Akihabara

Akihabara, also called Akiba, is a home for electronics. It has many electronic shops ranging from tiny one-man stalls to large electronic retailers. In fact, the main JR train station gate into Akiba is called “Akihabara Electric Town Gate”.

Doesn’t sound like anime does it?

Well, that’s because Akihabara is not just anime – but over the years the growth of maid cafes, animate stores, Taito game stations, and other otaku destinations have made Akiba the center of Japanese otaku and anime culture. There are dozens of stores specializing in manga, anime, figurines, and other collectibles have emerged in Akihabara. Below is the list of otaku attractions Akihabara that makes the place home of otakus.

Maid Cafes

Maid cafes are cosplay-themed stores with waitresses dressed as a maid or an anime character. While serving food, maids interact with customers with respect and care. The biggest chain of maid cafes, maidreamin, has multiple shops in Akiba, to make them very easy to find, each with its own maids and some with distinctive themes.

Other maid cafes may be more interesting, as the maidreamin experience is similar across cafes, so we also recommend checking out the many other cafes like @home cafe and pinafore.

Tokyo Anime Center

Hours: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Tokyo Anime Center has anime exhibitions and hosts anime related events. It also sells toys and souvenirs.

Radio Kaikan

Hours: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Radio Kaikan’s building was rebuilt last 2014. Despite its name, Radio Kaikan has nothing to do with radios. It actually features more than 30 stores selling electronics and anime-related products.

Super Potato

Hours: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Super Potato is a video game store. It is a shop that specialized in retro systems and all types of video games.

Gamers

Hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

The store offers a wide variety of items, which range from magazines, DVDs, and CDs to character goods.

Mandarake

Hours: 12:00 nn – 8:00 pm

Mandarake in Akihabara specializes in pre-owned goods and sells rare and collectible mangas and other manga related goods.

Tsukomo Robot Kingdom

Hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Tsukomo Robot Kingdom is the first specialist robot store in Japan. It sells robot building parts and components, ready-made robot toys, and DIY robots.

Gundam Café

Hours: 10:00 am – 10:30 pm

Gundam Café is inspired by the popular Mobile Suit Gundam anime series. It provides food and snacks that are Gundam-themed, like the Gundam robots-shaped Manju. Aside from food, there is also a gift shop that sells character souvenirs.

These are only some of the otaku attractions in Akihabara. It’s a lot, right? So, there is no questioning why Akihabara is the center of Japanese otaku and anime culture. This is a must visit place!