📝 1. Overview
Akihabara, or “Akiba,” is Tokyo’s otaku wonderland—where anime, retro games, PC parts, maid cafés, and limited-edition figures fill every multi-story building. It’s the global HQ for techies, gamers, collectors, and curiosity seekers. From back-alley gachapon machines to giant electronic megastores, this electric town blends nostalgia and cutting-edge with unmatched intensity.
🌟 2. Highlights
🎮 Super Potato – Retro game paradise (Famicom to PS2, plus playable demos!)
🖥️ Yodobashi Camera Akiba – 9 floors of electronics, gadgets, and game centers
🧁 Maid Cafés (like @Home Café) – Kawaii overload + “moe moe kyun” shows
📦 Akiba Cultures Zone – Figures, doujin, idol shops & events
📸 Akihabara Radio Kaikan – Figurines, model kits, anime collectibles
🎧 Chuo-dori Street (main strip) – Neon signs, arcades, cosplay flyers everywhere
🗺️ 3. Zones in Akihabara
| Sub-Zone | Description |
|---|---|
| Akihabara Electric Town | Streets lined with electronics shops, from megastores to parts shops |
| Yodobashi Camera Akiba | Giant electronics department store with floors of tech & toys |
| Mandarake Complex | Multi-floor treasure trove for manga, figures, and retro items |
| Animate Akihabara | Popular anime merchandise shop with limited goods |
| Don Quijote Akihabara | 24/7 megastore with cosplay, goods, snacks & the AKB48 Theater upstairs |
| Maidreamin / @Home Café | Famous maid cafés where staff serve with cuteness overload |
| Super Potato | Retro gaming paradise—classic consoles, games, and nostalgia |
🎟️ Admission & Booking
| Attraction/Café | Price / Min. Spend | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Maidreamin / @Home Café | ¥700–¥1,500 entry + order | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Super Potato | Free (store) | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Yodobashi Camera | Free (store) | 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Mandarake Complex | Free (store) | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
🎟️ 4. Tickets & Passes – Popular Attractions
| Attraction | Price (Adult) | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Super Potato (game museum floor) | Free | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Akiba Cultures Zone (events) | Varies (¥0–¥3,000) | 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Maid Café Entry (e.g. @Home Café) | ¥600–¥800 + order | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Gachapon Hall (Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan) | From ¥200/turn | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Yodobashi Camera Game Floor | Free | 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Kanda Myōjin Shrine | Free | 24/7 (best early morning) |
🔵 Maid cafés have time limits + seating charges. Reservations recommended on weekends!
💡 5. Tips
🎧 Bring cash—many niche shops still don’t take cards
🎮 Super Potato = must-visit for retro lovers (3F game demo corner!)
📦 Sundays = Chuo-dori becomes pedestrian-only (12–5 PM)
🎀 Be polite to cosplayers / maids—photos only with permission
📸 Best cosplay photo spot: side streets near Don Quijote or Gamers HQ
🍽️ 6. Must-Try Foods in Akihabara
🍛 Kanda Curry (Go! Go! Curry) – Rich, pork cutlet-loaded Japanese curry
🍳 Omurice at Maid Café – Draw your own ketchup design!
🍜 Tsukemen @ Menya Musashi or Kanda Ramen Street – Noodle dipping heaven
🍡 Anime-Themed Café Desserts – Limited collab menus often appear
🍢 Conbini Snacks + UDX Food Court Bento – Quick, cheap, otaku-friendly
🏨 7. Hotel Areas (Why Stay Here?)
🛏️ Akihabara Station Front
→ Walkable access to everything, perfect for tech/event fans
🎓 Kanda / Ochanomizu Border
→ Quieter vibe, cheaper stays, still close to Akiba core
🎮 Akiba UDX Complex / Crossfield
→ Business hotels with game-themed amenities sometimes
✳️ Capsule hotels here often have anime themes or game lounges—great for solo otaku travel！
🚗 8. Access
📍 From Airports
- ✈️ Narita (NRT) → Akihabara: ~55–70 min via Keisei Skyliner + JR
- ✈️ Haneda (HND) → Akihabara: ~35–50 min via Keikyū + JR
📍 Getting Around
🚇 JR Akihabara Station (Yamanote, Chūō-Sōbu, Keihin-Tōhoku Lines)
🚇 Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
🚶 Easy walk to Kanda Shrine, Ueno, and even Asakusabashi
🌐 9. Contact / Info
📞 Akihabara Tourism Office: +81 3-5298-0243
📍 Akihabara UDX 2F (near JR Electric Town Exit)
🧭 Otaku guides, maps, events & Akiba-only merch info available！t, a retro gamer, or a curious traveler, Akihabara offers a thrilling dive into Tokyo’s electric heart—with neon lights, fandom, and endless discovery.