Akihabara, Tokyo: The Non-Otaku Guide
A manga, anime and electronics hub, Akihabara is known for otaku culture. But there are other things to see and do here - here’s some that I recommend.
Akihabara is an entertainment hub in Tokyo
It is known for otaku geek culture
With many train lines going through the area, it’s convenient
Manga, anime, electronics, maid cafes, Japanese “idols” - Akihabara is Japan’s central hub for all things otaku, or geek.
It probably puts me in the minority of foreigners living in Japan, but despite interning at VIZ Media in college, I don’t really have an interest in manga or anime related things.
I’ll share my Akihabara experience here just in case some of you are looking for a different Akihabara. If you’re just looking for food recommendations, skip to the bottom.
How to get there
Akihabara Station has multiple lines running through it. The two most convenient and most used are the Yamanote Line and Chuo-Sobu Line. The Hibiya subway line also runs through here, and the Ginza Line goes to nearby Suehirocho Station, which is also in the Akihabara area.
About Akihabara
Akihabara is located on the eastern side of Tokyo and has traditionally been an area of commerce.
In the late 1800s, it was a freight hub with a large, wholesale market for fruits and vegetables. In the 1920s, radio component merchants began to prosper. After World War II, the black market came alive due to lack of government authority, which sparked the growth of businesses and subcultures. In the 1950s, vinyl record shops lined the streets and Akihabara continued to develop into the electronics and subculture hub that it is today.
Akihabara is a town for otaku, or obsessive geeks that tend to be on the extreme side. It’s known today as the capital for Japanese manga and anime. Themed cafes, maid cafes, probably a bunch of other peculiar cafes, young girl “idol” concerts, “gacha gacha” toy dispensers, various vending machines, figuring shops and more can be found in this area.
The crowd is, well, what you’d expect. As a visiting friend put it, “You can’t tell Japan has a low birth rate problem, but looking around here, it all makes sense.”
Straightforward, but you’ll notice the crowd here looking quite different from other areas in Tokyo.
Housing in Akihabara
Located on the city’s main Yamanote Line and minutes away some of the major working areas, rent in Akihabara is on the high end. The average monthly cost of a 1K studio apartment is 112,700 JPY (USD $717) while a 1LDK single bedroom apartment is 184,800 JPY (USD $1,175) as of June 2024. [J]
Where we stayed
Akihabara is a pretty convenient place to stay. Around a 5-10 minute walk from both Akihabara and Suehirocho stations is Nohga Hotel Akihabara.
This is the second in their hotel line, and they’re very focused on being local. A lot of the interior decorations are from nearby areas, and the decorations also reflect the electronics and music scene of the area.
We stayed in their Deluxe Twin room, their biggest, and everything here was great. Staff were nice, food downstairs was great, and they have a nice bar to come back to and wind down the day. I have a feeling this hotel will become more and more popular for tourists.
After renovating and repurposing Manseibashi, an old train station, into a mall called mAAch ecute, it became one of the more “adult” destinations in the area.
Underneath the old tracks, between pillars, are small shops of smaller, up and coming designers. There’s also a small model of the Akihabara area when the station was still in use. Small tables and chairs line the riverside, and it’s a nice place to go in the evening.
https://www.ecute.jp/maach [J]
MAP
2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan
We didn’t get to it this time, actually, but there’s something similar on the north side of Akihabara called 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan.
It’s another under-tracks area that has been repurposed into a gallery of about 50 boutiques that sell miscellaneous goods and handcrafted items.
The concept here aims to bring craftsmen and artisans back into the city center, giving people a chance to easily purchase locally made products.
You don’t have to seek out electronic shops or the otaku vibe, you’re instantly surrounded by it as soon as you step out into Akihabara.
Some shops and street side vending machines are interesting to stop and look at as they really are a different world.
Kanda Myojin Shrine
On the eastern side of Akihabara, towards the Ochanomizu area, is Kanda Myojin. It’s one of the more popular shrines, especially around New Year’s, as it’s a go-to place to pray for business prosperity in the year.
The shrine sits up top a hill, so you’ll have to climb up the Myojin Otoko-zaka stairs.
Otsu Coffee
Otsu Coffee is a popular kissaten coffee shop along the main path to Kanda Myojin Shrine. It’s rated as a 2-star popular cafe on Japanese review app Retty.
A smaller, older building, the cafe isn’t some trendy, go-to spot with people posing with their drinks. With shelves of cups behind the bar, the baristas steadily pour each cup as guests quietly sit and read, perhaps one of the manga from the in-store shelf.
Namaiki
After eating here for the first time, Namaiki is going on my list of yakiniku places to take friends and family visiting Tokyo. It was ridiculously good.
Specializing in raw beef, Namaiki has a dinner menu that lets you try an assortment of both raw and cooked beef for just under USD $70 per person. Service is great, there are at least a couple of staff in each sectioned room, and they cook and serve the beef for you so that you eat it just how it’s supposed to be eaten.
It’s a 3-star spot on Japanese review app Retty, so getting a reservation can sometimes be difficult. But the food here is so fresh, tasty and tender… definitely worth trying.
Hitachino Brewing Lab
Probably one of the most well known Japanese craft beers overseas, Hitachino Nest has their Hitachino Brewing Lab at mAAch ecute in Manseibashi.
A small pub underneath train tracks, the brewing lab also has outside seating as well as tables alongside the Kanda River. It’s great in the evenings.
In addition to food and beer, they also have whisky, which they started making more recently. I can’t recommend it yet, but it’s one of the only places you can get it for those who are interested.
Vault Coffee
Down an alley and up on the third floor of an old, rundown building is Vault Coffee.
Rated as a popular cafe on Japanese review app Retty, this kissaten coffee shop looks more like a makeshift room. It has a wide range of different coffee beans to choose from and if you like dark coffee, this place is great. Delicious.
It’s a pretty central yet quiet spot, and you’ll find a people with laptops open, working as they sip their brew.
Pizza & Bar Nohga
Some great brick oven pizza. Pizza & Bar Nogha is on the ground floor of the Nohga Hotel Akihabara, and is somewhat of a sanctuary amongst fast food places and electronics shops.
I’ve had a lunch and breakfast here and everything was tasty. My favorites are their pizza and craft cola.
The bar is also stylish and gives off a modern yet rustic vibe. Service is good and it’s a nice place to wind down the evening.
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