From the second you step foot into Akihabara, you will be greeted with brightly lit neon lights, music coming from every corner, and the sights of hundreds of people looking to buy the latest goods. Starting from JR Akihabara Station’s Electric Town Exit, you can find a variety of arcade game centers, electronic shops, cafes, and a variety of restaurants to choose from.

One of the first places to check out is Akihabara Radio Kaikan, where you can find a variety of electronic and anime related goods. Right next door, test your luck at one of the many UFO machines at the SEGA arcade! There are tons of popular game, anime, and manga themed goods to win!

After winning your share of prizes at the arcade, head on over to the Akihabara Kotobukiya shop to check out the latest game and anime figures and merchandise! If you are feeling a little retro, you can quickly swing by Super Potato to check out the relics of gaming past. On the other side of the station is one of the biggest electronic goods shops in Japan: Yodobashi Camera Akihabara! Loaded with the latest and greatest tech and goods, the Yodobashi Camera Akiba shop offers 9 floors of shopping goodness as well as a variety of restaurants to choose from on the top floor! Though, if you want to really enjoy a good meal, we suggest you head on over to Mai:lish, @home cafe, or Maidreamin for an exciting experience at a maid cafe!

Museum lovers are in luck! There are many museums spread all throughout the Tokyo area, with a few in Akihabara and the surrounding areas! First off is the Origami Kaikan, located a few blocks from Akihabara or Ochanomizu Station. Here you can participate in origami-folding classes and entry is free! On the other side of Ochanomizu Station, you can find a darker view into the past at the Meiji University Museum. Here you will find torture and physical restraint tools from Japan and other countries, along with many archaeological items excavated in Japan.

Back in the Akihabara area, you can find 3331 Arts Chiyoda, which opened in 2010. The name 3331 expresses the rhythm of the Edo era Ipponjime hand clap, a traditional Japanese custom used to express gratitude.

Not quite known for their shrines, Akihabara has a few places that are definitely worth a visit on your next time in Tokyo. Starting off, make sure to head out to Kanda Myojin where you can experience a fusion of Japanese tradition with anime influences. The shrine is known in their area for their unique festivals and events that draw many people, from businessmen and -women to otaku!

Next, we have Yushima Seido, a temple that dates back to the late 1600’s. It has a long scholarly history and was a school that used to be managed by the shogunate and is considered as the birthplace of modern Japanese education. Lastly, we have Nikolai-do, which is not a shrine or temple in the traditional sense, but has become a landmark in the area for its Byzantine-style cathedral and plays a central role in the area.