Top 9 Things to Do in Akihabara, Tokyo – From Anime Shops to Hidden Shrines

1. Maid Café – The Quintessential Akihabara Experience

At the top of any list of things to do in Akihabara is visiting a maid café—a uniquely Japanese subculture where servers dressed in maid outfits greet you with exaggerated cuteness, chants, and games. It’s playful, bizarre, and distinctly Akiba.

The atmosphere is part performance, part tea party. While the food is secondary to the experience, it’s all about the "moe" factor—anime-style charm and escapism.

📍 Popular Spot: @Home Cafe or Maidreamin
☕ Must Try: Omurice with ketchup art and a magic spell for “deliciousness”
🕒 Tip: Respect the rules—no touching, no photos without permission

2. Game Centers – Lights, Noise, and Competitive Glory

Akihabara's towering game centers are sensory overload in the best way. These multi-floor arcades are packed with claw machines, rhythm games, photo booths, and retro titles that attract both casual players and hardcore pros.

Each floor usually has a theme, from crane games on the ground level to VR, card battle games, and joystick classics higher up. You haven’t really experienced Akihabara until you've lost 1,000 yen trying to win a plushie.

📍 Popular Chains: SEGA GiGO, Taito Station
🕹 Highlight: Taiko no Tatsujin (drum rhythm game) and Street Fighter cabinets
🎮 Best Time: Weekdays to avoid local crowds

3. Electronics Discount Shops – Bargain Hunting for Gadgets

Akihabara earned its nickname “Electric Town” for a reason. The district remains one of the best places in Tokyo to find gadgets, cables, parts, and even obscure tech accessories. From vintage cameras to robot kits, it's a DIY tinkerer’s dream.

While big box stores like Yodobashi Camera dominate the skyline, it’s the narrow backstreet stores like Akihabara Radio Center that offer the real treasure hunts.

📍 Don’t Miss: Akihabara Radio Kaikan and Sofmap
🔌 Best Buys: Phone accessories, retro game consoles, second-hand laptops
💡 Tip: Bring cash—many small stores are still cash-only

4. Anime Shops – Figurines, Posters, and Holy Grails

If you're wondering what to do in Akihabara as an anime fan, the answer is simple: go shopping. Massive multi-floor stores like Animate, Mandarake, and Kotobukiya are filled with rare figurines, artbooks, limited-edition merch, and doujinshi.

Each store caters to different fandoms—from shonen blockbusters like One Piece and Demon Slayer to niche otaku obsessions. Even non-anime fans will find the displays mesmerizing.

📍 Must-Visit: Animate Akihabara, Mandarake Complex
🧸 Hidden Gem: Super Potato (for retro anime games)
📦 Tip: Pack light—you will want to buy things

5. Kanda Myojin Shrine – Tradition in the Otaku Capital

A 10-minute walk from the main chaos lies Kanda Myojin Shrine, a peaceful Shinto temple with a surprising link to Akihabara’s tech and anime culture. Known as the guardian of both samurai and electronic merchants, it blends spiritual tradition with modern reverence.

Anime collaborations frequently occur here, with custom omamori charms and ema prayer plaques featuring characters from Love Live! or Fate/Grand Order.

📍 Location: Near Ochanomizu Station
🎎 Don't Miss: Tech blessing talismans for safe gadget use
🕒 Best Time: Early morning or just before sunset

6. M’s – A 7-Floor Sex Shop Unlike Any Other

Yes, you read that right. One of the most curious places to visit in Akihabara is M’s, a towering adult store with floors dedicated to everything from lingerie and toys to cosplay and kink. While it’s not for everyone, it is incredibly well-organized, surprisingly respectful, and totally legal.

Curious travelers often visit out of intrigue—making it part museum, part retail adventure. No photography allowed inside, but you’ll leave with a story, if not a souvenir.

📍 Location: Chuo-dori Avenue
🔞 Note: IDs not required, but minors are restricted from higher floors
🕒 Tip: Start from the top floor and work your way down—it’s less intense that way

7. Trading Card Shops – Where Fantasy Meets Strategy

The trading card game scene in Akihabara is massive, and even if you’re not a player, the culture is fascinating. Shops are filled with Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and countless Japanese-exclusive games, some of which have values rivaling high-end jewelry.

Locals gather to trade, duel, and hunt for rare cards, and visitors are welcome to browse, watch tournaments, or even pick up a starter deck as a souvenir.

📍 Best Spots: Card Kingdom, Big Magic, Yellow Submarine
💴 Fun Fact: Rare Pokémon cards can cost over $10,000
🕒 Tip: Many shops have tax-free counters for tourists

8. Warhammer Café – Strategy Gaming Meets Themed Dining

An unexpected but fascinating addition to Akihabara is the Warhammer Café, Japan’s first licensed space for the British tabletop franchise. Here, you can enjoy themed drinks while painting miniatures or watching live Warhammer battles unfold.

Even if you’re new to the universe, staff will guide you through painting, lore, and game rules. It’s a quieter escape from the arcade buzz, yet deeply immersive.

📍 Location: Akihabara UDX Building
🛡 Recommended: Try a beginner painting session or watch a live match
🕒 Tip: Book ahead for table space on weekends

9. Gachapon Kan – Capsule Toy Heaven

End your Akihabara adventure with pure whimsy at Gachapon Kan, home to hundreds of capsule toy machines. These little machines are filled with everything from miniature sushi to anime keychains, obscure memes, and weirdly specific animal figurines.

Each machine costs between ¥200–¥500 and offers the thrill of random surprise. Gachapon is the perfect mix of fun, affordability, and bizarre Japanese creativity.

📍 Location: Center of Akihabara Electric Town
🌀 Must Try: Capsule sets themed around Japanese office life or yokai monsters
🕒 Tip: Bring coins—credit cards aren’t accepted

Conclusion: Akihabara Is More Than a Nerd Paradise

Far beyond its neon signs and otaku reputation, Akihabara is a playground for the curious traveler. Whether you're drawn to anime, retro games, spiritual temples, or spicy subculture surprises, this district promises an experience unlike anywhere else in the world.

Make the most of your time by exploring both the obvious and the obscure—and when you’re ready to discover Tokyo like a local, Wabisabi Trips is your expert partner for uniquely curated adventures across Japan.

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