Akihabara (Japanese: 秋葉原) is located around Akihabara Station in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo, Japan. Akihabara gained the nickname Akihabara Electric Town (秋葉原電気街 Akihabara Denki Gai) for being a major shopping area for household electronic & anime goods .

Currently, Akihabara is considered by many to be an otaku cultural center and a shopping district for video games, anime, manga, and computer goods. Icons from popular anime and manga are displayed prominently on the shops in the area, and numerous maid cafés are found throughout the district.

A special note for a greater experience is visits on Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street is closed to car traffic from 1pm to 6pm ( until 5pm from Oct to Mar )

Big Chain Stores Highlights & Must Goes!

There are many big stores at Akihabara and these are some of the recommended places to go for great budgets.

If you are love gadgets you will love Akihabara and there are a huge range of small and big electronic shops. If you are looking for big and branded computer items do pay a visit to the big electronic store below:

Yodabashi Camera

Opens from 9:30am to 10pm Daily, this 9 story building sells everything from computers, cameras, videos games, toys, fashion, stationery, shoes, gifts and more. It has everything for both genders and a must visit for all tourist.

Don Quijote

Opens from 9am to 5pm daily, Don Quijote is a discount store chain that carries everything from toys, fashion, groceries, sweets, stationery and electronic goods. Also note on the 8th floor of the store is the pop group AKB48 which has daily shows at (3000 yen). A great place to visit for great bargains and gifts

Akihabara Junk Street

If you are looking for really cheap electronic goods, you do not want to miss out the secret Akihabara just behind the busy main road. Well known selling lots of used and new electronics. You can find really cheap bargains along the Junk street.

Akiba Cultures Zone

If you are fan of Anime figures and looking for great deals you want to check out this building great cheap collectibles all in one nice building. Guides seldom talk about this place as it’s a hidden gem only locals would know and visit. It also has the largest selections of preowned figures for sale too.

Mandarake

Opens daily 12pm to 8pm. It is described as one of the largest manga and anime shop. It has a branch in Akihabara and it is a must go for people looking for rare and collectible manga, figures, posters, CDs, dolls and other types of manga related goods.

Cheap Eats At Akihabara

Highly recommended if you are on a tight budget and want good food, we highly recommend to check out Saizeriya. During their lunch hour, it comes with free unlimited drinks and coffee. It’s located along the main road with the map location below:

Other Cools Places To Visit

• Softmap – 10am to 9pm ( sells Apply products, used computers and more )
• Laox – 10am to 7pm ( lots of tax free items but might be expensive in price )
• Yamada Denki – 10am to 10pm ( runs the LABI store selling computers and household products )
• Maid Cafes ( cosplay themed restaurants – warning not cheap )
• Super Potato – 11am to 8pm ( sells all types of video games )
• Gundam Cafe – 10am to 10:30pm ( Gundam themed cafe )
• AKB48 Cafe and shop – 11am to 10pm
• Square Enix Cafe Tokyo – 9am to 10pm ( Located just below Yodobashi Akiba building for Final Fantasy fans! )

Getting To Akihabara

Akihabara Station is served by the JR Yamanote Line, the Tsukuba Express, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Sobu Line and the Hibiya Subway Line. Suehirocho Station on the Ginza Subway Line is located around the northern end of the district.

From Tokyo Station – Cost About ¥140 ( 4 minutes to reach )

Akihabara is two stations north of Tokyo Station by JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line.

From Shinjuku Station – Cost About ¥140 ( 4 minutes to reach )

Take the JR Chuo Line (orange colored rapid service) from Shinjuku to Ochanomizu Station (10 minutes) and make a transfer to the JR Sobu Line (yellow colored local service) for one more station to Akihabara (2 minutes)