Akihabara, or Akihabara Electric Town, is one of Tokyo's most iconic districts, often referred to as the ultimate anime and electronics mecca. The place is particularly famous for its well-lit, neon roads and is a paradise for technology, gaming and anime enthusiasts. Be it the enthusiastic collector of rare figurines or the tech-savvy shopper searching for the latest gadgets, this district has it all. Here are the top places to visit in Akihabara in Tokyo.
Also known as Namco Game Center Akihabara, this is a well-known complex that has six floors of entertainment. It is famous for gaming, anime and electronics. The first two floors of Namco are filled with crane games, where you will find figurines and character toys; many of them are special to Namco. On the third floor, you will find rhythm arcade games, including eight Taiko no Tatsujin drum machines. When you go up to the fourth floor, you will be overwhelmed by the 800 or so gachapon (capsule toy machines), where you can win fun little trinkets. Also visit the Deck Stadium located on the fifth floor to buy Bandai's collectable trading cards and to take part in a card game battle. Don't miss the chance to visit the basement, which is entirely dedicated to Gundam video games.
Address: 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−15−9 いちご秋葉原駅前ビル B1~5F
If you are a gamer and looking for a place in Akihabara where you can drink while playing games, then you must check out this bar and restaurant under the train tracks near Akihabara Station. Tokyo Video Gamers is a haven for free arcade games with a full bar and cafe menu. It is even approved by big gaming companies like Sega, Bandai and SNK, who collaborated with the bar on special craft beer. If you want to play games here, then simply place an order from the menu and you will get access to all the games in the bar.
Address: 〒101-0022 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Neribeicho, 13−1 SEEKBASE 1-9
Mandarake Complex is one of the largest and best-known chains of secondhand eight-floor stores in Japan. Each floor has its own theme and dedicated fanbase, and you can find anime, manga, figures, video games and other otaku (anime and pop culture nerd) things here. Fans of Japanese pop culture frequent it because it contains an enormous variety of collectable items, many of which are rare and hard to find elsewhere.
Address: 3 Chome-11-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021
Yodobashi Akiba is one of the biggest and most popular electronics megastores in Akihabara. It is a nine-story department store offering a wide variety of products, ranging from consumer electronics to home appliances, video games, computers, mobile phones, cameras, toys, and even anime goods.
Address: 1-1 Kanda Hanaokacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0028
Akihabara Animate is a flagship store of the Animate chain, one of the largest and most recognised retail chains in Japan that specialises in anime, manga and related merchandise. This store is an iconic destination for anime and manga enthusiasts and is well-known for offering a comprehensive range of products tied to Japan's vibrant pop culture.
Address: 4 Chome-3-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021
