Akihabara is heaven for otaku people. An otaku means a person who is obsessed with anime, manga, idols or video games. The area has many stores where you can find something for every otaku type: cosplay outfits, character plushies, idol goods, game centers and much more! This article introduces you the best 15 otaku places you just have to go in Akihabara!
1. Tokyo Anime Center
The Tokyo Anime Center is an exhibition space which hosts various anime related events and displays anime related items. There is also a shop which sells anime merchandise like stationery and toys. Those include special products which cannot be found elsewhere. There is also an English speaking help desk inside the center.
Information
- Address: 101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda, Sotokanda, 4−14−1
- Opening hour: 11:00
- Closing hour: 19:00
- Website: http://www.animecenter.jp/
2. Animate
Animate is one of the biggest retailers of video games, anime and manga goods in Japan. The store in Ikebukuro is the oldest branch in Japan, opened in 1983. You can find all kinds of goods from popular anime and manga series: figures, books, badges, pins, small apparel items, posters, pillows, keychains, phone straps, stationery, stuffed plushies, cards, as well as drinks and food.
Information
- Address: 4-3-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 21:00
- Website: https://www.animate.co.jp/shop/akihabara/
3. TRIO
TRIO is a store specializing in selling second-hand idol goods. If you are a fan of J-pop music, this is the place for you! The shop is filled with AKB48, Arashi, KATTUN and other idol bands’ merchandise such as Tshirts, bags, pictures, posters, penlights and uchiwas. All the items are official and in very good condition most of the time!
Information
- Address: 64-0001 Tokyo, Nakano, 5 Chome−52−15
- Opening hour: 12:00
- Closing hour: 20:00
- Website: http://aki-on.com/eng/hobby/h-idol/1596/
4. Gachapon Kaikan
The Gachapon Kaikan in Akihabara is a gachapon toys heaven. A gachapon is a little encapsulated toy that is randomly received from a machine after inserting money. There are over 400 gachapon machines to choose from. New toys are added each month, keeping the machines always up to date with the latest popular anime series and characters. A capsule toy usually costs 200-300 yen.
Information
- Address: 3-15-5 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-0021
5. K-Books
K-Books is a store that concentrates around anime and manga-related books like cosplay publications, manga series, novels, illustrations and doujinshi (fan-made manga). There is also a small section with idol goods where you can find merchandise from popular bands like Arashi.
Information
- Address: 1-15-16 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021
- Opening hour: 11:00
- Closing hour: 20:00
- Website: https://www.k-books.co.jp/
6. Cospa Gee
Cospa Gee is a store specializing in cosplay outfits. You can find already made costumes for all characters from popular anime series. The store also sells accessories like wigs and other items used by characters. There are also Tshirts with anime characters for those who want to showcase their favorite series but don’t want to go as far as cosplaying.
Information
- Address: 01-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−10-11
- Opening hour: 11:00
- Closing hour: 20:00
- Website: http://cospa.com/
7. Yodobashi Camera
Yodobashi Camera is a shop that mainly sells electronic goods, but the 7th floor of the Akihabara branch is dedicated to toys. You will find stuffed animals and toys from famous anime series as well as general merchandise with famous mascots. The prices at Yodobashi are sometimes lower than those at other shops, so be sure to check this store first!
Information
- Address: Kanda Hanaokacho, １−1
- Opening hour: 9:30
- Closing hour: 10:00
- Website: http://www.yodobashi.com/
8. Gundam Cafe
The Gudam Café is a paradise for the Gundam anime series lovers. The popular anime showcases giant robots in military settings. The café in Akihabara serves all kinds of meals and cocktails based on the characters. There is also a screen where you can watch scenes from the series and a store where you can buy Gundam related merchandise.
Information
- Address: Tokyo, Chiyoda, Kanda Hanaokacho, 11
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 11:00
- Website: http://g-cafe.jp/english/
9. Sega Game Center
The Sega Game Center is a typical gaming area packed with crane machines and games. There is also a purikura photo corner where you can take pictures while dressed in costumes (500 yen per costume). Purikura are photo booths where you can do a fun photo session with friends. You can then decorate the pictures and add text.
Information
- Address: 1-11-11 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 23:30
- Website: http://tempo.sega.jp/am/akiba-new/
10. Taito Game Center Hey
Yet another gaming establishment, the Taito Game Center Hey is divided into seven floors: the basement floor contains purikura booths, the first and second floors have crane games while the rest of the floors are packed with all kinds of video games.
Information
- Address: 1-10-5 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku Tokyo-to, Hirose Building Floors 1-4
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 24:00
- Website: http://mcha-jp.com/12496#####
11. Mandarake
Mandarake is the large store that focuses on second-hand anime, manga and idol items. You can find products such as manga books, cosplay items, figurines, pillows, stationery, badges, posters, keychains and much more. In addition, there are also male and female idols merchandise that are sold at concerts like penlights, uchiwas (fans with the idols’s faces), CDs, DVDs and other small items.
Information
- Address: : 3-11-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 20:0
- Website: http://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/
12. Tora no Ana
Tora no Ana is a manga store which mainly sells doujinshi comics. There are three such stores in Akihabara: The Flagship Shop, which has the most products, Akihabara Store B, which has a floor exclusively for women and Akihabara Store C, the core shop. The stores have a telephone interpretation service in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Chinese.
Information
- Address: 101-0021 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda, 4 Chome−3
- Opening hour: 1o:00
- Closing hour: 22:00
- Website: http://www.toranoana.jp/shop/akihabara/
13. Book Off
Book Off is a store that specializes in second-hand books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and games. You can find cheap fashion magazines, books from all possible fields, city maps and guides, photo albums, movies, dramas, video games and music.
Information
- Address: Kanda Sakumacho, １−6−4
- Opening hour: 10:00
- Closing hour: 23:00
- Website: http://www.bookoff.co.jp/
14. Tam Tam
Tam Tam is a hobby shop that sells vehicle and plane related toys. There are endless shelves with toy cars, planes and model trains. Even if you are not into this kind of hobby, you should still give it a try. There are a lot of toys modeled after famous Japanese trains that you can buy as souvenirs!
Information
- Address: 101-0021 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda, 6 Chome−14−2
- Opening hour: 11:00
- Closing hour: 21:00
- Website: http://www.hs-tamtam.co.jp/
15. Akb48 Theater
The Akb48 Theater is the place where the famous J-pop girl group performs. They rotated in smaller groups and have a performance every few days. The tickets are sold only through the fan club, but if you’re a fan of the group, they are ways to get tickets even if you are not part of it. See the group’s website for more details!
Information
- Address: 101-0021 Tokyo, Sotokanda, 4−3−3
- Website: http://www.akb48.co.jp/
Enjoy Akihabara!
Have a good trip and travel!
