Top 100+ things to do in Akihabara

Hanabusa Inari Shrine

The little Shinto shrine hidden deep in Akihabara.  Visiting this place makes you a true Akihabara Insider.

Maid Cafe JAM Akihabara

Maid cafes can generally be divided into three broad categories: classic, moe, and girls bar.  JAM is one of the oldest classic style maid cafe. They staff wear a maid style uniform, but they operate like a normal cafe, with a daily special and occasional collaborations. Their prices are reasonable and they don't have an entrance fee.

Kanda Myojin Shrine

This is a very large Shinto shrine near Akihabara with lots of events going on throughout the year. They have a gift shop with souvenirs and even snacks.  There are areas where people have hung up ema prayer board with their wishes on them, and since it's near Akihabara, they often have artistic manga-style illustrations added.

Super Potato Akihabara Branch

A very popular vintage video game shop that has lots of hard to find games and consoles.  This has become very popular and well known with tourists lately, so it might be crowded at times.

Creepy Vending Machine Corner

In Kanda Sudacho, near the old Niku-no-Mansei building, is an old building with a lot of very strange vending machines in it. It also has a lot of signs posted with strange messages, including various warnings against people who litter or vandalize the location.  In the old days the building still had a sign reading "Takumi Lining Shop", so it was clearly once part of the button and lining district in that area. In addition to an odd variety of items in the vending machines, there are also "emergency food kits" wrapped in paper with odd, disturbing short stories printed on the outside.  Be aware that if you buy these, you're buying the stories, as the items on the inside are generally just cheap snacks.  This is more of a place to go to contemplate the mystery than to do a lot of shopping. But some of the unique items would make interesting souvenirs.

Walk along Chuo-Dori

This is the main street running north-south in the Akihabara area.  Along this route are numerous restaurants, cafes, retail shops, souvenir shops, etc.  You'll see lots of people dressed up and handing out fliers or holding up placards encouraging people to visit bars and restaurants - but be cautions about any place that uses touts to get customers.  On Sundays the section of the Chuo-Dori in Akihabara closes to vehicle traffic to allow full access to pedestrians.  But, be sure to get off the main street and explore the side streets as well.

Cutie Relax - Maid Reflexology

After walking around Tokyo for a while you may have sore feet or a sore back.  There are various massage and reflexology places in the are, but the one I recommend is Cutie Relax, which I have been to several times now.  There are also a few places that present a less wholesome aesthetic, so do some research before going into a random massage or reflexology shop.

Cutie Relax is on the 2nd floor of the Yamayo Building

Maid Road

A road running parallel to the Chuo-Dori to the west, with more pedestrian traffic than vehicles. You can often see many girls in maid outfits (and other cosplay) advertising their shops. There are also many popular retail shops along this road, such as Kotobukiya, Akibaoo, MaiDreamin, Super Potato, and the Akiba Cultures Zone Building.

Quiet moment on Maid Road in the evening

Platinum Fish

Platinum Fish is a restaurant on the upper floor of mAAch ecute, the former location of the Manseibashi train station, open for lunch and dinner.  You can watch trains on the Chuo line zip past you on both sides.

mAAch eCute

Located in the old Manseibashi train station, this charming shopping mall is fun to explore, with shops, restaurants, and coffee shops, both on the inside, and along the building's southern exterior. Note: pronounced maachi ekyuuto.

Yodobashi Akiba

It's easy to lose a whole day in Yodobashi Camera. There are multiple food vendors outside on the first floor. Inside, there are multiple floors of electronics, accessories, and stationary products.  On the 8th floor there are a veriety of restaurants, and on the 9th floor is a golf driving range.  It seems like no matter what time of day I go in, it's dark by the time I get out, even if I didn't buy anything.

Live Street Performers

The heyday of live street performers in Akihabara was the mid 2000s, where you could find both amateur musicians and known performers of anime and game music performing their songs in front of Yodobashi Camera near Akihabara station. Eventually they cracked down on street performances in the Akihabara area.  But you might still come across some live performers near the station in the evenings.

Itasha

On weekend evenings you can usually find highly decorated cars with cute anime and game characters on the outside, and even more character goods on the inside. These are called 痛車 (itasha), literally "pain car", or maybe, "cringe car". It's fun to see how many you can find and photograph.

Kotobukiya

A great shop with multiple floors of character goods from movies, animation, and games, and even some snacks.  They can also handle Duty Free purchases for more expensive items. Its big, but no so big that you will spend your whole day there.

