Things To Do in Akihabara: Explore Tokyo’s Nerdy Hub

With the exception of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, few areas in Tokyo are as famed as the Akihabara neighborhood of Chiyoda Ward. 

Once monikered the “Electric Town” due to its abundance of discount electronic shops, Akihabara has morphed into a haven for nerds of all varieties. Whether you’re into anime, manga, gaming or maid cafes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

So if you want some ideas of what to do in the cultural hub of Akihabara, keep reading!

If you’re looking for new or secondhand electronics, there’s no better place than the original Electric Town. Along the main Chuo Dori street, hundreds of electronics shops offer everything from the newest computers and electronic parts to vintage goods. 

Yodobashi Camera is a megastore on the east side of Akihabara Station, though if you have time, it’s worth strolling through the specialized chain stores Sofmap and Laox, as well as the independent shops down the side streets. 

Do be sure to have a translator app to confirm the voltage of whatever you purchase is compatible with your country of residence.

If you’d rather leave the planning to someone else, joining an Akihabara tour is the best way to go. Our Akihabara food tour host Adam is a self-described “Akihabara Aficionado” and will take you to a maid cafe, an anime store, a local shrine, an arcade and no less than three different street food vendors and restaurants. 

All gamers in Japan should make a pilgrimage to Super Potato if you have the chance. A three-floor video game shop, this complex is like a Donki (Don Quijote) for gamers, chockful of vintage video games and equipment. 

The top floor has a retro arcade with games costing ¥100 per round, making for a fun way to spend a rainy (or miserably hot) afternoon. The bottom two floors are dedicated to vintage video games, gaming consoles and gaming-related merch. 

No surprise here, there’s a lot of Nintendo!

Although you might think of Tsukiji Fish Market as the best place to eat sushi, you can also try your hand at making sushi with a professional chef right in Akihabara. 

Don a white coat and learn how to prepare vinegared sushi rice, cut seafood and mold the sushi rice to fit your fish. After enjoying the fruits of your labor, you’ll receive a certificate of completion to remember the experience by. 

What better dish to have in the cultural center of Akihabara than ramen? 

Expand your knowledge of this beloved Japanese noodle dish with a professional ramen chef and restaurant owner just a few minutes away from Akihabara Station. 

Put on your chef’s attire, learn how to make the perfect broth, boil the noodles, dress with toppings and, finally, dig into your hard-earned bowl of ramen. 

If the passionate crowds of otaku (nerds) in Akihabara don’t have you buzzing already, why not participate in a sake tasting? 

Located just a short walk from the station, you’ll immerse yourself in sake culture as you taste up to three different kinds, learning from your instructor the different characteristics and flavor profiles of sake, as well as what snacks to pair them with. 

Take a break from the streets of Akihabara and go on a sake-fueled journey!

Mandarake is an eight-floor shopping complex and a must-visit for collectors. Each floor caters to a different fandom, including Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Nintendo, anime and more. Everything from merch, toys, retro games and consoles are available for purchase, so make sure you leave room in your suitcase.

Note that the store is open from midday to 8 pm, so you’ll have to find other ways to occupy the morning. Luckily, we have a few more ideas on that front.

Want to try yakiniku but don’t love the price tag? Pay a visit to Ushihachi for the tastiest, most cost-effective black wagyu beef. 

No matter how much you spend on anime or gaming merch, you’ll be able to afford a decadent meal after a long day of shopping and gaming. 

Gachapon Kaikan is home to 450 different capsule toy machines (called gachapon in Japanese), with around 50 new series installed every month, ensuring you won’t be bored even if you spend hours here. 

Win keepsakes such as Sailor Moon merch, Pokemon, or things a little more on the weird side that you wouldn’t find anywhere but in Japan — imagine a keychain with your favorite jingle from the Yamanote Line or cats with sensitive tongues spitting out various drinks. There truly is something for everyone.

Dine below the tracks of Akihabara Station as you play a full range of arcade games at Tokyo Video Gamers. Ordering a single dish off the cafe menu or cocktail list at the bar grants you access to the video games, including retro arcade machines featuring Space Invaders, Rampage, Street Fighter II and The King of Fighters ’98. 

Pair your drinks with nibbles like french fries and chicken nuggets, or make a meal of it with a more substantial burger or pasta dish. Save room for dessert between fights, because ice cream, frozen strawberries or the staff special of that day may be calling your name.

Anime fans may recognize Kanda Shrine from the program Love Live!, wherein Nozomi Tojo is a shrine maiden. 

Another reason to pay a visit? Kanda Myojin enshrines three deities, two of which belong to the Seven Lucky Gods. If you want to pray for wealth or the success of a new business, this is the place to come. 

Just outside the shrine are plenty of street vendors, making this a great spot for late-night eating. The shrine is illuminated at night, so if you get the chance to see it then, we recommend it.

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Japan, you’ll know that vending machines are absolutely everywhere. Let’s just say the vending machines in Tokyo, though, don’t always contain snacks or drinks. 

Whether it’s a can of hot pot, yakitori, a hanko stamp (a printed signature device), idol cards or edible insects, hunting for the weirdest vending machines you can find is a fun way to embrace the unique culture, especially in Akihabara. 

Considered the birthplace of maid cafes, Akihabara is the top destination for themed cafes. Try out Cure Maid Cafe, the Victorian-inspired Pioneer or perhaps you might like the feline maid-themed Akiba Zettai.

Akihabara UDX is a foreigner-friendly complex with a movie theatre, shops, foreign cuisine restaurants and, most importantly, a famous car garage for car otakus. See what people are driving in Tokyo at this three-level parking garage! 

Looking for more ideas of what to do in Tokyo? Check out the best places to eat in Akihabara, things to do in Ikebukuro (another haven for otaku), and where to eat while you're there. 

Akihabara is always worth visiting if you love anime, manga, video games, Japanese idols or maid cafes! It's also one of the best places in Tokyo to find great deals on tech and retro consoles.

Akihabara is popular as the go-to spot for otaku, "nerds" who are passionate about anime, manga, video games and Japanese culture. It's also loved by tourists of all kinds for offering a glimpse into the neon-lit side of Japan.

If you're hunting down specific video games or anime merchandise, it's easy to spend half a day or more in Akihabara, hopping between arcades, video game shops like Super Potato, and anime merch shops like Mandarake or Animate.

There are also plenty of places to relax and eat between shops, from savory spots to Instagrammable sweets. You may never want to leave!

If you're looking for the iconic backdrop of Akihabara lighting up the night's sky with its glowing billboards, neon-lit storefronts and anime ads, you likely want to come here at night. But honestly, you'll have fun here at any time of day.