Tokyo Guide: Akihabara Shopping

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Tokyo Area Guide: Akihabara Shopping

Shopping off Chuo-Dori, Akihabara, Tokyo

Akihabara, or "Akiba," in Chiyoda ward, is Tokyo's mecca for computer-related, electronics, home appliances, hobbies, and the otaku geek culture of gaming, anime and manga.

The area around Akihabara Station and north up Chuo-dori ("Central Street") is packed with shops from the massive to the tiny selling everything in electronics and anime/manga culture from exclusive high-end goods to virtual trash.

Chuo-dori is dominated by big chain stores, each of which has several different branches within Akihabara. The side-streets running parallel to Chuo-dori are home mainly to smaller specialist stores and some maid cafes. The smaller off-Chuo-dori stores generally offer better bargains than the big names, so it pays to shop around.

Akihabara Station has three exits: the easternmost Showa-dori Exit, the Central Ticket Gate Exit, and the westernmost Electric Town Exit.

Main Akihabara shopping

Showa-dori Exit

Yodobashi Camera

Yodobashi　Camera is on the east side of the JR Yamanote line: the other side from the main bustle of Akihabara, but generates enough bustle of its own. The Akihabara presence of the Yobobashi Camera chain headquartered in Shinjuku, this is a massive department store of everything electric and electronic, plus sporting-, car-, office-related, and more. Shares the Yodobashi Akiba building with cafes (1F), restaurants (8F), Yurindo Books, and Tower Records (both 7F). Hours: 9.30am-10pm, 365 days.　1-1 Kanda-hanaoka-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0028 Tel. 03-5209-1010 Google Map

Electric Town Exit

Akihabara Crossfield Sofmap Akky Dutyfree Labi Radio Kaikan
Ishimaru Laox Mandarake Don Quijote Akihabara Gundam Cafe

Akihabara Crossfield

Akihabara Crossfield is made up of two linked buildings, the Akiba Dai-Biru, nearest the station, and behind it the UDX Building. The UDX Building is a hive of activity, especially on weekends and holidays, with a regular outdoor fair that takes place on its west side, with tables and stands selling clothes and trinkets. The 1-3F is the Akiba Ichi ("Akiba Mart") containing numerous cafes and restaurants, and the 4F has the Tokyo Anime Center: with a small exhibition space and a bigger shop. There is also a post office and supermarket on the 1F. Three underground floors of parking. Hours: 10am-10pm, 365 days.　1-15-8 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-03-5207-6711 Google Map

Sofmap

Sofmap dominates Akihabara with its multitude of specialist stores. (Click names for map.) Sofmap Main Store (Honkan) - duty free on 2F. Sofmap Amusement Store (Amusement Kan) Sofmap General Computer Store (Pasokon Sogo Kan) Sofmap General Re-Used Store (Re-Use Sogo Kan) Sofmap Macintosh/Creators' Store (Mac/Creators Kan) Sofmap Music and CD Store (Ongaku/CD Kan) Sofmap Computer Clinic - computer repairs (Japanese language OS's only) Sofmap Computer Games & Anime Store (PC Games/Anime Kan) Sofmap Second Hand Digital & Mobile Store (Chuuko Dejitaru/Mobile Senmonten) Sofmap Second Hand Computers No.2 Store (Chuuko Pasokon Ni-Go Ten) Sofmap Station-Front Second Hand Store (Chuuko Ekimae Ten) Main Store Hours: 11am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-9pm Sat, Sun, public holidays. 365 days.　4-1-1 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-3253-1111

Akky Dutyfree

Akky Dutyfree is perhaps the most foreigner-friendly chain in Akihabara with multi-lingual staff and foreign-friendly goods, such as English language OS computers, and duty free. Akky International Main Store Akky One-Akihabara - specializing in duty-free Akky II - English OS computers, globally compatible mobiles, duty free. Hours: 9.30am-8pm 1-12-1 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda ku, Tokyo 101-0021 Tel. 03-5207-5027

Labi

Labi is run by Yamada Denki (i.e. Yamada Electrical) and is one of the company's almost 300 stores nationwide. Labi's 6 floors stock digital cameras and video cameras, electronic dictionaries, digital audio players, computers and computer peripherals. Hours: 10am-10pm, 365 days.　1-15-8 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-03-5207-6711 Google Map

Radio Kaikan

Radio Kaikan is eclectic mish-mash of stores representing everything Akihabara has to offer, from the latest high-end audio, to antique electronics, to anime, and hard-core "hobby"-related. Home to several shops of the Yellow Submarine hobby and game store. The place for hard-to-find parts. It may look grotty and uninviting inside, but it offers an unadulterated all-in-one experience of pre-chain store Akihabara. The garish facade is unmissable. Hours: 10am-8pm. Open every day. 1-15-16 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021 Google Map

Ishimaru

Ishimaru is an electronics chain with four stores in Akihabara. (Click names for maps.) Ishimaru Akiba: the most prominent of its stores, on Chuo-dori by Manseibashi Bridge, stocking the full range of electronics and home appliances. Ishimaru Soft, Main Store: dedicated to software, just across the road from Ishimaru Akiba, beside the river. Parking for 34 cars. Ishimaru Main Store: hidden away on the other side of the railway line, two blocks down. Ishimaru Soft, Idol Store (Aidoru-kan): for "adult software," under the railway line, very near the Ishimaru Main Store. Hours: 10am-8pm Main Store: 1-9-14 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-3255-1500.

Laox

Laox Laox is probably the most foreigner-friendly of the electrical stores in Akihabara, and has four premises in the area: Laox Main Store: by Manseibashi Bridge (next to Ishimaru Akiba), stocking the full range of electronics and home appliances, overseas-compatible on the 4F, plus a huge array of duty-free and other goods such as bags, cosmetics, souvenirs, watches, food, and hobby-related on floors 5, 6 & 7. Laox AsoBitCity dedicated to hobbies & games of all sorts, and porn on the B1 floor. Laox Pocket Plus One selling mobile phones, including duty-free. Laox Musicvox Akihabara, for musical instruments and other music-related. Main Store Hours: 10am-8pm (till 9pm Fri, Sat). Other stores hours slightly different. 1-2-9 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Tel. 03-3253-7111

Mandarake

Mandarake has 11 department store-style shops nationwide specializing in manga, anime, games, toys, models, cosplay and dojinshi - many of them second-hand. This huge multi-story emporium is an otaku's delight. Hours: noon-8pm 3-11-12 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Tel. 03-3350-1701 Google Map

Don Quijote Akihabara

Don Quijote Akihabara is one of a chain of nationwide stores selling almost every consumer knick-knack imaginable, including groceries, generally at very discount prices. Open 19 hours a day. Hours: 10am-5am 4-3-3 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-5298-5411 Google Map

Gundam Cafe

Gundam Cafe was opened by the Bandai Corporation in April 2010 themed after its most successful manga/anime character, Mobile Suit Gundam. Lunch 11am-4.30pm, dinner 5pm till closing. Gundam-themed cocktails from 5pm till closing. Hours: 10am-11pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-11pm Sat, 8.30am-9.30pm Sun & public holdidays. Last food orders: 1 hour before closing. Last drink orders: 30 mins before closing. 1-1 Kanda-hanaoka, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021. Tel. 03-5298-5411 Google Map

Images of Akihabara by the photographer Guillaume Marcotte.

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