Rainy Day Specials

If it's a rainy day, don't let that stop you from enjoying the area.  In fact, many places have rainy day specials to encourage customers to come in. This might be a discount, or double points on a point card.  Check social media for places you are thinking of visiting and see if they have anything on offer.

Rainy Day on Maid Road

Collectible Figure Shopping

This can't be limited to one specific location, since it's all over Akihabara. From claw machines to anime goods shops to gachapon, whatever property you are a fan of, you can't walk far without finding a shop selling figures of some kind.

Hanei-dō Bento Shop

Hanei-dō is a long time bento lunch box shop that lasted through many of the changes the area has seen, and its history predates the booming shopping district of Akihabara. In fact the sign on the shop, 御生菓子 繁栄堂 (Onamagashi Haneido) means "Fresh sweets - Haneido", from the early days when it produced traditional Japanese confections. Open just for lunch on weekdays, a limited number of bento boxes are produced each day. There are photos and articles inside that relate the history of the shop.

Akiba Cultures Zone

This 5-story building has multiple shops, and shops within shops, and even small showcases rented out displaying assorted goods for sale. Shops sell everything from anime goods, manga, cosplay, idol goods, CDs, trading cards, etc. It also has a live theater in the basement - Akiba Cultures Theater, and an At-Home Maid Cafe location on the 5th floor.

Zettai Ryōiki

Zettai Ryōiki is a moe style maid cafe with cute outfits, cute dishes, and song and dance performances from the staff.  While not as big and well know as other moe style cafes like At-Home and Maidreamin, it still has its charm and is tourist friendly. It has an admission charge of 600 yen, which is much more reasonable than the "girl's bar" style maid cafe & bar businesses. They actually have multiple locations in Akihabara.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki is one of the best Japanese snack foods. They are little balls of batter griddle-cooked with octopus and other ingredients inside. There are a number of takoyaki stalls in the area that the piping hot snacks that are worth trying.  The dedicated street stalls usually make them better than the bar snack version.

Vie de France

Little French cafe with a lot of bread options, sweet and savory. Great place to go for breakfast. It also has lunch and dinner options. It's also popular on social media, for some reason, where people like to stop by in the afternoon and check to see if any bread items have fallen in the front window.

Update: Vie de France has recently been remodeled, with acrylic backing on the pastry shelves now, decreasing the chance of items falling off the backs of the shelves

Yanagimori Shrine

A quiet little Shinto shrine south of the Kanda river, with tanuki and fox statues. Smaller and quieter than Kanda Myojin, this is a good place to go to relax.

Cure Maid Café

The first permanent maid cafe, Cure Maid started in March of 2001 in what is now the MN Building, and later to move to the Onoden building. It is a "Classic" style maid cafe with long maid dresses, no stage shows (although they occasionally have musician collaborations) and no complicated pricing systems.

Café Mai:lish

Another one of the oldest maid cafes, this place opened in 2002, and even today, there is no table charge, and the time limit is 90 minutes, so you can take your time here. This is also one of the first maid cafes I visited personally.

Café Mai:lish in 2006

Café Mai:lish in 2023

Jonathan's Akihabara

A great place for dinner with friends. You can try their family restaurant cuisine and go back for refills at the drink bar. Connected to Akihabara Station.

Nadai Fujisoba

A 24 hour soba noodle shop that's a great place for a late night meal. Often the first place I go to eat after arriving in Japan. There are lots of options for toppings and sides. You order via the vending machine at the front of the store. The ordering system has gotten even easier lately: you used to get a ticket that you took to the cook inside, but now the order goes directly to the kitchen so you just have to watch for your number.  Customers help keep the place running smoothly by getting their own water, returning their dishes to the tray return, and wiping down their space with the damp cloths when they are finished.

Mandarake

A place to buy and sell dojin comics.  There are also a lot of vintage collectibles for sale.

UDX and Akiba ICHI

The UDX building has various shops and restaurants, including some specialized tourists shops.  Akiba ICHI is the part of the building with the dining options, and has a wide selection of restaurants with Japanese and Western cuisine.

Sit Along the Banks of the "Akiba Kamogawa"

On the west side of the UDX Building are a series of wide steps where people sit and rest or eat lunch. This location has become known as the "Akiba Kamogawa" or "Tokyo's Kamogawa", named after the famous river bank in Kyoto where people sit and enjoy the view of the river. Unlike the Kamogawa in Kyoto, where it's mostly couples sitting together, in Akihabara, it's nearly all single people.

