Akihabara blog — The fullest Akihabara travel guide for first-timers

When you think of Japan, you will immediately think of cherry blossom seasons, the picturesque landscapes of Mount Fuji, and bustling, crowded neighborhoods like Akihabara – the most famous electronic district in Japan. In this article, we will accompany you to the land of the rising sun and explore this neighborhood!

So, is Akihabara worth visiting, what to do in Akihabara and how to plan a budget trip to Akihabara for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Akihabara travel blog (Akihabara blog) with the fullest Akihabara travel guide (guide to Akihabara, Akihabara tourist guide, Akihabara city guide, Akihabara guide) from how to get Akihabara, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Akihabara to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Akihabara Neighborhood – A must-visit attraction in Tokyo, Japan (#akihabara blog)

Akihabara is a district in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo. It is located about 15km from the city center. After World War II, this place officially became the busiest shopping center in Tokyo with electronic products and household goods. In addition, this place is also frequented by Anime and manga fans. This place is home to many Japanese anime-style maid cafes.

The excitement is the first feeling that welcomes you when you arrive at Akihabara electronics district. The neighborhood is famous for its electronic stores that are close together to welcome guests continuously, illuminating this neighborhood with the LED lights from sparkling signs arranged crowded on high and the characteristic neon lights that make the street stand out and more prominent.

In the Akihabara neighborhood, you will have the opportunity to see and visit the Otaku-style electronics stores – the style for anime, manga enthusiasts, etc. Meet many people dressed up as Anime characters and stroll the streets, areas reserved for enthusiasts who are passionate about Japanese animation and the country’s manga culture.

When is the best time to visit Akihabara? (#akihabara travel blog)

Located in the capital city of Tokyo, the best time to visit Akihabara is the most beautiful time in Tokyo – namely from March-May and September-November every year. These are the two times when the Tokyo weather is relatively cool, very suitable for sightseeing as well as outdoor activities, and this is also the time when Tokyo hosts many festivals and events so you can combine to participate in.

How to get to Akihabara? (#akihabara travel guide)

To get to Akihabara neighborhood, you can travel by subway:

Take the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line if departing from Ginza or Roppongi (#akihabara blog)

If you’re coming from Ginza: you’ll take a train from Ginza Station to Akihabara Station. Travel time is about 12 minutes and costs about 165 yen.

If you are departing from Roppongi, the travel time will be around 22 minutes and it will cost about 195 yen.

Take the JR line if departing from Shibuya, Shinjuku or central Tokyo (#akihabara travel guide)

If you’re starting in central Tokyo, you can take the Keihin Tohoku Line to get straight to Akihabara Station in 4 minutes for around 133 yen.

If you are at Shinjuku station, take the Chuo/Sobu train line. Specifically, you will take the Chou line to travel from Shinjuku station to Ochanimizu station. You will then take the Sobu line to transfer to Akihabara station. Travel time is about 16 minutes with a cost of about 165 yen.

If you are departing from Shibuya, you can take the Yamanote Line to go directly to Akihabara Station. Travel time for this route is about 27 minutes with a cost of 194 yen.

Take the Tsukuba Express if departing from Asakusa.

You can take the train to travel via the Tsukuba route, it takes about 5 minutes for about 206 yen.

What to do, where to go and interesting experiences in Japan’s most famous electronic town – Akihabara (#akihabara travel guide)

Coming to the most famous electronic district in Japan – Akihabara, you will have the opportunity to visit, take part in activities and experience interesting things here such as:

Check-in with streets with colorful billboards (#akihabara guide)

If you are a photography enthusiast, you will be extremely excited to visit the Akihabara neighborhood. With colorful billboards crammed overhead, you will have extremely artistic Japanese street photos. No need to prepare clothes too carefully, the scene here also makes you stand out in the photo frame. In particular, you can also choose to cosplay as Anime characters to take pictures, which is also very awesome because there are many young people dressed up around, so you can confidently take pictures without being afraid of people watching.

Visit Animate Akihabara store for girls only

Address: Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 4 Chome−3−1 2号館 秋葉原西口ビル 1号館
Hours: 11AM–9PM

If you are female or want to buy gifts for female friends, go to Akihabara Anime store. This place specializes in selling all kinds of magazines, comics, women’s games… very diverse. The products here will surely captivate many girls who are passionate about Anime, Manga,… so don’t miss it when you come to Akihabara electronic town!

Shopping in Comic Toranoana (what to do in akihabara)

Toranoana specializes in selling publications such as comic books, DVDs, CDs, and others for young Japanese people. Products in Toranoana are rich for you to choose from.

Walking around Akihabara at night (#is akihabara worth visiting)

At night, this electronic town will be covered with sparkling colors from electronic stores. Dubbed as the busiest street in Japan, you will surely have an enjoyable and experiential walking tour of Akihabara with your friends.

Visit the Yodobashi Akiba chain of stores

This is a famous chain store in the Akihabara neighborhood that specializes in selling goods from famous brands. Here you can find a wide variety of fashion, cosmetic, electronic,… If you are a fan of shopping, this is a paradise for sightseeing and shopping that you can go all day without tiring your feet.

