Akihabara (秋葉原) is almost a world of its own – one where 2D characters adorn billboards and soundtracks from the season’s hottest anime are pumped through every one of the neighborhood’s speakers. This is the stomping ground of the otaku (geek), and whether you’re a geek for anime or electronics, you’ll find everything you want and more here.
Otaku Central
The first place you’ll want to go is Chūō-dōri. This is the main street lined with arcades, electronic stores, manga (comic book) shops, maid and cosplay cafes, and everything else an anime fan and otaku might be into. Grab a copy of the latest manga series and character merchandise at Animate, one of Akihabara's most well-known manga stores; snag a coveted figurine at Akihabara Radio Kaikan; or just have a look around at all the capsule toys, plushies and other merchandise on display.
Akihabara’s Roots
Before its streets were flooded with manga and merchandise, Akihabara was better known as Electric Town. In the post-war years, the neighborhood emerged as the place to go for radio parts and other electronics, when radios were an essential part of daily life. The popularity of Akihabara as an electronics destination later paved the way for larger shops dealing in consumer appliances, when TVs and washing machines came along in the 1960s. To catch a glimpse of Akihabara’s humble beginnings, head to the retro shopping complex Akihabara Radio Center near the station – it’s a remnant of those postwar-era shops that today sell electronic parts, walkie-talkies and other vintage tech.