The Akiba

This gift shop in the first floor of the Radio Kaikan building, just outside of Akihabara station, has a large variety of gift boxes with Japanese and Western confections, often with cute characters or themes from popular anime.  I usually wind up getting around 90% of my souvenirs from this shop.

Akihabara Station Sobu line platform shops

If you mostly use just the Yamanote and Keihin Tohoku lines, or if you just make your way directly to the train, you might miss the multiple shops, restaurants, and vending machines on the Sobu line platforms at Akihabara station. You can find shops selling flavored milk, amazake vending machines, a steak curry restaurant, a New Days convenience store, and more.

Daily Yamazaki

Daily Yamazaki doesn't get talked about as much as Seven Eleven, Lawson's, or Family Mart, but it's probably my favorite Japanese convenience store.  It has a wide variety of bread products, many of which are fresh made and hot, both sweet and savory varieties.  Ready made sandwiches are also available.

There's a related store, Yamazaki Y Shop, on the ground floor of Claire Kanda building, that is only open weekdays during business hours, that has even more of a mom and pop feel, serving hand-made sandwiches and onigiri.

Since it's near the Yamazaki headquarters, there are multiple Daily Yamazaki businesses within a small area, forming the Yamazaki Triangle. Urban legend claims that no other convenience store can exist within this territory. This seems to hold true even if you include the Yamazaki Y Shop.

MOS Burger

Hot and fresh hamburgers. I nearly always get the default "MOS Burger" selection from the menu.  I make at least one visit to MOS whenever I'm in Japan.

Hangry Joe's Tokyo @ 12 Kanda

The first Japan location of the international fried chicken chain, Hangry Joe's, is on the ground floor of the new 12 Kanda Building. In addition to their usual fried chicken items, it has some localized Japanese selections like black chicken curry.

Basement popups @ 12 Kanda

In the basement of the 12 Kanda building they have multiple food court style cooking stations that house various popup kitchens. These are usually simple items like baked good, beverages, and simple meals. These are open on specific days during the work week, so check the signs that are set out, and the schedule posted on the entrance of the basement floor. There is also a small room open to the public for enjoying your purchases that looks it doubles as an employee breakroom for the building tennants.

Akiba Tolim

Another good place to shop connected to Akihabara station. There are a lot of shops including a MUJI with everything from clothes to snacks. There are also several restaurants.

Niku-no-Mansei

The family restaurant at the Niku-no-Mansei Meat Building had one of the best views of the Chuo-Dori in Akihabara, but it has since closed. However there are still a some locations in the area, including one on the Chuo-Doir, that still have the menu selections, if not the view.

Niku-no-Mansei Vending Machines

While the Niku-no-Mansei Meat Tower might have closed, the vending machines across the street are still operational, where you can still get the pork katsu sandwich and hamburg katsu sandwich. Not the cheapest place to buy these, but it's fun for the experience.

Felicie

Felicie is another maid massage business, with spacious, well-decorated, exam rooms, with a traditional Japanese feel, a separate consultation room, and something of a more formal atmosphere that other maid massage places. The prices are still fairly reasonable. However, English language support is a bit more limited, so knowing a bit of Japanese is recommended.

Hot or cold milk tea from a vending machine

In Akihabara there is usually a vending machine within your line of sight, and they usually have milk tea.  A cold milk tea can be refreshing in hot weather. And a hot milk tea in cold weather is even better, since there are machines that sell hot drinks as well.

Vending machines with hot and cold beverages

Gamer's

One of the most iconic Akihabara shops for otaku goods, this place has several floors of manga and character goods.

Pie Mania

A relatively new pie shop open in the east-west passage of Akihabara station, they have several varieties of apple pie worth trying.  I recommend the matcha variety.

Kanda Fureai Bridge

A great shortcut over the Kanda river, and also a great view for photos of the Kanda river and Yanagimori shrine. Originally built for use during construction for the rail bridge over the river, it was so popular it was made permanent.

Kamikaze Style Akihabara

A shop for military surplus and unique t-shirts.  You are sure to find some t-shirts here that will be a conversation starter back home.

