Exploring Akihabara Electric Town
SNA Travel (Tokyo) — Anyone who is familiar with anime culture has heard of Akihabara. It is the home of diehard fans of Japanese anime, manga, and games.
Unlike many other train stations in Tokyo, JR Akihabara Station is not difficult to find, nor is it a challenge to navigate. It sits conveniently on the Yamanote Line, not far from Tokyo Station. Once on the train platform, signs for Electric Town are everywhere, guiding visitors into the heart of the Akihabara district.
The central exit opens into a pedestrian area where many people gather in the daytime. Street performers can often be found there, as well as young girls aiming to become Japanese idols.
Off to the right side from the station exit is the modern-looking UDX Building, which sometimes hosts anime and convention events. It also has an information office open during the day, where visitors can score useful maps and event announcements. The UDX Building is also a good place for those looking for a quiet place to get food, as it contains many restaurants.
The heart of Akihabara, however, is not the immediate station area, but a little further down at Chuo Dori, the wide main street that forms its central thoroughfare. In the colder months, it is blocked off to automobile traffic on Sundays, becoming a pedestrian “heaven.”
While Akihabara has long been a symbol for Japanese high technology as well as anime, it is sadly true that not very much has changed along Chuo Dori for decades, making it just as much about nostalgia as about the cutting edge of the 2020s.
But it is that very blend which gives the area its unique charm: its anime culture, technology, bright lights, collectables, games–one of the original inspirations for the Blade Runner aesthetic.
Impossible to miss are the young women touts for the maid cafe outlets. This is the only place in Japan where they are seen out on the sidewalks, holding signs and calling out to customers to choose their establishment. The atmosphere of these maid cafes can be unique and entertaining, but in general the quality of the food and drink tends to be uninspiring.
Akihabara began its journey into oddity far back into the early 20th century. It was once a major venue for the Tokyo black market. This legacy can be sensed most clearly by visiting the tiny stalls of Electric Town, quite near the station. It is worth a casual stroll, looking at all the LED lights and specialized devices for the DIY types.
Beyond Electric Town, there are many other electronics, gaming, and memorabilia shops awaiting discovery.
Also collected along Chuo Dori are video game arcades. In particular, there are many retro games to (re-)experienced here.
Most visitors to Tokyo stay in another part of the city and make Akihabara part of a day trip, but there are accommodation options for those who want to base themselves in the anime capital. There is even an esports gaming hotel in the area.
