Top Things to Do in Japan For Anime Lovers

Exploring Tokyo’s vibrant pop-culture hub Akihabara and visiting Mt. Fuji are consistently recognized by travellers as some of the top things to do in Japan.

In this “electric town” of Tokyo in Japan, it is physically impossible to get bored.
If you’ve been searching how much time does it take for Japan visa for Indians, like every other traveller in 2026 planning a summer trip, this is your sign to start now because Tokyo’s electric town is a whole vibe in summer. For a standard Japan visa, the typical processing time is one to two weeks, excluding weekends.

During peak seasons, this may stretch up to 4 weeks. In case you’re wondering, are there any services offering fast-track visa processing, yes, there are several third party agencies who can speed the process up for you, for an additional fee.
Irrespective of the season, Tokyo’s electric town is bustling with people year round. For a lively atmosphere, we recommend visiting during a Sunday evening.

Yes, Tokyo’s Akihabara, fondly called akiba or electric town, is one of the most hip and happening places in the country. Here, you get to indulge in Japanese pop culture in the most wholesome and profound way possible.

It comes as no surprise that visiting Akihabara Tokyo, is recommended as one of the top things to do in Japan. If you are planning to book Japan tour packages this season, make sure to include this gem of a destination in your itinerary.

Here is a guide to everything you must see and do in Akihabara, to get a taste of the fun side of Japan.

History of The Legendary Akihabara in Tokyo
Top Things to Do in Tokyo’s Akihabara
Wrapping Up: Anime And Gaming – Two of The Top Things to Do in Japan
Frequently Asked Questions – Top Things to Do in Japan For Anime, Arcade Game, and Adventure Lovers
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History of The Legendary Akihabara in Tokyo

Crowds move past the bright red GiGO arcade and bold AKIHABARA signage in Akihabara, Tokyo
Image courtesy: NorthSky Films/Shutterstock

Brimming with bustling electronic shops, arcades, cute maid cafes, and pop culture stores that are nothing short of paradises for nerds and geeks, Akihabara is a world like no other. What started as a small black market that popped up in the region after WWII, selling electronics, grew exponentially over the years, especially during the fifties and sixties to become one of the largest hubs for home electronic goods in the country.

The smaller sellers were eventually outrun by large retailers selling Japanese televisions, refrigerators, sound systems and more. It was around this time that the region developed its nickname of electric town. Later, with the advent of computers and gaming, akiba evolved further into a tech hub too, selling all things hardware, software, entertainment, and games. It wasn’t until the 90s that Akihabara’s speciality shifted to anime and manga. Then in the 2000s, the first ever maid cafes opened, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Also Read: How to Plan an Easy Japan Trip From India: A Comprehensive Japan Tour Guide

Top Things to Do in Tokyo’s Akihabara

When you arrive at Akiba in Tokyo, there is every chance you will feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of shops, experiences and things to try. This is where a good Akihabara travel guide can come in handy.

Here’s what to expect from Japan’s favourite destination for otaku culture.

Getting to Akihabara

Akihabara station entrance sign
Image courtesy: VTT Studio/Shutterstock

Getting to Akihabara is fairly easy; there are multiple trains available from Tokyo station to Akihabara with zero changes. If you are planning a tour of the city, book your accommodation at one of the best hotels in Tokyo, take the train to Akihabara station in the morning and spend an entire day at Japan’s electric town. Explore its endless oddities and whimsical experiences in a relaxed pace.

Core Characteristics And Features of Akihabara

A tourist playing arcade games in Akihabara, Tokyo
Image courtesy: ItzaVU/Shutterstock

Akihabara in Tokyo is one of those destinations that offers a lot more than meets the eye. Stacked with stores, cafes, restaurants, and bustling streets filled with Mario Kart enthusiasts, the district offers an authentic taste of Japan’s otaku culture, which includes everything from anime to manga and video games.

Here are some of the most popular cultural themes to explore and things to do in Tokyo’s Akihabara:

Retro game arcades
Manga and anime toy stores
Maid cafes
Anime tours
Second-hand anime stores
Eateries
Book stores
Purikura photo booths
Exploration of the neon-lit streets

Aside from these distinct aspects, Akiba’s streets offer an even more fun experience. As soon as you get down at the station, you will be greeted by dozens of illuminated signs, billboards, and streets full of geeks and go-karters. Not to mention an unmistakably high energy. Simply walking along these streets will mesmerize you, leaving you in a wonder-struck effect because the natives as well as the tourists here, do not take their pop culture interests lightly.