Amanoya

A traditional Japanese sweet shop near Kanda Myojin. This is the place to go for hot amazake in the winter. Amazake is a sweet rice drink that is a byproduct of the sake making process, but contains no alcohol (or a negligible amount).  If you are going to Kanda Myojin it's worth stopping by.

Crepes

One of the favorite sweet snacks in Akihabara, there are multiple stalls to get fresh crepes.  There is even a crepe vending machine near the Radio Center.

Mansei Bashi

Another great location for photos of the Kanda River, especially in the evening. This is the bridge where the Chuo Dori passes over the Kinda River.

Volks Hobby Paradise

While the Volks location nearest Akihabara Station has closed, Volks Akihabara Hobby Paradise 2 is still in operation. A great place for the latest collectibles and hard to find items. They have lots of anime and game character goods.

Don Quijote

One of the most iconic shopping locations in Akihabara, and around Japan, Don Quijote is like a combination of Wal-Mart, Spencer's Gifts, and an airport souvenir shop. They have groceries, snacks, clothes, travel goods, and novelty items. There is an At-Home Cafe maid cafe on the 5th floor, and the AKB48 Theater on the top floor. One of the best places to buy Japanese Kit-Kats.

Akihabara Radio Kaikan

Another iconic shopping location, it has a variety of different shops for books, character goods, dolls, and souvenirs. Take the elevator to the top floor and work your way down.

Game Centers

Even with all the Sega locations moving out, there are still lots of game centers you can visit for video games and UFO machines.

Onoden

Onoden has various electronics shops, as well as cosplay and anime goods shops. It's also the location of Cure Maid Cafe, the first permanent maid cafe in Akiahabara, open since 2001.

Gachapon

Gachapon machines are spread all over Akihabara, even inside the train station. But perhaps the most well know Gachapon locations is Akihabara Gachapon Hall.

Visit the Birthplace of the Maid Cafe

Back in 1999, what is now the MN building was one of several Gamer's buildings, and the 6th floor was an event space. From July to September of 1999 there was a maid cafe event there in collaboration with the PC Game, Welcome to Pia Carrot. There was another, later Pia Carrot Cafe event, followed by other Gamer's Cafe events and a COSPA Cafe. Finally, in March 2001, Cure Maid Cafe opened in the same location, until it moved to its current location in the Onoden building.

I'm not sure who the current occupant of the 6th floor is, but last I checked it was an art gallery with NSFW artwork, so proceed at your own risk if you try to go to the 6th floor itself. These days the building is best know for Gachapon Hall on the ground floor.

Yushima Seido

Yushima Seido is a Confucian temple and education center dating back to the 17th Century.

Kōbu Inari Shrine

A small Shinto shrine in the heart of Akihabara.

Junk Street

Junk Street runs parallel to the Chuo Dori to the west, with lots of used and salvaged computer parts and electronics for sale. You can also see a lot of maid bar touts in the evening. Be cautious about any place with aggressive touts.

Lately there has been experiments with closing down Junk Street to vehicle traffic to make it pedestrian only at certain hours, but the details may still be in flux.

Billboards near the south end of Junk Street

Convenience Store Snacks and Bento

Japanese convenience stores have a lot of great options, from snacks you would expect like chips and pastries, as well as full sized bento boxes and dinner entrees.  For items that need to be heated, the cashier will microwave the food for you when you pay. With plenty Seven Eleven, Lawsons, Family Mart, and NewDays locations in Akihabara, there is probably one within your line of sight at any given moment.

Convenient Store Kitsune Udon and Tempura Soba

Idol Alley

This narrow alley off Junk Street has a few maid cafes like MoreCune and Tōgenkyō, as well as other shops. I call it "Idol Alley" because in the evening you can often see idols rehearsing their acts for the clubs nearby or shooting TikTok videos. But don't bother the idols, they are working.

Bellesalle Akihabara

Located on the Chuo Dori, Bellesalle Akihabara has frequent events, many related to Otaku culture, and many of them are free.

Akihabara Culture Festival Super Maid Village

Find Illustrated Metal Shutters

An interesting feature in Japan is the "disappearing" businesses. When closed, the entrance is covered in a metal security shutter, and you'd never even know there was a business there. However some businesses will paint a decorative logo on the metal shutter, which you can only see when the businesses is closed. While Akihabara does not have the extensive collection of decorative shutters like you see in Asakusa, there are a still a few that you might find to be worth checking out.

Square Enix Cafe

A theme cafe based on the games of Square Enix, with creative food and beverage options. Located in the East-West passage at Akihabara Station.

