Akihabara District

Walk through Akihabara's neon-lit streets and you'll find massive electronics department stores like Yodobashi Camera, retro gaming paradise Super Potato, and the 10-story Radio Kaikan packed with anime merchandise. Stop at @Home Cafe to experience maid cafe culture, or challenge locals to a game at the SEGA arcade building, all while surrounded by giant anime character murals and LED screens lighting up the district.

Getting Around Akihabara

Take the Electric Town Exit at Akihabara Station (JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, or Hibiya Subway Line) to reach the main shopping area. You'll find most shops within a 10-minute walk from the station, centered around Chuo Dori street. On Sunday afternoons, Chuo Dori becomes car-free from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 October through March).

Electronics and Gaming Paradise

Start at Yodobashi Camera's nine floors of electronics, where you can test the latest gadgets or buy computer parts. Walk down the side streets to find small shops selling specific components and vintage equipment. Gaming fans should head to the SEGA arcade building for modern games, while Super Potato's three floors hold classic Nintendo and Sega consoles from the 1980s and 90s. Play retro arcade games on Super Potato's top floor, where original cabinets from Space Invaders to Street Fighter II line the walls.

Anime and Manga Shopping

Browse Radio Kaikan's ten floors, starting with collectible figures and trading cards on the lower levels before heading upstairs for manga and DVDs. At Mandarake Complex, each of the eight floors focuses on different genres of second-hand manga, games, and collectibles. Look for limited edition items and rare collectibles in the smaller shops along the backstreets.

Unique Cafe Experiences

Try a maid cafe where staff dress in maid uniforms and play games with customers while serving snacks and drinks. Many cafes require advance bookings and charge entrance fees separate from food costs. Read manga at one of the many manga cafes, or play games while eating at themed restaurants decorated with life-size anime character statues. Most cafes open from 11:00 AM until 22:00.

Best Times to Visit

Watch cosplayers and street performers on Chuo Dori during car-free Sunday afternoons. Shop with smaller crowds before 11:00 AM when most stores open. Most shops close between 20:00 and 22:00, though arcades often stay open past midnight. The district gets particularly crowded during anime conventions and gaming events throughout the year - check event calendars before your visit to either join in or avoid the biggest crowds.