C U L T U R E
How to Shop in Akihabara: Electronics, Anime & Tax-Free in 2026
Which buildings sell what, the tax-free process step by step, haggling rules, electronics vs anime vs figures — and the traps that waste your money in Electric Town.
Quick Answer
- Get there: JR Akihabara Station (Yamanote Line), Electric Town exit. Most shops open 11 AM, close 8–9 PM. Go on a weekday for fewer crowds.
- Electronics: Go to Yodobashi Camera Akiba first — massive selection, tax-free, price-matched. Small shops on side streets are for specialists and parts hunters only.
- Anime/Figures: Mandarake (used, great prices), Animate (new), Kotobukiya (premium figures), Radio Kaikan (multi-tenant building with 30+ shops).
- Tax-free: Bring your passport. Spend ¥5,000+ at one store in one day → 10% tax refund on the spot. Details below.
- Pay with credit card or Suica at big stores. Small shops and floor vendors may be cash-only — carry ¥10,000+.
- Price comparison matters. Yodobashi, BicCamera, and Amazon Japan often differ by 5–15% on the same item. Check kakaku.com (price comparison site) before buying.
- Used goods are the secret. Mandarake, Surugaya, Book-Off, and Trader have pre-owned figures, games, and electronics at 30–70% off retail.
- Point cards are worth it. Yodobashi Gold Point Card gives 10% back. BicCamera has a similar program. Stack with credit card points.
- Akihabara’s best deals are underground. The Radio Kaikan building and the back alleys off Chuo-dori have specialty shops with better prices than main street stores.
- No tax-free for residents. The tax exemption is tourists only (short-term visitor visa with passport stamp).
What Akihabara Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Chuo-dori, Akihabara’s main strip. This is where most tourists walk — but the best finds are one street over.
Akihabara (秋葉原, “Akiba”) started as an electronics black market after World War II. Today it’s three things at once:
- Electronics district — Yodobashi Camera Akiba, small component shops, PC parts stores
- Otaku culture hub — anime, manga, figures, cosplay, idol cafés, retro games
- Tourist shopping zone — tax-free stores, souvenir shops, themed cafés
The main strip is Chuo-dori running south from JR Akihabara Station’s Electric Town exit. But the real finds are in the side streets and multi-tenant buildings one block east and west.
When to go
- Weekdays 11 AM–2 PM: Lightest crowds. Staff have time to help you.
- Saturday/Sunday: Chuo-dori becomes a pedestrian zone (ホコ天 / hokoten) 1–5 PM. Fun atmosphere, but packed.
- Most shops open 10–11 AM, close 8–9 PM. A few stay open until 10 PM.
How to get there
JR Akihabara Station (Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Sobu Line) — use the Electric Town exit (電気街口). Alternatively, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (Akihabara Station exit 3) or Tsukuba Express.
Tap in with your Suica or Welcome Suica (for tourists — 28-day validity, available at airports and major stations, also available as a mobile app on iPhone).
Electronics: Where to Buy What
Yodobashi Camera Akiba — Start Here
The single biggest electronics store in Akihabara. Nine floors. Connected directly to JR Akihabara Station’s Showa-dori exit.
- What they have: Cameras, laptops, phones, headphones, home appliances, games, toys, cosmetics, and more
- Tax-free: Yes (passport required, ¥5,000+ purchase)
- English support: Yes — look for staff with “English OK” badges, or use the English-language touchscreen kiosks
- Point card: Yodobashi Gold Point Card — 10% points back on most purchases. Free to sign up. Works like store credit on your next visit.
- Price matching: They’ll match kakaku.com and Amazon Japan prices. Ask at the register: 「価格.comの値段に合わせてもらえますか？」 (Kakaku-com no nedan ni awasete moraemasu ka? / “Can you match the kakaku.com price?”)
Counter-intuitive tip: For most electronics, Yodobashi has the best combination of price, selection, and convenience. The small shops on side streets are worse deals for common items. Those shops are for hobbyists buying rare components and vintage parts.
BicCamera Akiba
Across the street from the station. Smaller than Yodobashi but comparable. Some items are cheaper here due to different promotions.
- Tax-free: Yes
- Point card: Similar 10% back program
Small Specialty Electronics Shops
The side streets east of Chuo-dori still have tiny shops selling:
- Electronic components (resistors, capacitors, LEDs)
- Cables and adapters (any standard you can imagine)
- Vintage audio equipment
- Ham radio gear
These are for hobbyists, not general electronics shoppers. Prices aren’t necessarily cheaper — the draw is finding things that don’t exist at big retailers.