2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan

A boutique shopping gallery running under the elevated railway with trendy food, crafts, and custom made items.

Short guided group walking tours

A short tour can be a great introduction to Akihabara for first timers. And a great way to meet other people interested in the area, even for veteran travelers.

Akihabara tour guide.

Ochanomizu old restaurants district (Hentaigana Neighborhood)

Hentaigana refers to obsolete kana phonetic character that are no longer in standard use. When you see them these days they evoke a sense of days gone by. There's a neighborhood in Ochanomizu with multiple restaurants that use them in their names with old-fashioned-looking signs and traditional food.

Anko Nabe Isegen

Kanda Yabu Soba

Kanda Yabu Soba is a long-standing soba restaurant, rebuilt multiple times. They now with a full English menu. You might have a line to get in during busy times, but it's quite spacious.

Old buildings of Kanda Sudacho 2-Chome

While the Kanda Sudacho 1-Chome area has a cluster of old traditional restaurants, the 1-Chome area has its own collection of old buildings, many of them part of old wholesale fabric and button district.

Ebihara Shoten Old Store

Ks Corner

Video and Book Dream. This mysterious shop with the bright yellow sign doesn't seem to have been open in years. The only information about it online is blog posts pointing out that it never seems to have had a web presence, and no one seems to remember having ever shopped there. There isn't even a visible entrance. And yet, there are often bicycles parked out front and a light on in the upper floor in the evening.

Kamiya Ice Shop

Pedestrian Paradise on Sunday

Weather permitting, the section of the Chuo Dori passing through Akihabara is closed to vehicle traffic on Sundays, and you can stroll and pass back and forth freely.

Tougenkyou (Tōgenkyō)

This charming maid cafe has freshly made entrees, desserts, and beverages with a specials menu that changes daily. Unlike many maid cafes, there does not seem to be an entry charge; just a one drink order requirement. Another thing that makes this shop unique is that it is "doll-friendly". Ball-jointed doll collectors visit with their dolls, and they even have "doll-sized" desserts that you can order.

Ginza Lion

You can enjoy a variety of Japanese and German-inspired dishes at Beer Hall Ginza Lion, very close to Akihabara station, in the basement of the Radio Kaikan building.  The food and drink selection are like a combination of an izakaya and a beer hall.

Quiet stroll around Akihabara at night

Even though Akihabara is bustling area for shopping, business, and tourism, at night it can be fairly quiet compared to areas of Tokyo associated with night life. Most of the retail establishments will close around 8:00 pm, so most of the shoppers will be gone by that time.  When the last train leaves the station around midnight the area becomes even quieter, since there are only a few late night bars that are open between midnight and 5:00am when trains start up again.

Itasha on a quiet street in the evening in Akihabara

Quiet evening stroll int the Akihabara back streets.

Fukushimaya Tasting Market

A small grocery store on the ground floor of the UDX building, with fresh, seasonal produce and prepared dishes.

Radio Center

The Radio Center might be considered the "cultural roots" of Akihabara. The building with two floors of electronics, parts, and components has been around for decades. Many of the shops have closed in recent years, but there are still tiny shops selling vintage items.

Anime characters decorating atré 1

A great photo opportunity is the collection of anime characters on the outside of atré 1 at the Electric Town exit of Akihabara Station. They are updated frequently so check back during your visit to see what's new.

The Momoi Clock in from Akihabara Station

Haruko Momoi, one of the founders of AKihabara style Pop music, got her start with live performances in the Akiahabara Station area. Today, the clock in front of Akihabara Station is popularly known as the "Momoi Clock". In an incredible bit of irony, the clock now frequently has a large red and white sign reading "Live Performances Prohibited" posted on it.

Go Go Curry

One of the more popular Japanese curry rice chains with multiple locations in the Akihabara area.

Sushi

There's lots of sushi option in Akihabara, although one of the most famous kaiten-zushi restaurants near the station recently closed.  Another option near the station, in the atré 1 food court, is Uogashi Nihonichi, where you can eat at the standing sushi bar or get a sushi bento to go.

Shoheibashi (Shohei Bridge)

The Shohei Bridge crosses the Kanda River on the Southwestern area of Akihabara, and provied a view of the Kanda River and the Sobu Line overpass.

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a Japanese confection in the shape of a fish, stuffed with sweet bean paste, or sometimes chocolate or custard.  They taste a bit like a stuffed waffle. There are a few places in Akihabara to try them.

