Colorful Otaku Culture in Tokyo’s Akihabara Neighborhood

Akihabara is a frenetic Tokyo neighborhood where Japanese art, Otaku culture and electronics collide in a melange of sight and sound.

We interrupt our culinary tour of Tokyo for a brief break – an intermezzo if you will. By now, you’ve digested the first two courses of our Japanese epicurean odyssey. So, we want to give you a brief break from the food photos so that you didn’t get too full too quickly.

When eating so much great food while traveling, it is highly beneficial to let some of that awesome Japanese food digest while taking in the sights and sounds. Plus, you can see so much while on foot, both at eye level and by looking up.

Click here to discover our Japanese food favorites.

Tokyo’s Akihabara District

A great place to walk around and absorb the sights and sounds is Tokyo’s Akihabara district. Just two stops from Tokyo Station, Akihabara is a neighborhood known for its electronic superstores. There’s a reason that it’s known as Electric Town, but the neighborhood is so much more.

You could say that Akihabara is the world capital of geek boy culture. The neighborhood provides a one-stop shopping experience where a teenage boy could buy a whole bunch of anime videos and manga comic books along with the audio-visual system to watch them on while fantasizing about the scantily clad maids who inhabit the streetscape.

Otaku Culture

The Otaku culture which encompasses those forms breathes Akihabara with life. There is kitsch everywhere from the multi-story stores like the Mandarake Complex to the storefronts with touts hawking their wares.

Maid Cafes

The neighborhood is known for the maid cafes where you can get some entertainment with your snack. We have mixed views about the maids.

Are they cute and fun OR sexualized and creepy? You decide. Either way, the maids certainly add character to the neighborhood.

Akihabara Hotel Recommendation

Akihabara is a great neighborhood if you’re wondering where to stay in Tokyo. Beyond its shopping and entertainment options, the neighborhood has lots of restaurants and is accessible to multiple metro and train lines.

We stayed at the Dormy Inn Akihabara during our first visit to Japan. This hotel was a perfect spot for us – conveniently located, modern room and a wonderful rooftop onsen with indoor and outdoor hot springs and saunas available all day and night.

Original Publication Date: April 26, 2013