Akihabara. Photo by akmaryaakub

Akihabara is Tokyo’s electronics/gaming/anime/geek area and a bit crazy. On our first visit on a weekday afternoon it was busy busy and full of noise and flashing lights, and when it started to get dark and all the neon was turned on it was like being in a movie. It’s definitely worth a visit just for the atmosphere.

When we returned to Akihabara in 2010, we found it was way more about anime and maid cafes than Nintendo and geekery. Even the gashapon are mostly full of anime and boyband stuff now instead of cool Zelda and Super Mario toys.

The area is a bit of a maze so it’s really hard to explain where the shops are, but most of the ones below are in the back streets behind the main street. Turn left at the Club Sega building and explore around there. Make sure you have some time spare for a good wander  (and a play in the arcades!).

My Akihabara Highlights

Super Potato
Multi-floor shop of retro gaming awesomeness. See my full post.

Kotobukiya
Sells toys and collectibles including opened blind box toys so you can get the ones you want without buying 20 random boxes!

Aso Bit
There are quite a few branches in Akihabara selling everything from kawaii toys and computer games to Pullip/Blythe doll parts and huge Gundam models. The biggest one has a basement lined with rows of gashapon!

JeansMate
Has a lot of kawaii stuff, including blind box toys and machines that give you big stickers for ¥100.

What else to see?

There are are also loads of electronics shops selling hi-tech gadgets and toys of all kinds, gaming and DVD stores and big arcades where you can play stuff like Mario Kart and DDR or torture yourself with claw machines. And of course, there’s a lot more crazy stuff – you’ll find lots of people dressed up outside the station trying to get you to visit the maid cafes and other madness.

Some of the blind box toys I picked up.

Robot under the bridge.

Gashapon! Photo by jiji~punch

Akihabara at night. Photo by Manish Prabhune

Getting Around

Akihabara is on the JR Yamanote Line and just a few stops away from Tokyo and Ueno stations. Take the Electric Town exit to find all the goodness.

Map

There is a good map and guide to anime and gamer shopping in Akihabara at Orochinagi.

Last updated: 14 June 2011