Akihabara Guided Tours

Anime enthusiasts riding Go-karts in the streets of Akihabara, Tokyo
Image courtesy: icosha/Shutterstock

One of the easiest and most wholesome ways to enjoy a day at Akihabara is to choose a guided tour. This is where you will be systematically taken through different experiences by a dedicated tour guide. The places covered in every tour varies depending on the type of tour you choose. While some cover anime and manga stores, some take you through maid cafes, game centers and cosplay experiences. Still others offer a taste of everything. You can also choose some unique tours that let you tour the region in a go-kart.

The Akihabara Gaming and Adventure Tour is one of the most popular and premier tours. It includes several different unique and authentic experiences attributable to Japanese pop culture. It also covers several retro game stores where you can purchase vintage games and consoles, gaming centers where you can play live games, capsule toy shops, and photo booths. Additionally, the tour includes visits to maid cafes where you can enjoy Japan’s famous “kawaii” experience in real life.

The Cosplay Tour on the other hand lets you tour the shops and stores while wearing a cosplay costume of your choice. With this package, you can expect to receive the complete experience. An authentic cosplay costume with professional makeup and a photoshoot with professional photographers.

If you are short on time and patience, choosing an organized Akihabara tour would be one of the top things to do in Japan. It essentially lets you experience the pop culture scene in the easiest way possible.

Also Read: Japan Visa For Indians: Requirements And How to Apply

Anime Shopping

Anime figures displayed at a store in Akihabara, Tokyo
Image courtesy: InfantryDavid/Shutterstock

Anime shopping would easily be one of the top 5 best things to do in Tokyo. The city is known for its wide range of dedicated stores. Fans can easily browse through, find their favourite characters and buy everything from figurines, dolls, model kits, cards, and other character goods from these stores. While some of them carry spanking new merchandise, some also sell second-hand goods, ideal for conscious shoppers.

You can also choose one of Japan’s anime tours if you need guidance.

For a head start, here are some of the most popular and best places for different anime goods.

Radio Kaikan

Located near the station, Radio Kaikan offers 10 floors of diverse anime shops. Stocked with figures, trading cards, dolls, model kits and retro games, this is a must-visit for serious collectors.

Amiami Akihabara

Amiami is known to be one of the best places for anime and game figures. It sells everything from new releases to rare and limited editions. It also features an excellent display with items coming under a wide range of budgets. To top it off, it hosts dedicated events from time to time as well.

Animate Akihabara

Animate is another multi-specialty building featuring 8 bustling floors dedicated to trending anime, manga and character goods. It also offers racks of manga and CDs, and a unique Animate Cafe for themed food. It doesn’t get any more Japanese than this.

Akihabara Gachapon Hall

Gachapon Hall is an excellent place for more affordable collectibles. It features several unique capsule toy machines, souvenirs and more. It is more of a lighthearted activity through which you can collect cute Japanese items like miniature bullet trains, tiny bottles of Mayo, plushies, etc.

Jungle

Jungle is a premier store for collectibles and anime figurines including popular ones like Dragon Ball, Naruto and Gundam. It sells both new and pre-owned items, which makes it a preferred place for all types of anime lovers.

Maid Cafes and Concept Cafes

A young Japanese woman dressed as a maid promoting their iconic maid cafes in Akihabara
Image courtesy: Heidi Besen/Shutterstock

Maid cafes and concept cafes are the epitome of Japan’s unique dining culture. They offer an experience that you will likely never have anywhere else in the world. Having originated in the country in 2001, these cafes are heavily influenced by the otaku culture, anime and manga, which makes them indigenously unique. The waiting staff appear in full costume, dressed up as cute or sexy maids (depending on the theme of the cafe), or other characters, inviting customers into a whole other world.

In a concept cafe, the service staff are dressed in different costumes depending on the theme which could be anything like hospitals, schools, or even prison. Some cafes also collaborate with popular anime and games, which turns the entire cafe into the anime realm. This can be particularly appealing if you have ever dreamt of immersing yourself in your favourite anime character’s world.

In a maid cafe in Japan, you will find the serving staff dressed in maid costumes, addressing you as “master” or “princess”. The meals and drinks you order will also be decorated with cute ornaments, food art, and character elements. The maids will also cast spells for you, to make the food tastier through an entire performance.

Additionally, you can also avail of special services like photo sessions, songs, dances and games, through which you can have more personal experiences with the maids.

These unique elements and interactions will undoubtedly make you feel like you’ve entered an anime world. This is why dining at a maid cafe or a concept cafe is recommended as one of the top things to do in Japan.

