First on our list is the Lawson Sotokanda San-chome Store, which is about a 5-minute walk from the Electric Town Exit of JR Akihabara Station. This store is a collaboration of the globally popular Dragon Quest game and the convenience store chain Lawson. The popular Dragon Quest monster Slime is used in part of the lettering on the Lawson signboard.

Dragon Quest themes are used on the vending machines outside of the shop as well as in the interior decor of the store. Looking for monsters you recognize among the many inside and outside the store can be a lot of fun!

Dragon Quest themes are used on the vending machines outside of the shop as well as in the interior decor of the store. Looking for monsters you recognize among the many inside and outside the store can be a lot of fun!

There are "poisonous swamps" and "arrows" on the floor leading to the cash registers, so you can fully enjoy the world of the game just as if you were a hero in it!

Of course standard Lawson products are also sold in the Lawson Sotokanda San-chome Store, but we recommend you buy Dragon Quest products as souvenirs.

This Slime T-shirt can only be bought at official Dragon Quest and Lawson collaboration shops (the Lawson Sotokanda San-chome and Nihonbashi Nansan-dori shops).

It comes in three sizes, S, M, and L, each costing 2,700 yen (including tax). This T-shirt with the face of Slime on the front is perfect for putting you in a Dragon Quest mood.

Slime Sablé is another item available only at official shops. The flavor in the silver colored Metal Slime cans is chocolate while that in the blue Slime can is butter. Each costs 1,512 yen (including tax).

These products are so popular that on the day I visited only one Metal Slime can remained. I recommend you get one if they are available.

These cute items are Smiling Slime Stuffed Toy Magnets and they come in different colors, perfect for collecting. The blue color is Slime, the orange color is She-Slime, and the yellowish-green one is Lime Slime. Each costs 950 yen (including tax).

The Smile Slime Carabiner, 1,080 yen (tax included), also seems to be very popular. It is a popular souvenir as a key holder and would be the perfect gift for a friend who is a Dragon Quest fan.

This Smile Slime Smartphone Case, 3,240 yen (tax included), would be a great souvenir for yourself. It has an adhesive pad to hold the smartphone in place and the case measures 142 mm by 75 mm and is 10 mm thick.

Another recommendation to enable you to further enjoy the world of Dragon Quest is the Dragon Quest Good Luck Plate. You can purchase one by inserting two 100-yen coins.

There are 3 design types: (A) Slime & Lotto Mark for overall good luck; (B) Healslime & The Philosopher's Stone for good health; and (C) Jewel Bag & Little Medal for luck with money. The C type is only available at Lawson.

Next on our list is the Akiba Gift Shop. It is only a few seconds walk from the Electric Town Exit of JR Akihabara Station. It is located on the 1st floor of Radio Kaikan, long a popular landmark of Akihabara.

You can't miss it because it is just on the left-hand side when you enter the main entrance of the building. Even if you are short on time you probably still want to buy some souvenirs! So if you are pressed for time, you can jump in here and get something at the last minute.

The Akiba is unusual for Akihabara because it is a gift shop that offers a wide array of Tokyo and Akihabara souvenirs. There are always between 1,000 and 1,500 items on display including original items only available in this store. Here you can find items that truly are representative of Akihabara! There are lots of exciting products recommended for souvenirs here.

The most popular is the Moe Moe Maid-san printed cookie; a box of 12 costs 594 yen (including tax). This product is only available at The Akiba.

The package illustration was drawn by the cartoonist Botamochi Botan. Each individually wrapped cookie is printed with illustrations of cute maids and the Japanese characters for "Akihabara" and "Moe" making this a masterpiece of Akihabara uniqueness.

Equally popular is the Maple Cheese Cake Found in the City. A box of 20 goes for 1,080 yen (tax included). It is an excellent product that won the Gold Medal at the 26th National Confectionery Exposition. There are other regional-themed “Cheese Cake Found in [location]” sweets.

This package is an Akihabara limited version based on that theme. The illustration of the maids is cute and many customers buy it to commemorate their visit to Akihabara.

The cake is moist and fluffy with a cream center that is so smooth it melts in your mouth. Each cake is individually wrapped and can easily fit in the palm of your hand. These make great gifts for sharing with those in your workplace once you return.

Another popular item is the Kanda Myojin Omanju; a box of 16 of these bean-paste buns costs 648 yen (tax included). These bite-sized buns are filled with white bean paste. This product also is only available at The Akiba.

The illustration on the package is of a shrine maiden holding a fortune slip which is both very Japanese and Akihabara-like at the same time!

There are also sweets using popular Japanese anime characters, such as Doraemon, for their motifs, and these are quite popular with foreign tourists. Pictured is the Doraemon Chocolate Cream Sponge Cake; a box of six costs 810 yen (including tax).

If you like Japanese anime, then be sure to check out other sweets such as the Senzu [Hermit Bean] that appears in the Dragon Ball series and character-themed water bottles.

Other very popular souvenir items among foreigners visiting Japan are the various types of Kit Kat. Those with Japanese flavors, such as matcha and wasabi, are especially popular.

At The Akiba you can find lots of sweets unique to Akihabara and Japan!　By all means visit if you are looking for some really great souvenirs!