Akihabara in one day: a route for first-timers
A morning-to-night plan through Tokyo's electronics and anime district, with what each kind of shop sells, café rules and how to save on tax.
Akihabara is small enough to walk end to end in fifteen minutes, but dense enough to fill a whole day. Most of it sits along one main avenue, Chuo-dori, and the narrow streets behind it.
Getting there
Take the JR Yamanote or Sobu line to Akihabara and leave by the Electric Town exit. The Tokyo Metro Hibiya line also stops nearby. Most shops open between 10:00 and 11:00 and close around 20:00 to 21:00.
Morning: the big multi-floor stores
Start near the station, where the tall buildings have a different theme on every floor. A typical stack: phone accessories on the ground floor, figures and plush in the middle, trading cards and model kits higher up. Take the lift to the top and walk down.
- New figures are sold in sealed boxes at list price.
- Prize figures (made for arcade crane games) are cheaper and often sold loose.
- Secondhand shops grade both the figure and the box. "Box damage" can cut the price a lot.
Midday: lunch and Chuo-dori
The streets around the station have plenty of ramen, curry and beef bowl shops for under ¥1,500. On many Sunday afternoons Chuo-dori closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian street.
Afternoon: retro games and side streets
- Retro game shops stack cartridges by console, from Famicom to the PlayStation era.
- Check region compatibility. Japanese games may not run on consoles from other regions, and older consoles need a power converter outside Japan.
- Electronics parts shops in the arcades under the railway sell components, cables and tools.
Evening: arcades
Multi-floor game centres stay open late. Crane games take ¥100 coins and change machines are on every floor. Rhythm games and photo-sticker booths are usually on separate floors.
Themed café rules
- Expect a cover charge per person and a time limit, often one hour.
- Photos of staff are usually not allowed or are sold as a paid option.
- Ignore street touts who approach you. Pick a café yourself.
One-day checklist
- Physical passport for tax-free.
- ¥100 coins for arcades and lockers.
- A foldable bag. Figure boxes add up quickly.
- Your list of must-buy items, with prices checked online before you go.