12 Kanda

A new building in the Sudacho area with very interesting architecture and some new places to eat. It has several places to eat, some still in the planning: One-Bowl Dishes, Coffee and Bake Stand, Hangry Joes, etc. Worth visiting just to get photos of building.

Nikoniko Mazeman

A small, out of the way curry shop in the Sudacho area with halal ramen and Sri Lankan curry. Despite the location, there is sometimes a line outside the building in evenings.

Akihabara Station retail shops

Akihabara station has multiple restaurants both inside and outside, as well as having seasonal vendors set up in the concourse. There are even gacha machines scattered throughout.

"Dr Pepper Corner" on the West Side of atré 1

As someone from Texas I occasionally crave a taste from home, and although Dr Pepper can sometimes be found in machines throughout Tokyo, there's a spot near the Radio Center with machines selling just Dr Pepper.

Buy/Sell/Trade collector's cards

There are so many trading card/collector card/game card shops around Akihabara it would be hard to list them.  Just be on the lookout for "Trading Card" or トレカ (toreka).

Vending machines with collectors cards

Under Railway Hotel and Key's Cafe Akihabara Seekbase

Under Railway Hotel is literally under the Yamanote line heading to Akihabara station and offers a unique lodging experience.  They even have some rooms that can fit a whole family.  If you aren't staying at the hotel you can at least check out their on-site Key's Cafe.

Walk east along the Sobu Line at night

In the evening, walk east from Akihabara station along the Sobu Line and enjoy the night life atmosphere in the Hirakawacho and Sakumacho neighborhood. It's just on the opposite side of Akihabara station but has a very different feel. 

Jan Curry

If you have a really big appetite, Jan Curry serves large portions, especially large portions of rice.  They even have signs posted encouraging customers not to waste food and ask for smaller rice portions if they don't think they can finish the standard size.

Less visited maid cafes in the Sotokanda 4-chome area

In the northern half of the Sotokanda 4-Chome area, off the main street, there are various maid and cosplay cafes that don't get as much traffic, especially from tourists.  Give some of the places a visit, just look up their pricing system ahead of time to make sure you don't get overcharged.

Just one of the buildings with various maid cafes and bars

Strawberry Fields

Can Oden

Oden is a type of stew popular in the winter in Japan, but a novelty item associated with Akihabara is the oden in a can.  There are several places where it can be found, like the creepy vending machine corner, the vending machines next to the Mansei Katsu Sando vending machine, but most famously associated with the vending machines in from the the UFO Catcher shop at the southern entrance to Junk Street. In fact there are often film crews gathered around those vending machines.

Maid Road KFC

While most items at KFC in Japan are similar to those in the U.S., there are often items unique to Japan. And some of those will have a very Japanese flair. So it's worth checking out if you are in the area.

Soup Curry Kamui

A soup curry shop with various meat, cheese, and vegetable options. It's a warming and satisfying dish, originating in Hokkaido. It's especially nice in winter.  With my American palate I do prefer to add a dash of salt to the final product.

Unatoto Akihabara

A little grilled eel restaurant with take out options. There is a convenient ticket-machine-based ordering system.

Lunch Pack Sandwiches

Lunch Pack Sandwiches are like Uncrustables, but in a wide variety of sweet and savory options. There used to be a specialized Lunch Pack Sandwich shop in the Tsukuba Express Akibara Station, but that has closed.  They are still available, along with other packaged sandwiches, at Daily Yamazaki locations. Some of the varietes I've tried are standard selections, like egg, tuna, sausage, ham, and tomato & cheese; Japanese-style varieties like menchi katsu, sukiyaki style, and spaghetti Napolitan; and descriptively named special editions like Loaded! Sauce Yakisoba, Aoyama Gakuin University Style Curry, and Yu Lin Chi fried chicken.

Akihabara Bento

A recent entry in the bento lunch box scene, this place has a modern take on the bento lunch with reasonable prices. They sometimes have collaboration events with various PC games. Also available on Uber Eats.

Kyushu Jangara Akihabara

A long-established ramen shop in Akihabara. Worth a visit at least once, although expect a line at lunch.  During busy times, be ready to get in, eat, and then give up your seat to others waiting to get in.

Izakaya

There are lots of izakayas to spend time with friends for food and drinks. One good option near the station is Danke.