Retro Gaming

Vintage arcade game in Akihabara
Image courtesy: WildSnap/Shutterstock

Nostalgia is Akiba’s middle name as the little town carries some of the most distinctly memorable arcade and retro games bound to give every fan a heartwarming trip down memory lane. Starting from simple vending machines to full blown dancing games, rhythm games, crane games, and uber popular ones like Street Fighter, Akihabara is home to some of the best sources of entertainment.

Don’t forget to trade some of your cash to get coins to use at these gaming centres, as most of these require you to insert a couple of 100-yen coins to start. You can find change machines conveniently placed at most game centers to get enough coins for your experience.

The place offers something for everyone. Here’s an overview of some of the best places for arcade games in Japan’s electric town.

Super Potato

Super Potato is one of the most popular gaming centers and stores in all of Akihabara. It brings three whole floors of retro gaming goodness, which includes tons of games, gaming related merchandise such as stuffed animals and characters, and countless gaming guides for many yesteryear games as well. You will find games for all ages here starting from retro Nintendo, to Sega, to Sony Games and more.

Mandarake Complex

Mandarake Complex is a colossal 8-story complex dedicated to second-hand goods, and an entire floor for retro gaming. Often favoured by serious collectors, the place also holds online auctions with worldwide shipping.

Friends

Friends offers one of the largest collections of games and accessories for geeks. Starting from Famicom to many modern games and even retro PC Games, the place carries large rows of games including 8-bit masterpieces from your childhood that you will enjoy even browsing through.

Retro Game Camp

Retro Game Camp is a centrally located store known for having a good inventory, along with reasonable prices. It sells a large array of games and gaming gear, including second-hand goods that perform exceptionally well, and caters to all age groups and budgets.

Surugaya Specialty Store

The Surugaya Specialty Store is part of a large chain that operates in the otaku realm of goods and experiences. It sells everything from comics to character goods and AV equipment. At the Akiba store, you will find the Game Hall that specializes in console games for pure entertainment. Their arcade games are, in fact, one of the most popular in the region.

Also Read: Top Things to Do in Japan For First Time Visitors

Wrapping Up: Anime And Gaming – Two of The Top Things to Do in Japan

If you are considering a trip to Japan this season, make sure to visit Tokyo’s beloved Akihabara. Starting from anime and manga goods to retro games, and live mario-karting around the streets, the place brims with exciting things to do. No matter what your taste is, you are bound to find something interesting and fun to indulge in.

Before you take cheap flights to Tokyo, do your research and keep this Akihabara guide handy to decide where to start your electric town tour.

If you are considering a summer trip to Japan, apply for your Japan visa with a reliable provider of online visa services for 180+ countries well in advance, to make sure that your receive it on time.

Frequently Asked Questions – Top Things to Do in Japan For Anime, Arcade Game, and Adventure Lovers

What can anime lovers do in Japan?

Japan is known to be an anime lover’s paradise, as the city is home to several stores including bookstores, museums, and entire little towns dedicated to anime.

Here are some of the best places to visit and top things to do in Japan for anime lovers:

Radio Kaikan – Akihabara
Amiami – Akihabara
Animate – Akihabara
Akihabara Gachapon Hall
Jungle – Akihabara
Anime tours in Akihabara
Ghibli Museum
Suginami Animation Museum

Which anime is No. 1 in Japan?

The No. 1 anime in Japan varies with the level of cultural accuracy, recent ratings, and general popularity. However, Sazae-san is considered an undisputed long-running all-time favourite, as it is suitable for all ages. Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer are close followers in the list of popular anime in Japan.

Where to go in Japan if you are a weeb?

The best places in Japan for tourists who love anime and otaku culture in Japan include:

Akihabara anime stores
Mandarake complex
Maid cafes
Gachapon stores
Takeshita Street
Gundam stores

What are anime lovers in Japan called?

Otaku is the name used to describe people who belong to the distinct subculture in Japan that loves anime, manga, cosplay, and other similar types of media and production.

Is visiting Akihabara worth it?

Yes, visiting Akihabara in Tokyo is generally considered well worth it, especially if you are a fan of anime, manga, video games and the like. The place is known for its high-energy vibrant atmosphere, and multitudes of stores dedicated to the elements of the otaku subculture.

What does oi oi oi mean in anime?

Oi oi oi is an information exclamation in anime, which roughly translates to “Hey! Hey! Hey!.

Where to go in Japan if you are an anime lover?

Akihabara in Tokyo is the best place to go in Japan if you are an anime lover. The district is considered to be the capital of otaku culture in the country.

How much bank balance is required for Japan tourist Visa from India?

While there is no official requirement of a specific minimum balance for a Japan tourist visa from India, it is recommended to maintain a balance of Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 4,00,000 to adequately cover your expenses, flight and hotel bookings, etc.

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