Akihabara Area Guide

This famous neighborhood is jam-packed with stores displaying anime and video game goods, but you don't have to be an anime fan to live in Akihabara. Located on the northeastern edge of Chiyoda Ward, Akihabara Station is a transportation hub that offers great access to the rest of Tokyo through a variety of train and subway lines. Those who enjoy a lively Tokyo city life experience will likely feel at home in this neighborhood.

Contents

Location

Akihabara is found in the northeastern section of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, with Taito Ward to the north and Sumida Ward to the southeast. This location is very useful for traversing Tokyo thanks to the direct access north/south (via the Yamanote Line) and east/west (via the Chuo-Sobu Line) along with the various other lines that meet at Akihabara.

The neighborhood ranks just as highly as Shinjuku and Shibuya in terms of name recognition, but living in this area doesn’t cross the mind of many apartment hunters. While it is a busy, lively station with a penchant for anime and video game establishments, if you’re looking to live near a fantastic transportation hub in the eastern end of the 23 wards you might find Akihabara as a very suitable and livable solution.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Akihabara

Apartment Type Average Rent ($1 = ¥110)
1R 1K ¥120,500/month ($1,100)
1LDK 2K 2DK ¥182,400/month ($1,660)
2LDK 3K 3DK ¥222,800/month ($2,030)

Apartments For Rent in Akihabara

Train Lines

JR/Subway/Other Line
JR East Yamanote
JR East  Keihin-Tohoku
JR East  Chuo-Sobu
Tokyo Metro  Hibiya
Metropolitan Intercity Railway  Tuskuba Express

Accessibility

Transportation to…  Line Time
Shinjuku Chuo-Sobu, direct 19 min
Shibuya Chuo-Sobu (Yoyogi), transfer to Yamanote 23 min
Tokyo Yamanote, direct 4 min
Roppongi Hibiya, direct 22 min
Shinagawa Yamanote, direct 17 min
Kinshicho Chuo-Sobu, direct 7 min
Yokohama, Kanagawa Yamanote (Tokyo), transfer to Tokaido 34 min

Orientation Around the Station

Passengers wait for a train on the Chuo-Sobu Line at Akihabara Station. Photo: iStock stock photography

Arriving at Akihabara Station can be intimidating with the multiple levels for transferring train lines. However, if you are aware of which exit you need to take, you should be able to follow signs to get to your destination. Try not to get lost in the maze of heading up and down stairs needlessly.

Akihabara Station, looking at the West Exit (Electric Town Gate) and the open plaza in front of the station. Photo: iStock stock photography
  • The West Exit (西口) is where you’ll also find the Electric Town Gate (電気街改札). This will bring you out towards the stretch of road where you’ll find Sega Arcade centers and Sofmap electronic stores amongst an endless myriad of anime and video game related shops.
  • The Central Gate (中央改札) is the exit to take if you want to make a transfer to the Tsukuba Express line. It’s also the exit that is closest to the bus/taxi area at Akihabara Station.
  • The East Exit (東口) and Showa Dori Gate (昭和通り改札) are across the street from the Central Gate, and will take you to right in front of the Yodobashi Camera location in Akihabara. You will also want to use this exit if your destination in Akihabara is to the east of the station.

There is also a ticket gate on the second floor of the station that leads directly into the Atre shopping mall across from Akihabara Station.

The scenery is quite different at the Central Exit (Showa Dori Gate), where you’ll find this bus and taxi loading zone. Photo: iStock stock photography

Anime

Akihabara is the undisputed mecca of all things anime (Japanese animation). The buildings around the station are almost always decorated with famous or upcoming anime series. There are also a wide variety of anime (and video-game) themed cafes around the station.

Not only will you find Japanese anime fans browsing the aisles of figures and limited-release goods, but the neighborhood draws a large international crowd of tourists as well. Although you don’t have to be an anime fan to live in the neighborhood, you might feel more connected to your location if you find your local establishments fun and interesting.

Kanda Shrine

Contrary to the name, Kanda Shrine is actually located much closer to Akihabara than it is to where Kanda Station exists today. Originally established in 730 near where current Otemachi is found, the shrine has been moved throughout its existence (in 1603 it was moved to the now non-existent Kanda Ward to make room for Edo Castle, and it was moved again in 1616 to where it stands near Akihabara today). So, on one hand you have the anime and video game center of the world, and a short walk away is a historical connection to the Edo period of Japan.

