Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Bespoke tailor Y. & Sons creates contemporary kimono that are 100% iki (chic and urbane), tied low on the hips (a style typically worn by men) and…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Bespoke tailor Y. & Sons creates contemporary kimono that are 100% iki (chic and urbane), tied low on the hips (a style typically worn by men) and…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This ace arcade under the JR tracks (its name refers to the distance from Tokyo Station) offers an eclectic range of stores selling Japanese-made goods –…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This under-the-train-tracks shopping mall focuses on artisan food and drinks from across Japan, including premium sake, soy sauce, sweets, teas and…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
See (and sample) humble beans and rice whipped into pastel flowers at this award-winning traditional sweets shop, in business since 1935. There are blue…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Mansei-bashi Station was Tokyo's original eastern terminus, completed two years before Tokyo Station in 1912. It closed in 1943 and was reborn at long…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This fascinating neighbourhood of more than 170 new and secondhand booksellers is proof that the printed word is alive and well in Tokyo. Amid tottering…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This is the monster branch of Yodobashi Camera where many locals shop. It has eight floors of electronics, state-of-the-art camera and audio equipment,…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Despite its name, Radio Kaikan has nothing to do with radios and everything to do with Japanese pop culture. It was completely rebuilt in 2014 to include…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This is highly debatable, of course, but Mandarake Complex might just be the most classic Akihabara destination for otaku (geeks): eight storeys are piled…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
In business since 1882 (but with an active Twitter account), Ohya Shobō specialises in books, maps and ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) dating back to Japan's…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This shop, established in 1921, is the go-to place for traditional Japanese card games such as hyakunin isshu and hanafuda, which make for unusual…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Starchitect Kengo Kuma designed this slick revamp of an old book warehouse, turning it into a lifestyle boutique stocking a keenly edited range of fashion…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
In business since 1939, this shop stocks an incredible selection of art and photography books, posters and prints with some very famous Japanese and…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
One of several shops in Kagurazaka specialising in traditional craftwork. Here it’s hand-dyed textiles (such as scarves and tea towels), many with…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
A changing selection of homewares made by local artisans fills two floors of this old house turned shop. It has a picture window at the front, with a…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
The ever-changing selection at this compact shop includes clothes and accessories handmade in Tokyo and elsewhere around Japan.
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Strictly for old-school electronics otaku (geeks), this two-storey warren of several dozen electronics stalls under the elevated railway is the original,…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Are you on the lookout for a bipedal humanoid robot? V Stone specialises in DIY robot kits (from around ¥80,000, tax free). It also carries a range of…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This is a collector's plastic dream – heroic, sexy figurines from all walks of Japanese science fiction. Look for the statues of characters from the anime…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
There's a selection of over 100,000 titles here including comics, illustrated books, pop-cultural-idol books and cosplay (costume play) titles.
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Seven whole floors of anime, J-pop culture and hobby items, including the company's signature dolls.