In addition to the experiences mentioned above, you can also participate in many other interesting activities such as visiting Myojin Shrine Kanda built in the 10th century, dining at Maid Cafe, participating in Mario kart on streets…

Where to eat in Akihabara? (#is akihabara worth visiting)

Food is one of the indispensable experiences when coming to Akihabara. Here are some famous restaurants that many tourists love when visiting Akihabara, let’s find out with us!

Nemurian

Address: 16-4 1-chōme, Kanda Sudachō Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to, 101-0041, Japan
Hours: 6–9:30PM/Saturday; Sunday: Closed

Nemurian is a shop that specializes in selling soba noodles, sake, and tofu. The products in the store are prepared with traditional methods, so they are especially delicious. The store is relatively small, has a close architecture but is very crowded, so if you just want to order food, you should order online through the website to save time.

Kintarou Sushi

Address: 20 2, 2-, Kanda Sudachō Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to, 101-0041, Japan
Hours: 5–9PM/Sunday: Closed

Kintarou Sushi is a sushi restaurant near Akihabara station. The restaurant is quite cheap, located at the intersection of the neighborhood, so it is quite crowded. The food at the restaurant will be served according to the season, spring will often have sushi made from tuna, summer is Haruko fish, autumn is Kashima Nibiso with super delicious salmon soup.

Yukari

Address: 1 14, 4-, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to, 101-0021, Japan
Hours: 11AM–11PM

Yukari is a restaurant that specializes in Japanese okonomiyaki. Here guests will prepare their own meals on a giant plate that radiates heat. This dish is often served with beer or cocktails, so you can order a combo to get a better price. The shop has a spacious space, so it is very suitable for gathering, so you can stay with your family and friends!

Gyu no Tatsujin

Address: 3 4, 4, Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to, 101-0021, Japan

This is a restaurant located near Akihabara that specializes in delicious grilled dishes. The shop has a spacious space and has many combos as well as many friends to serve large groups, so it will be ideal for gathering friends.

Tachinomi Kushigin

Address: 8-4 1, Kanda Sakumachō Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to, 101-0025, Japan

This shop mainly serves Japanese grilled skewers with surprisingly low prices. You can eat until full without spending too much money. Located in front of Akihabara Station and next to Washington Hotel, you can drop by and bring in yakitori skewers to eat while waiting for the train. Reasonable venue for a late night snack.

Where to stay when traveling to Akihabara?

A comfortable accommodation to stay will give you more energy to experience an exciting Akihabara trip. Here are some cheap, high-quality, affordable Akihabara hotels that you can refer to:

APA Hotel Akihabara-Ekikita

Address: 1-29-2 Taito, Taito, Akihabara, Tokyo, Taito, Japan
Room rate reference: from $85/night

APA Hotel Akihabara – Ekikita is a 3-star hotel located about 455m from Akihabara Station. The hotel is located right on the street front and features a modern luxury look. The hotel’s room system is fully equipped with amenities to help guests have moments of rest comfortably.

You can check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara

Address: 5-1-6 Ueno, Taitol-ku, Akihabara, Tokyo, Taito, Japan
Room rate reference: $87/night

Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is a 3-star hotel that received high rates from many travelers for its quality. The hotel is located less than 500m from Akihabara station. The hotel owns a minimalist style with a green, cozy and close space.

You can check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Nohga Hotel Akihabara Tokyo

Address: 3-10-11 Sotokanda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Kanto, Japan
Room rate reference: from $145/night

Nohga Hotel Akihabara Tokyo is a 4-star hotel designed with a minimalist architectural style with cozy brown tones embellished with fresh green from trees. The hotel owns a diverse system of rooms for individuals and groups of friends with a very chill restaurant and coffee space.

You can check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

bnb+ Costelun Akiba – Hostel, Caters to Women

Address: 3-7-11 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Kanto, Japan
Room rate reference: from $30/night

bnb+ Costelun Akiba – Hostel, Caters to Women is a good price 2-star hotel located about 500m from Akihabara station. The hotel owns a dormitory room with a small room space fully equipped with comfortable beddings. If you want a cost-effective Akihabara trip, this is the ideal hotel that you can consider.

You can check rates, reviews and book on Klook.com

Check out more top and best hotels in Akihabara on Agoda.com or Booking.com

What to know before traveling to Akihabara?

• Planning carefully your Akihabara itinerary, so you can see as many interesting places here as possible.
• Bring cash in different denominations to facilitate the visiting around Akihabara at night.
• Do not forget to learn a little basic Japanese as well as a phone with Google translate app for convenience in the process of communicating with native speakers.
• Buy JR Pass in advance to take some public transport in Japan with minimum travel cost.

After learning a little about Akihabara electronic town, are you excited about this famous sightseeing spot? Definitely, let planning a wonderful trip to this vibrant district on your upcoming trip to Japan!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Looking for best autumn spots in Japan? Read here. And Kyoto here. And top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo travel blog — The fullest Tokyo city guide for a budget trip for the first time visiting Tokyo, Japan.