A Local Guide on What To Do and Where to Eat in Akihabara
Akihabara is Tokyo’s legendary Electric Town. Once famous mainly for electronics, this neighbourhood has reinvented itself as the ultimate destination for gamers, anime enthusiasts, and pop culture seekers. Here, you can lose track of time in multi-story arcades, hunt down rare manga or figurines, and step into themed cafés where your coffee comes with a side of cosplay. Yet, beyond the otaku culture, Akihabara also hides tranquil shrines and historic spots that reveal a quieter side of the district. Here’s a guide on things to do in Akihabara, Japan.
What to Do in Akihabara?
Listed below are some of the top things you ought to do at least once:
Dive Into Otaku Culture
Akihabara is an otaku wonderland, a place where anime, manga, gaming, and quirky cafés collide.
For Arcade Games
SEGA Akihabara (multiple buildings) towers arcades with floors dedicated to claw machines, rhythm games, and fighting titles.
Taito Station is a popular arcade chain with classics like Street Fighter and Mario Kart.
Super Potato is a retro gamer’s dream, packed with Famicom, Game Boy, Sega, and PlayStation nostalgia, truly one of the best places to go in Akihabara.
For Anime & Manga Shopping
Animate Akihabara is the go-to for anime fans, with DVDs, manga, merch, and exclusive items.
Mandarake Complex is a giant second-hand treasure trove, offering rare collectables and vintage manga.
Toranoana is known for doujinshi (fan-made comics), manga, and niche collectors’ items.
K-Books Akihabara offers a wide variety of doujinshi, like novels, manga, and magazines.
Kotobukiya specialises in beautifully crafted figurines, Gundam models, and anime character statues.
Radio Kaikan is one of Akihabara’s icons. This complex has 10 floors filled with figurines, hobby goods, and anime collectables.
For Themed Cafés & Otaku Culture
Maid Cafés like Maidreamin are a classic Akihabara experience. Maids in frilly outfits serve food and add a dose of cute charm to your meal.
Don Quijote Shopping
This massive discount chain store is a must-visit. The Akihabara branch is famous for its wide selection of quirky souvenirs, cosmetics, snacks, electronics, and costumes.
Walk Along Chuo Dori
The main street of Akihabara, Chuo Dori, comes alive on weekends when it becomes a pedestrian-only zone. Stroll down and soak up the neon signs, themed cafés, and endless rows of electronics shops.
Try Karaoke
Karaoke is a beloved Japanese pastime. Akihabara has plenty of booths where you can sing your favourite anime openings, J-pop hits, or international songs. Many karaoke lounges offer private rooms, drinks and anime-themed options.
Visit Kanda Myojin Shrine
Just a short walk from the hustle and bustle, this 1,270-year-old shrine blends tradition with modern culture. For anime fans, this is one of the best places to go in Akihabara because of its ties to the Love Live! Franchise.
Explore Yushima Seidō
This historic Confucian temple offers a quiet escape from Akihabara’s energy. Its serene atmosphere, black wooden halls, and philosophical history make it a hidden gem.
Visit Yanamigori Shrine
This lesser-known shrine provides a serene escape from the bustling area, offering a more spiritual experience of the district.
Lastly, Shop for Electronics
Akihabara’s roots are in electronics. You’ll find everything from the latest gadgets to rare vintage parts. Stores like Yodobashi Camera (a massive multi-floor tech wonderland) and small speciality shops are a haven for tech lovers.
Where to Eat in Akihabara
Here’s a list of some of the best places to eat in Akihabara:
Tonkatsu Marugo
A short stroll from Akihabara Station brings you to Tonkatsu Marugo, a spot often praised for serving some of the best pork cutlets in Tokyo. The tonkatsu here is everything you’d hope for: crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside.
Magurobito
For sushi lovers, Magurobito offers a casual yet high-quality dining experience inside the Yodobashi Akiba complex. Despite its conveyor belt format, the restaurant takes great pride in the freshness of its ingredients.
Go Go Curry
This is a classic Akihabara food chain. While this Kanazawa-style curry chain has outlets across Japan, there’s something special about the original Akihabara shop. The dish here is hearty and satisfying, combining a rich, dark roux with shredded cabbage and a perfectly fried cutlet.
Sudacho Shokudo
Sudacho Shokudo is known for its classic Japanese set meals. This place offers not only traditional Japanese fare but also yoshoku, Western-inspired dishes adapted to Japanese tastes.
Yakiniku Motoyama
Famous for its roots in Okachimachi, Yakiniku Motoyama recently expanded to Akihabara, bringing with it decades of expertise in grilled meat. This is the place to go in Akihabara to indulge in yakiniku cooked right at your table, with cuts chosen for flavour and quality.
Toritsune Shizendo
This speciality restaurant takes chicken seriously. Using premium breeds from Akita and Nagoya, our poultry is carefully processed in-house daily to ensure unmatched freshness.
Roast Beef Ohno
Roast Beef Ohno serves a signature donburi (rice bowl) stacked high with slices of tender roast beef, so much so that it resembles a miniature Mount Fuji. The dish is prepared with premium Japanese Black beef and complemented by a range of condiments.
How to Reach Akihabara
Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s most accessible neighbourhoods, well connected by several train and metro lines:
- Japan Rail (JR) Yamanote Line: Alight the JR Yamanote Line and get off at Akihabara Station.
- JR Sōbu Line: It runs across central Tokyo, also stopping directly at Akihabara Station.
- JR Keihin-Tohoku Line: Stops at Akihabara as it runs north–south through the city.
- Subway Hibiya Line: Exit at Akihabara Station for direct metro access.
- From Narita Airport: You can take the airport express trains into central Tokyo and transfer to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Sobu Line to easily reach Akihabara.
Use your Suica or Pasmo IC card to breeze through ticket gates and transfer lines without fuss.
Final Note
Akihabara is a neighbourhood that never fails to surprise. One moment, neon arcades and anime shops surround you, the next, you’re stepping into a peaceful shrine. It’s this unique blend of high-energy pop culture and quiet tradition that makes the area so unforgettable.
If you want to call this vibrant part of Tokyo home, look no further than Weave Place – Kanda East. Just a quick hop from Akihabara, it offers long-term living with stylish apartments, community spaces, and everything you need to feel at home.