Maid Reflexology and Thai Massage Usagi Spa

A small, one-room maid reflexology shop right on the Chuo Dori with some English support provided. They provide options from a simple scalp massage to a Thai massage.

Collect fliers as souvenirs

Although there are not as many people handing out colorful fliers anymore, I used to have fun seeing how many of the leaflets I could collect. These days you are more likely to see people holding up small signs - probably due to a change in local ordinances. Also with the fliers, you can check out the places online before you go, to see if their pricing system is too expensive or too complicated.

Doner kebab

Although some of the more famous places have closed over the years, new places have also opened. There are still a lot of Turkish Kebab stands, or Doner Kebab, scattered around the area. The are very popular with the locals.

Deniz Turkish Cafe and Bar, now known as Mamo Kebab Restaurant

Cow Cow Kitchen

At atré Akihabara 1, right at the Electric Town Exit. This place has creme puffs, cheesecakes, and other dairy-based products. Don't wait too long, since they tend to sell out of their most popular items before closing time.

Beef Bowl

One of the most popular Japanese fast foods, beef bowl is thinly sliced simmered beef over rice, with options for toppings such as onions and cheese. There are many options in Akihabara

Kanda Fureai Dori

The Kanda Fureai Dori runs south from the Kanda river along the train bridge on the east side until you reach Kanda Station. It's lined with little bars and restaurants. It's especially good to visit in the evening.

McDonalds

Well, sometimes you just need a taste of home. But like KFC, when you go to McDonald's, be sure to try some of the items unique to Japan. They still have that McDonalds taste though.  One year I was there, they even had McDonalds soup, which tasted a whole lot like Campbelle's.

i-kitchen

There are a lot of Indian restaurants and curry shops in Akihabara, but this is the only all-you-can-eat option that I know of. While there's not a huge variety of buffet options, there's more than enough to leave you satisfied. If you don't want to go with the buffet, there are also various lunch combos and dinner combos, and they do take-out as well.

Olympic Market

If you want to visit a typical Japanese supermarket, visit Olympic at Waterras business park. Buy a bento and fresh produce and have a little picnic at a nearby park, like Shoheibashi Higashi-zume Park, with a view of the Kanda river.

Waterras business park

Business park with many shops and restaurants in the Ochanomizu area.

Matsumoto Kiyoshi

Drug store where you can restock your essentials or pick up something for that cold or headache.

New Akihabara Center

An old shopping area under the train bridge with electronics items and also ethnic goods from outside Japan.

Station Stamp from Akihabara Station  (JR and TX)

A popular pastime for train fans: getting the stamps from train stations and putting them in a train book.  Be aware sometime the ink pads are a bit dried out. You can find them at any JR station, and at Akihabara there is also a unique one for Tsukuba Express (TX) line.

Custom Hanko Stamp

You can get your own custom hanko (seal) stamp with your name at any print shop in the area.  In Japan they can be used on legal documents they way you might use a signature.  Just make sure you have enough time since it may take a couple days to a week. Some of the older, traditional stops have closed in recent years.

Cash refill

Refill your cash supply at the Kanda Post office or any Seven-Eleven.  Don't bother trying to get cash from a Japanese bank ATM (unless it's SevenBank which is a Seven-Eleven ATM) since those rarely work for foreign ATM cards.

Downtime in your hotel

If your hotel is Akihabara or not, don't overdo it, and take some downtime. Get a bento or snacks at a convenience store and relax in your room. Take that opportunity to catch up on laundry (if your hotel has a laundry room).  Check social media for various events that might be taking place in Akihabara.

Mister Donut CLOSED

The Chuo Dori Mister Donut is a popular spot to stop by for donuts.

Sadly, this shop closed at the end of October, 2024.

Siddique CLOSED

Siddique was a Pakistani restaurant in the southern part of the Akihabara area, with tasty food and generous portions. Unfortunately they closed in 2025. A new curry restaurant, Akiba Bistro Blue Sky, has opened in the same location, by I have not had the chance to try it yet.

Little TGV CLOSED

A train-themed Cosplay Cafe and Izakaya with a model railway set and other train memorabilia. Their menu is more extensive and sophisticated than the usual maid cafe in the area.  Additionally, the clientele seems to be a bit different, with more older customers, and more families with children.  This is one of the older, more established theme cafes in Akihabara - their blog page has entries dating back to 2009.

Sadly, Little TGV is closed as of the end of August, 2025