6 Best Things To Do in Akihabara (2023)

A neighborhood abuzz with neon lights, streets soundtracked by the cacophony of video game voice actors, hyper-speed J-pop music, and the excited chatter of passionate fans from near and afar, to call Akihabara a treat for the senses would be an understatement. 

The area known as Akiba to the locals is a go-to for those interested in the nation's biggest modern cultural exports, anime, and manga culture. It's long been one of Tokyo's most popular tourist destinations, and for good reasons; Akihabara is vibrant, sometimes a little silly, great for shopping, and a deep-dive into Japanese geek and fandom culture. Here's a guide to the best things to see and do in Akihabara, an incredibly fascinating pocket of Japan.

Since the COVID pandemic, and even just prior, some of the area's more well-known locations have shut down, so here's a little rundown of how the neighborhood has recently changed. The Sega Akihabara 2, known colloquially as Akihabara's 'Sega Building,' shut down in 2020. Many assume this towering anime-adorned building fell victim partly due to the slowing down of businesses due to the pandemic. In September 2022, one of its what you could call 'sister stores' GiGO also shut down, which the owners say was due to the end of the building's lease. 

The Gundam Café chain, which had outposts in Akihabara, Osaka, Odaiba (Tokyo), and Fukuoka, wrapped up business nationally, so you won't find its cafes anywhere in Japan, including Akihabara where it once stood tall and proud. One final location to mention is the AKB48 Cafe, a cafe and live theater dedicated to Japan's biggest idol J-Pop group, AKB48, which also announced they'd be ceasing business. While it's changing of the guards of sorts, there are still plenty of attractions and Akiharabara-type attractions in the area. 

One exciting thing that did open in recent times is the "Virtual Akiba World," a virtual version of JR's Akihabara Station. A project by JR East, the railway operator behind Akihabara Station, has created a new 3D virtual reality world where users can explore and interact with the station. 

Kanda Myojin Shrine is a traditional Japanese shrine that was originally built in the year 730 and has undergone multiple incarnations over its lifespan, but it did; it's worth noting that it survived the bombings of WWII. Given its location close to central Akihabara, it has become a popular shrine for lovers of all things tech and geeky, complete with talismans designed to bless electronic devices. Beyond the techy features, Kanda Myojin Shrine is where locals go to pray for prosperity, good luck, and marriage. Two of the seven Gods of Fortune: Daikokuten, the god of bountiful harvests and matrimony, and Ebisu, the god of fisheries and business, are enshrined here. Kanda Myojin Shrine also hosts the Kanda Matsuri, one of the city's biggest religious festivals here in May every second year (odd-numbered years).

Akihabara is still, without question, the best place to find all the geek gear you could possibly want. If it's tech you're after, mega electronic stores like Yodobashi Camera and Akihabara Radio Kaikan offer the latest in tech inventions, from the more standard as well as weird and wonderful Japanese gadgets. For the budget shopper, there are also plenty of excellent second-hand stores, like JANPARA, which offers mint-condition electronic items like iPhones, computer parts, cameras, and headphones at excellent prices.  

For books, manga magazines, video games, cosplay items, and figurines, Mandarake Akihabara is a must-visit. The eight-floor complex covers all the bases and offers an impressive selection of hard-to-find vintage items. For that super unique, 'only in Japan' gift, take a look at their 'doujinshi' section, 'doujinshi' are fan-made comics based on typically famous manga or anime; it's like fan fiction on a whole new level. 

If you feel all your sense stimulated by Akihabara during the day, then get ready to be blown away by the area at night. With its towering game centers, vibrant shopping strips, and gigantic neon signs bathing the streets in multicolored lights, there's no place more iconically 'modern Tokyo' than Akihabara at night. Start at Akihabara JR Station and head towards Akihabara Showadori, one of the area's main streets, where you'll get a taste of the sights and sounds of the neighborhood in a hypnotic, almost visually overwhelming style. 

Along the walk, don't be afraid to work your way through the backstreets, taking sneaky alleyways as you'll often find the best-hidden gems. Keep a look out for smaller, secretive stores and restaurants serving up Japanese fast food favorites like gyoza and ramen. If you want to experience the area like a local, pop by for a quiet bite; most ramen shops have a vending machine out front, making the ordering process a little easier.  

An interesting part of Japanese subculture and a symbol of kawaii Tokyo, maid cafes are unique symbols of the novel side of Japanese hospitality and a worthy experience to try, even if it is just once. Akihabara would have to be home to one of the city's more densely populated clusters of maid cafes, thus making it the best place to browse and patronize this distinctly Japanese cafe genre.

Maid cafes are cafes run by girls dressed up in maid outfits, but each cafe has its own theme or aesthetic. There are animal-themed cafes, cafes with J-Pop idol aesthetics to more classical takes on the term 'maid' like Cure Maid Cafe, which was established in 2001 and is known as the 'original' maid cafe. 

Inside, depending on the venue, you can expect a seating charge (separate from a food charge), sweets menus, comfort food like omurice, and plenty of attention – and even a little song and dance – from the maids. As you walk the streets of Akihabara, you'll probably come across maids touting their cafes, so stop and chat and see just what piques your interest.

Tokyo is an excellent walking city. You could easily spend days and days just strolling around the different neighborhoods paying witness to the happenings of everyday life here in one of the world's most densely populated metropolises. If you've seen the neon sights and want a new view of Akihabara, then take a walk along the neighborhood's Kanda River. 

Running from Kichijoji all the way to the Sumida River, the river cuts through some of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, and following it is an easy way to navigate around. Starting at Akihabara Station, you can head east towards Ryogoku Tokyo's home of sumo or west towards Suidobashi and Tokyo Dome amusement park. It's a 'choose your own adventure type of experience, and that's a large part of the fun!

Akihabara has a lot to see and do at night, and if you want to make the most of your time in Akihabara, consider staying a night or two in the area. Dormy Inn Premium Kanda is an affordable, accessible hotel choice great for solo travelers or couples. The facility also has an open-air bath and a sauna for relaxing after a long day exploring this exciting pocket of Tokyo.