Is AKIHABARA still worth going to? ✨✨✨ Tokyo, Japan 2025
Akihabara’s always been the centre of anime, manga, games, arcades and electronics in Tokyo, Japan. We take a walk around to see if it’s still worth going to in 2025.
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I’ve been visiting Japan (including Akihabara!) since 2010. Like anywhere, it’s changed over the years. It’s become noticeably more popular with tourists, especially people who like anime, manga, gaming and arcades/game centres. It’s a fun place to visit, and very full-on. In the video I point out some of my favourite shops, what’s new and what’s changed, both on the main street and the backstreets, so you can decide whether it’s worth visiting. There are still lots of anime figure shops, and, while prices may be a little higher than some other areas, in my opinion it’s not a tourist trap and still a fun place to visit if you like anime and otaku goods. We also try out the UFO catchers / claw machines in the arcades – always a must-do in Japan! And there are tips and lots of interesting things we come across on our walk around Akiba!
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Short answer: No.
Every trip to Tokyo requires me to visit Akiba. Such a cool city for all you see in this vid. Thanks for the update. I'll be hitting the streets in Dec.
taking the yellow line fr
The owners of Friends retired
ike and nakano still good, can also go to otaku streets in sendai and nagano, obv kyoto and osaka also have good spots too, but tokyo is still the biggest
I still enjoy going to Akihabara (and its always my pick for my last day in Tokyo for last minute gifts due to Yodobashi) but it has definitely changed since I first went 14 odd years ago (and not necessarily for the better)
I found all typically otaku places in Tokyo to be deeply depressing and filled with this really unpleasant darkness. Even the main street shops filled with merch of children or young women who resemble children and are not even so much sexualised but made to look somehow monstrously feminine. Childlike faces, skimpy clothes with DD sized breasts, panties out. Young or appearing to be young women outside of bars advertising alcohol fuelled karaoke entertainment with cheap food while wearing very little… it was just so depressing
Thank you for sharing so much! Gosh Japan really needs more seats and bins about the place LOL.
I was just thinking about your channel recently but forgot the name! so glad you posted 😁😁
I feel like I spent too much time in the wrong places there. I felt so overwhelmed by all the arcade, crane games and gacha machines that I had no idea where to go next because I found those everywhere else in various places. I saw the Tamashii Nations store, but everything else felt so samey. Before I knew it, places like Surugaya and the Offs were closed already
My last visit to Friends was last year. Was quite surprised to know it had already closed when I tried to go again last March 🥲
it's not worth going for figures and the other places people say to go now will just get swarmed with tourist. I vote we stop telling where tourist should go
Den-Den town better, less people less tourists. Actually Osaka overall is better than Tokyo i think. ❤
Personally, I think Akihabara is a tourist trap. I remembered Akihabara during 2010-2020 y
and it was amazing, but I went to Japan last year and it was nothing but tons of expensive figures (you can find the same figure in other less touristy stores) and tons of crane games.
A lot has changed apparently, there's alot of V-Tuber advertisement. Won't be suprised if the AI generated dance choreos are just around the corner waiting to replace anything that is remotely labour-intensive.
Regarding your note towards the end: I went to Harajuku only in 2017 + 2018. ALready in 18, the change within a year was so overwhelming and going in the wrong direction , so I never went back… seeing all the great clothing stores vanish and things like dozens of food shops, Daiso and Bic Camera popping up there…. it kind of lost its magic. I heard even some of the Crepes Shops closed down?
I go to Akihabara about once a year so it's still worth visiting for me. I think it's still the place to go for otaku culture. If you just want to get all your anime goods shopping done in one afternoon, you can go to Nakano Broadway. But seeing the changes over the years is part of the fun of going to Akihabara. And it gets a lot quieter just a couple blocks off the main street. Especially in the 4-chome area where I hear things like "We never get tourists here". And the area south of the Kanda river with the crazy vending machine corner, Yanagimori Shrine, and the new 12 Kanda building with its wild architecture. Just be careful of places with an all-you-can-drink pricing system. The best maid cafes don't have touts.
I'm probably too old for this neighborhood of Tokyo but for the younger crowd, it may be worth it. But it doesn't interest me.
Akihabara is a must visit even if you're not into anime, manga or gaming. There's so much to see, and I've tryed the crab-claw games, highly addictive. We have been at @Home Maid cafe three times, just because it's so different than other cafe, they are so cute when you show them the card as a return visitor. I've also visited @Home because the founder of my favorite band – Band-Maid used to work at @Home in Akihabara before she decided to become and Idol first, then a Rockstar shortly after (2013). The atmosphere in Akihabara is unique and cool, and the street was full of Maids on our last visit in May.
I got the shark delivery Gatcha! Message me if you still want it, I’d love to trade for the bunny. 😉
7:25 I think those are airsoft, not the real thing. I hope.
Always great to see a Japanese arcade. I imported one of the special stools. lol
Great video, I will soon visit and your channel has been such a great resource for me to learn
I am a bit dissapointed in Akihabara though so far, I was hoping I could buy a ton of weird tech, like new weird yet useful things I though Japan was all about and maybe also pre smartphone era electronics and so on, however there isn't much I can see, maybe these things also is all made in China now
I still like Akihabara, I find it more retro which I like. I went there once during my last trip and went to Ikebukuro 3 times (but that was because my friend asked to get some merch for her 😂)
Also I can’t believe I missed the Kotobuya store! Those figure shelves too! I didn’t even think of getting those.
Nakano Broadway is good and also retro. I bought 2 secondhand figures and they’re like brand new 👍 definitely wanna go back to all 3 locations!
There's a huge Purikura photo area in the basement of Games Central and an excellent Cosplay store a short walk away
As per the video Akiba is getting more expensive, however is good for a single place with lots of companies; you have to reseach what you want and shop around.
Nakano Broadway is cheaper, but mainly Mandarake and lots of small shops to walk around. I found Ikebukuro good and lots of kits, however not as many shops as Akiba.
In Akiba I found Yodobashi behind the station cheap, as well as Radio Kaikan.
I sleep 3 days i akihabara in april very nice place for Italia I find a Hatsune miku nendoroid exibition the shop trade and the don quijote are nice but better go to nakano brodway you can find more things mandake is like a museum but very expensive
Note: Benches can be found overlooking the train tracks at 秋葉原UDX 2F JR側デッキ. There's a flight of stair to reach them, just past the Kanda Fire Station.
Yay K-on! Those figures were expensive😮
It used to better. The tourists have essentially wiped out all the good video game stuff, it’s just the scraps left now.
yay its great to see when ppl come away w a prize from the claw machines
i always stay at akihabara everytime i visit japan
mainly on exvs2OB arcade games on 0:05
i cant say Akiba is overrated to this day, after going there 3 times on different vacations you find some favorite places to hang around. first time i really tried to visit EVERY merch store there and it took 2 days. later trips i didnt visit each place but ones that were nearby at any time i felt like searching. just so many stores to choose from… sega/GiGo 3, and the next closest one are my faves for the racing games, Taito too. trying to explore every place is a job that can take 3-4 days and you need a breather in between those days. Radio Kaikan is its own level of craziness to explore. forgot the other large 2nd hand stores (kotobukiya) but there are a few huge ones. so jelly you found yourself in Akiba at this time! still love the Saga prefecture area but Akiba, Nakano Broadway are an experience. 7:40 that hotel with orang/red facade is my go to when in in the area ie close to that mandarake.
There's also making "Computer 💻🖥️ and computer parts" needed to take home if you accomplish together. If you never watched "Akiba Trips: the animation"? I'll give you the free anime series,if you link it.