Mecca of Electronics and Otaku | Tokyo
Featured Destination on our Anime Japan Tours and Tokyo Game Show Tours.Akihabara is the name for the area around Akihabara station in downtown Tokyo, often referred to as Akiba by the local Japanese people. Sometimes called Akihabara Electric Town, the area is well known for selling a wide variety of electronic goods, mainly focusing on household electronics. Once computers became widely available to the public, specialized stores for computers were integrated into the area as well. Although more recently (and arguably more well-known today), Akihabara has become the center of otaku culture in Japan and most of the stores you find will be related to anime, manga, and/or video games. Attracting anime enthusiasts every day, it is no surprise to see people in cosplay walking along the streets as they shop in Akiba. Many of the stores in Akihabara cater to anime and cosplay enthusiasts with great outfit accessories, exclusive Japanese video games, and limited edition collectible anime memorabilia. Find great exclusive anime and video game goods while traveling through the anime capital of the world.
Premier Figurine and Model Kit Store
With the increase of foreign visitors, Akihabara has expanded its variety of stores to include department stores such as Tamashii Nations Tokyo, Yodobashi Camera, Sofmap Amusement Store, and Don Quijote chains as well as food selections in certain parts of the area.
Our Tokyo Game Show Tour and Anime Japan Tours will take you to Akihabara, Pokemon Center, Ghibli Museum, and more. Enjoy the world of game / anime with Japan Deluxe Tours.
>>View the 2022 Anime Tour Schedule
>>View the 2023 Anime Tour Schedule
Maid Cafes and Anime Game Themed restaurants
Another big part of "Akiba" culture are the maid cafes that are located all over the area with a number of the "maids" handing out flyers, looking for any potential customers. Note, most maids do not allow their photos to be taken due to corporate or personal reasons. Therefore, maids cannot take pictures when handing out fliers or while working.
And Akihabara has numbers of unique themed cafes and restaurants, and they are popular tourist attractions today such as
"MONSTER HUNTER" BAR,
LUIDA'S BAR,
Final Fantasy Eorzea Café, and Square Enix Cafe.
With more tourists and locals visiting Akihabara each day, the area has become a great destination to spend a day during a Tokyo tour.
Cosplay Shops in Akihabara, Tokyo
If you are looking for figurine, manga or games, there are absolutely everywhere in Akihabara and it is not difficult to find at all but the cosplay stuff is just a little bit more hidden away. At ACOS Akihabara, they have a good selection of costumes, accessories, and props. They are a bit expensive but the quality is good and it is a really good investment. You have never seen so many wigs in all the anime hair colors. There is a row of wigs for all the girls from Love Live from both seasons. Don Quijote in Akihabara has a unique floor filled with cosplay outfits and accessories, too. If your budget is low and you feel like buying cheap stuff, try coming to Mitsubado. Of course, the items here are used goods, but the quality is still good and there are lots of cosplay equipment that are very wearable. This shop can be an alternative if you want to save money.
<em>Akihabara Travel Guide</em><br>Recommended Anime Activities
There's plenty to do and see while in Akihabara, especially when travelling on an Anime vacation package with Japan Deluxe Tours. For a few suggestions on what to check out during your tour, why not consider:- Animate: Anime Shop specialized in character goods, manga, video games & CD's, and other limited-edition anime products.
- SUPER POTATO: Retro Arcade Shop selling Vintage Video Games
- SEGA Arcade: Popular Japanese Arcade Chain operated by SEGA.
- Maid Cafe: Come home to maids waiting to serve you coffee and snacks. Akihabara is also home to numerous anime-themed & animal cafes as well.
- Gacha Gacha Machines: Buy a few inexpensive souvenirs for friends back home from these capsule machines.
- Mandarake Japan: Popular Anime Store selling rare anime collectibles.
- Akihabara Culture Zone: Massive Building filled with Anime shops, cafes, and technology.
Need a bit more ideas on what Anime Spots to See in Tokyo? Check out our Extra Anime Tour Spots Blog to discover more info on Tokyo's Anime Culture