AKIHABARA
‘Akiba’ is the place for spotting teenage boys go crazy for anime, manga, maid cafes and video game arcades. It’s one of those neighbourhoods that just makes you think “wow, I’m in Tokyo!”. I recommend spending a few hours here just taking it in. Visit on a Sunday if you can because the main street is closed to traffic.
Visit Taito Game Station
Look for this big red building
You’re going to want to go through all 6 floors (including the basement) to really soak up the madness. People of all ages, especially men, come here to play all sorts of games, from crane games to music games. This place seemed totally crazy to me – I’ve never seen anything like it!
Have a mini Pablo cheese tart
When there’s a queue in front of it, you know it’s good! We saw these Pablo tarts in various locations in Japan but we just couldn’t resist them in their mini version. My favourite flavour was chocolate, but make sure you try the matcha too!
Go to an Owl Cafe
Our visit to Akiba Fukurou Owl Cafe was a big highlight of our time in Tokyo. For 1,500 yen (around £10) you can spend one hour with the owls, and you will be able to hold two owls of your choice during this time. You get a laminated (!) picture of yourself with an owl to take home too! Make sure you send them an email beforehand to reserve a place.
Shop for electronics or manga
Akihabara used to just be the go-to place for electronics, but now it’s also home to Tokyo’s otaku, or die-hard fans of anime and manga. Yodobashi Camera is the place to go for all sorts of electronics, although Akihabara Radio Center is the original collection of little stores that opened after WWII and made the area famous for electronics. If you’re looking for all sorts of manga collectibles you should try Mandarake, although there are many great smaller shops around too.
Akihabara is definitely one of those neighbourhoods you have to see when you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time. Although I’m not into electronics or manga, I loved the buzzing atmosphere and the weirdness of it all! It’s a very cool place to visit. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
If you’re going to Tokyo let me know how your trip goes! I’d love to see pictures.
If you’ve been before, please share your tips in the comments!
Sammy
May 21, 2016Unfortunately I haven’t been in Tokyo… But it’s definitely on my bucketlist!
I really like your article and it strengthens my wish to go there one day 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Christine Maguire
May 21, 2016I’ve never been to Tokyo but it looks really cool. The owl cafe is crazy! I’d love to visit, how do you think the owls are treated? Do they get to be outside at all?
City Cookie
May 24, 2016To be honest I don’t know how well they’re treated. There isn’t any information about it on their website! (at least not in English) The only thing I know is that they give the owls resting time, so there were several owls we weren’t allowed to touch during our session. I really hope they get to go out and fly after opening hours.
Martha Jane
May 23, 2016I have been desperate to visit Tokyo for as long as I can remember! This post just makes me want to go even more! x
Martha Jane | http://www.marthajanemusic.com
City Cookie
May 24, 2016You must go when you get the chance! Japan is absolutely amazing. xx
Jennifer Morrow
May 27, 2016The various animal bars are wild, (pun intended). I have heard of cat and other animal bars, but this is the first time I have heard about the owl bar! So fun!
City Cookie
May 27, 2016Yes, I went to a dog cafe in Seoul and it was crazy! The dogs were so excited every time someone walked in.
When I got back to Japan I found out that there is a new hedgehog cafe in Tokyo! Really want to go!
City Cookie
May 27, 2016Yes, I went to a dog cafe in Seoul and it was crazy! The dogs were so excited every time someone walked in. When I got back from Japan I found out that there is a new hedgehog cafe in Tokyo! Really want to go!
Sheri
May 27, 2016Wow! I love owls and I never knew Owl Cafes existed! That must have been an awesome highlight and that would be the first stop I would go to if I were visiting!
City Cookie
June 2, 2016It was so much fun! I’d love to visit an owl sanctuary here in the UK too.
Kusum @sveetesKapes
May 27, 2016Tokyo has been on my list for so long, love your description! Those cheese tarts look so delicious, making me hungry! Will be referring to your post for when I make it out there 🙂
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Sarah Harvey
May 29, 2016My partner Paolo would LOVE a visit like this (he loves anime)! My favourite part would definitely be strolling around the city and soaking it all up!
City Cookie
June 2, 2016I’m sure you would both absolutely love Tokyo!
Liana
May 29, 2016Your photos are just so cool and I’m quite fund of visiting Tokyo soon enough! I loved the way you presented it! x
http://tomboychronicle.com
City Cookie
June 2, 2016Thank you so much Liana!
Sashiko
April 12, 2017Can’t wait for my trip! I will be skipping the Owl Cafe though, did you know that they don’t allow their owls to drink water ALL day so they won’t have accidents on the customers? Also if there is a sign that reads “This owl is being fostered” it means it has actually died. :'(
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
April 13, 2017Oh no I had no idea! I did feel guilty afterwards because I don’t know how often the birds get to fly… it’s so hard to find any information about it when you don’t speak Japanese! At least the owls have breaks when people are not allowed to touch them.
I went to a dog cafe in South Korea which was more fun and the dogs definitely had a few accidents!
Hope you have a great trip! I can’t wait to go back in December!
Annie
May 4, 2017Everything sounds really great, I’m going next week and really looking forward to seeing all the outlandish stuff in Akhibara. Perhaps except the Owl cafe. Personally I don’t believe we should be handling wild animals, especially since Owls are nocturnal creatures.
mytravelscrapbook.com
May 29, 2019great post but disagree with the owl cafe. It is really painful for owl’s eyes to be open in the daylight, animal cafes should be banned.