locations in one district. Each Surugaya shop specializes in a different niche, from anime figures and plastic models to game cards. Their collection includes many second-hand items at reasonable prices. The visit to at least one Surugaya store is an experience worth having, even if you’re not looking for anything specific.

surugaya akihabara specialty store — Surugaya Specialty Store

Akiba Cultures Zone

A massive complex with five floors of new and second hand figures and collectibles. Akiba Cultures Zone covers all corners of otaku culture. You can find a full floor dedicated to Japan’s idol culture, a maid cafe, a rental zone for second hand anime figures, scaled train models, and more

Tamashii Nations

As the premium label of BANDAI, Tamashii Nations offers top-quality exclusive and limited-edition figures. Walking through a Tamashii Nations store feels like visiting a museum. The store features mostly new anime figures, with a large collection of Gundam. If you're looking for action figures or other pop culture collectibles like Godzilla, Tamashii Nations is the place to be—if you're willing to pay the price.

These are only a handful of the most well-known and reputable otaku stores in Akihabara. If you want to dive a little deeper into the Akihabara experience, our ‘Ultimate Guide to Akihabara Otaku Stores’ is coming soon.

Maid Cafes

A staple of Akihabara, maid cafes give visitors a fun and relaxing drink or dining experience where waitresses dressed as maids serve with charm and hospitality. The goal of this service is to take all your worries away and bath you in comfort. The maid waitresses treat customers warmly, engage in playful conversations, and perform entertaining activities like singing, games, and magic tricks.

We’re no experts in the world of maid cafes, so we can hardly advise you on the topic or best locations. Just know, Akihabara is the place to be.

at home cafe akiba culture zone — At-Home maid cafe at Akiba Cultures Zone

The food of Akihabara

Gohandokoro Adachi

Gohandokoro Adachi is a teishoku and syokudo place tucked away in the alleys of Akihabara. The owner has been running this business for over 50 years, going back to the days when the black market at Akihabara was still going strong. At Adachi you can enjoy a set meal in a traditional setting, with dishes like fried chicken or stewed vegetables.

adachi akihabara — Gohandokoro Adachi Akihabara

Yaro Ramen

If you’re feeling really hungry, Yaro Ramen has got you covered. This shop often releases limited edition ramen in collaboration with various anime and manga series. They are known for their full and tasty tonkotsu ramen, as well as their legendary monstrous bowls with a mountain of topics, which might be a challenge to eat fully.

Star Kebab

Star Kebab has stood strong in Akihabara’s back alleys for years. This place offers everything you can expect from a kebab place. A straightforward menu with kebab and durum, decent meat, and loads of sauce. A perfect place if you’re in for a quick savory bite.

Robata Ishikura

An old school izakaya in the heart of Akihabara. Robata Ishikura serves both small dishes as well as set meals. Enjoy some stewed beef tendon, fried chicken, or tempura while you’re drinking an ice cold beer in Robata Ishikura.