Sight guide · Tokyo · Japan
Visiting Akihabara
Akihabara's electronics stores now share the streets with multi-storey shops for anime, manga, figures and retro video games, plus arcades full of crane games and themed cafés.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Akihabara is a neighbourhood in Akihabara, Tokyo. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Neighbourhood
- Area
- Akihabara
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- shopping, free, kids and after dark
- Best months
- December–February
About Akihabara
Akihabara's electronics stores now share the streets with multi-storey shops for anime, manga, figures and retro video games, plus arcades full of crane games and themed cafés. Large stores such as Yodobashi Akiba sell everything from cameras to rice cookers.
Tip: Explore the side streets west of Chuo-dori for second-hand games and figures; on some Sunday afternoons the main street is closed to traffic.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Akihabara.
Best time to visit Akihabara
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- January: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- February: 11°C (52°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- December: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Tokyo has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Tokyo itinerary visits Akihabara on day 2, together with Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Sky and Tsukiji Outer Market.
- No. 14 of the 20 sights in our Tokyo things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 5 of the 7-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Tokyo.
- A family favourite in Tokyo with kids.
If you like Akihabara
- Senso-ji Temple — Asakusa, 1–2 hours
- Shibuya Crossing — Shibuya, 30 minutes
- Tokyo Skytree — Oshiage, 1.5–2 hours
- Tsukiji Outer Market — Tsukiji, 1.5–2 hours
Staying near Akihabara
Where to stay in Tokyo compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Akihabara?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Akihabara free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Akihabara?
December–February, the quietest of the good months. Explore the side streets west of Chuo-dori for second-hand games and figures; on some Sunday afternoons the main street is closed to traffic.
+Do I need to book Akihabara in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Akihabara good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Tokyo. Tokyo is an easy big city for families: clean, orderly and full of convenience stores and baby rooms, with trains that run like clockwork.