Top 10 Things To Do In Akihabara

From Anime Stores to Maid Cafe & even renting a boyfriend here are the Best Things to Do in Akihabara Tokyo

Our list of the top 10 places to visit in Akihabara Tokyo from us here at Shidoome Group

Akihabara tokyo

Being only a 25 minute drive from our office in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo we love heading to Akihabara in our free time and on breaks. So we decided to make you a list on our top 10 places.

Why Akihabara?

Akihabara is a buzzing shopping hub with electronics retailers and a wide range of Anime & Manga stores. Anything nerdy you want you can find!

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1. Yodobashi Camera Akihabara: A Large-Scale Electronics Emporium

Yodobashi Camera Akihabara is a nine-story electronics emporium selling all the gadgets and tech products one could ever ask for and more. From Japanese rice cookers to beauty products, Yodobashi Camera Akihabara offers electronic items that are very popular among its customers—both local and overseas.

In addition to home electronics, Yodobashi Camera Akihabara also offers brand-name fashion, as well as a food court located above the main store. With plenty to see and buy, it is easy to spend all day in this building located conveniently in front of Akihabara Station.

2. Shop for Otaku Goods at AKIBA CULTURES ZONE

AKIBA CULTURES ZONE is a six-story department store containing a large number of shops catering to those interested in otaku culture. There are subculture stores such as ACOS, which specializes in cosplay goods, to Rashinban and Animate both offering anime merchandise. Hands down, this is a unique combination of shops you'll only find in Akihabara.

On the first floor, you'll find the AKIBA CULTURE Gekijo, which is a theater where underground idols hold live musical shows. You might catch a sneak peek of the next big idol in Japan when watching the next performance.

3. Pose With Adorable Owls at Akiba Fukurou Cafe

Animal-lovers can take photos and interact with the friendly owls at the Akihabara's Akiba Fukuro Cafe: an owl cafe with raving reviews in Japan. In comparison to other typical animal-based cafes in Japan, the Akiba Fukurou Cafe uses a reservation only system that provides customers with an intimate and fun experience. This system also ensures the safety and well-being of the owls. There are also written instructions and close supervision from staff on proper handling of the owls.

4. Little TGV: Dine at a Railroad-Themed Cafe

While maid cafes are a well-known mainstay in Akihabara, there are other quirky themed cafes in the kitschy electronic and otaku district. Take Little TGV for example. This railroad-themed cafe merges Akihabara’s maid cafe culture with staff clad in train conductor outfits serving up tasty creations. Not to mention that the restaurant is set in a fictional train company coined the New Akihabara Electric Railway.

Customers are seated in booths that were once original train seats where they can order rolled omelets (tamagoyaki) shaped as train carriages and cocktails that mirror the colors of Tokyo train lines, like Cassis Orange for the Ginza Line.

5. Cosplay and Photo Shoot at Studio Crown

Yearning to try out Japanese cosplay, or costume-play, in Japan but are unsure of how to do it? Look no further than the photo shoots at Studio Crown in Akihabara. Suitable for beginners and veteran cosplayers alike, you can choose from a range of cosplay photography plans, with services that including pre-made costumes, personalized makeup support, and selecting the appropriate props.

After getting into costume and makeup, Studio Crown will also provide professional photography services that make a great keepsake. Visitors interested in cosplay should make a reservation, which can be booked via the Studio Crown website.

6. Pray at Kanda Myojin Shrine

Take a break from shopping and visit the Kanda Myojin Shrine, boasting a history of nearly 1300 years, that is believed to house deities that protect the city of Tokyo. Easily accessible from Akihabara, a visit here is a great way to experience a Japanese shrine firsthand.

Due to its close proximity to Tokyo's electronics and anime hub, the shrine itself offers unique anime collaboration merchandise, including a Love Live! School Idol Project good-luck talisman. Not surprisingly, you can also buy a charm that blesses electronic devices!

7. Don Quijote Akihabara

Don Quijote is a Japanese discount chain store with a large selection of products ranging from snacks to cosmetics and clothes to bicycles. Each store has a unique marketing strategy targeting particular customers depending on the location. Don Quijote Akihabara sells comics, anime products, costumes, and also has an idol theatre called AKB Theatre, where one of the most popular girls idol group AKB48 held their first performance in 2005. If you are interested in Japanese idol, it is definitely a must-visit place! Don Quijote is also a great place for buying the best souvenirs to take home.

8. Super Potato Akihabara

Super Potato Akihabara is a store that specialises in selling second-hand video games. Japanese video games are surprisingly popular and have a numerous number of fans all over the world. You can find old video games that will bring back childhood memories and that you probably won’t get to play back in your country, so many people end up spending more time there than they originally expected! On the fifth floor Super Potato also has a vintage video game arcade, a fun activity on a rainy day or any day really.

9. Kyusyu Jangara Ramen

It may sound surprising, but Akihabara has a number of ramen restaurants and is a very competitive ramen area to other famous ramen areas in Tokyo. Kyusyu Jangara Ramen is ons of the most popular among them, and has received many good reviews from (foreign) customers. What makes them special is a menu that includes some vegan ramen such as and Vegan Sho-yu (soy sauce) Ramen. They have only limited number of seats (18 seats in total), so you might have to wait a little bit outside, but it is definitely well worth it!

Kyusyu Jangara Ramen Official Website

10.30am – 11pm

¥600 – ¥1.200

10. Akihabara Gachapon Hall

Gachapon is a vending machine that sells toys in a plastic capsule, another fun souvenir to bring home. You can find it almost everywhere in Japan, especially in amusement arcades or big shopping malls. You can get tiny, good quality toys from ¥100 up to ¥500. You can’t choose which one you will get, so it’s all up to luck, which makes it more exiting! Akihabara Gachapon Hall is a small shop filled with Gachapon machines, and always crowded with Gachapon fans. Don’t forget to bring a lot of 100-yen coins as bills cannot be used for Gachapon machines!