5 Things to do in Akihabara | Tokyo

@Abroad in Japan

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Explore Akihabara, Tokyo's Electric Town, for retro video games, unique electronics, monster ramen, anime figurines, and gachapon capsule toys.

5 places

1
Akihabara Electric Town
Creator's voice
Akihabara, also known as Electric Town, is regarded as the spiritual center of Japanese pop culture. It's filled with over 250 electronic shops, from retro video games to anime figurines, and still maintains its roots with independent street vendors selling electronic goods.
Akihabara Electric Town, Tokyo, Japan
2
Super Potato Akihabara
Video game store
4.3Closed · opens Monday 11 AM
Creator's voice
Hidden down a backstreet, Super Potato is a shop that transports you back two or three decades to a simpler time. You can buy almost any video game console ever made, many looking almost brand-new. Upstairs, there's a dimly lit room where you can play retro arcade video games. They also sell snacks and drinks.
Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−11−2 北林ビル Super Potato Akihabara Branch, ３階～５階
- Super Famicom console · ¥3,480 — Nintendo's Super Famicom consoles are available in amazing condition, looking almost brand-new. One with a controller costs ¥3,480.
- Original Gameboy console · ¥8,400 — The original Gameboy, the same size as an iPhone but much thicker. Prices vary depending on condition; a slightly discolored one costs ¥8,400, while one with a small mark is ¥2,000 cheaper.
- Golden Eye (Nintendo 64) — The classic Nintendo 64 game, 'Golden Eye,' which the creator played for the first time in 15 years. While it looks like a 'big blocky mess' now, the memories still live on. The physical cartridges with their artwork are part of the magic.
- Retro arcade games — Upstairs in a dimly lit room, you can play retro arcade video games. Many of these games are from before the creator's time, but Natsuki enjoyed a round of Street Fighter, appreciating the detailed backgrounds.
3
Yarou Ramen Akihabara Main Store
Ramen restaurant · Chiyoda City
3.4 (2,870)
3 Chome Sotokanda
Yarō Ramen, 3 Chome-2-11 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
- Monster Ramen Challenge — The creator and Natsuki challenged each other to finish a bowl of monster ramen, which contains over a kilogram of food, the fastest. This challenge was so large it had its own separate video.
4
Kotobukiya Akihabara Store
Toy store · Chiyoda City
4.3Closed · opens tomorrow 11 AM
Creator's voice
Kotobukiya is described as 'geek heaven,' with five floors crammed with everything from Star Wars and Marvel merchandise to anime and manga characters and meticulously crafted figurines.
AKIHABARA KOTOBUKIYA, Okajima, 1 Chome-8-8 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
- Anime figurines · ¥10,000 — Meticulously crafted figurines, some with 'huge boobs,' which Shiori finds 'creepy' but the creator appreciates for their craftsmanship. They can be quite expensive, around ¥10,000 each.
- Stormtrooper figurines · ¥645,000 — A collection of 86 stormtrooper figurines costs ¥645,000 (approximately $6,500). The creator also highlights a Darth Sidious (Emperor) figurine.
- Lightsaber replica — A heavy lightsaber replica with a nice sound. The creator prefers the original standard lightsaber design.
5
Akihabara Gachapon Kaikan
Toy store · Chiyoda City
3.5 (92)Closed · opens tomorrow 11 AM
Creator's voice
In Akihabara, you can find entire stores stuffed with hundreds of gachapon vending machines. While the concept exists worldwide, Japanese gachapon toys are typically higher quality, modeled with greater detail, and slightly pricier.
Akihabara Gachapon Hall, MNビル 1F 3 Chome-15-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
- Gachapon capsule toys · $5 — Capsule toys bought from vending machines, typically costing around $5. The creator and Natsuki got a 'sexy sleeping type' woman figurine lying on a mat. These toys are known for their high quality and detail in Japan.