Kanda Shrine is a slice of Tokyo’s history located just a quick walk away from the lights and crowds in bustling Akihabara Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Thanks to the influx of Akihabara’s claim to fame as a hotspot for electronics and gadgets in Tokyo, the shrine actually offers charms and pendants to ensure the safety and longevity of electronic goods.

Eating

There are many national and international fast food chain stores in the area to feed the many hungry tourists that walk through the streets of Akihabara. However, if you know where to look, you can find some surprisingly gourmet options in the middle of this anime and video game paradise. Tonkatsu Marugo is a destination for delicious deep-fried pork cutlets, Ramen Ninja is a good one to know if you’re looking for huge portions at a reasonable price, and you can wet your whistle at the iBrew Akihabara location which serves up both local and imported craft beers!

Livability

There’s always foot traffic around the streets of Akihabara near the electronics stores close to the station. Photo: iStock stock photography

If you’ve spent a little time walking around the streets of Akihabara you might wonder why anybody would ever consider living in the neighborhood. The crowds of visitors coming to the area can be draining, but it’s not much unlike similar large stations like Ueno, Takadanobaba, and Ikebukuro. Much like the previously listed stations, Akihabara is also a major hub station as it connects a lot of commuters coming to Tokyo from Chiba via the Chuo-Sobu Line. The bottom line is, if you’re interested in living near a station with great transportation options and are ready for the pros and cons of city living, definitely consider Akihabara in your apartment search.

There are pockets of the neighborhood that are away from the bustle of the main streets in Akihabara where you can find a little peace and quiet. In general though, if a residential vibe away from crowds is your priority in your apartment search, you might be best served by taking a look through apartments near smaller stations. In and around Chiyoda Ward this includes neighborhoods like Kuramae and Nezu.

Akihabara is located along the Kanda River, so depending on how far away from the station you’re willing to live, you might find a quiet riverside apartment. Photo: iStock stock photography

Useful Info at a Glance

Supermarkets

Nearby Supermarkets Hours Address
Hanamasa 24 hrs 4 Chome-14 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021
Fukushimaya Akihabara 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 4 Chome−14−1 秋葉原UDX1F
SEIJO ISHII Atre Akihabara 1 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−17−6 アトレ秋葉原1 3階
Life Supermarket Kanda Izumi-cho Store 9:30 AM – 12:00 AM 2-13 Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0024

*This is just a selection of supermarkets in the area.

Gyms

Nearby Gyms Hours Address
Anytime Fitness Akihabara 24 hrs 2 Chome-5-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021

*These are just examples of gyms available in the area.

Language Schools

Nearby Language Schools Information
Intercultural Institute of Japan Akihabara Intercultural Institute of Japan Akihabara Home Page

Ward Office, Police, Library

Nearby Community Center/City Hall/Police Station Hours Address
Manseibashi Police Station Mon. – Fri.: 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM

Sat. – Sun.: Closed

 1 Chome-16-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-8623
Taito City Office Taito district branch 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM 1 Chome-25-12 Taito, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0016

Hospitals

Nearby Hospitals Address
Mitsui Memorial Hospital 1 Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-8643
Tokyo Medical And Dental University, Medical Hospital 1 Chome-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-8519

*These are examples of clinics in the area.

Parks

Nearby Parks Address
Rensei Park 6 Chome-11-19 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021
Ochanomizu Park 1 Chome-4 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0034

Family-Friendly Features

Nearby Family Friendly Features Address
Kanda Children’s Hall 3-chōme-4 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tōkyō-to 101-0021

Department Stores

Nearby Department Stores Information Address
Akihabara UDX Akihabara UDX Home Page 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 4 Chome−14−1 秋葉原UDX

 

Akihabara Apartments

Apartments for rent near Akihabara Station:

Take a look through the listings around Akihabara on our website to get an idea of what kind of apartments you can find in the area. Also consider that you might be able to shave off a significant portion of your commute if Akihabara Station offers a direct connection to your workplace, which might be more beneficial in the long run compared to having a longer commute. 1R apartments in Akihabara start at around ¥80,000 per month!

Apartments For Rent in Akihabara

Where should you live in Tokyo? Check out all our Tokyo Area Guides to find the perfect place!

Lead photo: Akihabara, via iStock

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