Inside Yodobashi Camera Akiba. Nine floors of electronics, appliances, and more. Tax-free counter is on the 1st floor.
Anime, Manga, Figures & Retro Games
This is why most people actually come to Akihabara. The otaku shopping ecosystem is unmatched anywhere in the world.
The essential stores
| Store | What It Sells | Price Level | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio Kaikan (ラジオ会館) | 30+ specialty shops in one building. Figures, cards, costumes, vintage toys. | Varies | Right at Electric Town exit |
| Mandarake (まんだらけ) | Used figures, doujinshi, manga, retro games, cosplay. 8 floors. | Budget-friendly | Complex building on Chuo-dori |
| Animate (アニメイト) | New anime/manga merch, CDs, light novels, character goods | Mid-range | Main Chuo-dori |
| Kotobukiya (コトブキヤ) | Premium figures, model kits (Gundam, Frame Arms Girl) | High-end | South of station |
| AmiAmi (あみあみ) | New and pre-owned figures, character goods | Mid-range | Chuo-dori area |
| Super Potato (スーパーポテト) | Retro games — Famicom, Super Famicom, N64, Sega Saturn, PS1 | Varies (some rare items are pricey) | Back street near Mandarake |
| Trader (トレーダー) | Used games, DVDs, Blu-rays, manga | Budget | Multiple locations |
| Book-Off | Used manga, CDs, games at basement prices | Cheapest | Near station |
Where to find specific things
- Figures (new releases): Kotobukiya, AmiAmi, Animate
- Figures (used/pre-owned): Mandarake, Surugaya — 30–70% off retail for opened boxes
- Trading cards (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, etc.): Radio Kaikan (multiple card shops), Traders
- Retro games & consoles: Super Potato, Trader, Surugaya
- Doujinshi (fan-made manga): Mandarake (largest selection), Toranoana
- Cosplay supplies: Radio Kaikan (ACOS), specialty shops on back streets
- Gachapon (capsule toys): Gachapon Hall (Chuo-dori) has 500+ machines in one room
Haggling rules
You don’t haggle in Japan. Not at Yodobashi, not at Animate, not at small shops. The listed price is the price.
The one exception: at used goods shops (Mandarake, Surugaya), if an item has visible damage not noted in the description, you can politely ask for a discount. Say: 「ここに傷があるんですが、少しお安くなりますか？」 (Koko ni kizu ga arun desu ga, sukoshi oyasuku narimasu ka? / “There’s a scratch here — can you lower the price a bit?”). They may or may not agree. Accept the answer gracefully.
Tax-Free Shopping: The Step-by-Step Process
If you’re a tourist on a short-term visitor visa, you can avoid the 10% consumption tax on purchases of ¥5,000 or more at a single store in a single day.
Requirements
- Valid passport with a short-term visitor (短期滞在) stamp or sticker
- Minimum ¥5,000 purchase (before tax) at one store in one day
- Two categories: general items (electronics, clothing, figures) and consumables (food, cosmetics). You cannot combine categories to reach ¥5,000.
Step-by-step
- Shop normally. Pick out what you want.
- Go to the tax-free counter (免税カウンター / menzei kauntaa). At Yodobashi, it’s on the 1st floor. At most stores, look for the “TAX FREE” sign.
- Show your passport. Staff will verify your visa status.
- Staff will process the refund. At most stores, the tax is deducted immediately at the register — you pay the tax-free price. Some stores refund the difference separately.
- Staff attaches a record to your passport (since 2023, this is electronic — no more paper stapled to your passport in most stores).
- Done. The whole process takes 5–10 minutes.
What to say at the register: 「免税でお願いします」 (Menzei de onegai shimasu / “Tax-free, please”)
Tax-free pitfalls
- Consumable tax-free items (food, cosmetics, alcohol) must leave Japan unopened in their sealed bag. Customs can check at the airport. If you open them, you owe the tax.
- General items (electronics, figures) have no seal requirement — use them immediately.
- You must take items out of Japan within 30 days of purchase.
- Don Quijote (ドンキホーテ) in Akihabara also does tax-free — and has a wider range of goods (snacks, cosmetics, electronics, costumes). Worth checking if Yodobashi doesn’t have what you need.
The “Don’t Do This” Section
❌ Trap 1: Buying common electronics at small shops
Small shops on the side streets charge more for common items (cables, adapters, memory cards) than Yodobashi or Amazon Japan. Their advantage is rare/niche items, not price.
❌ Trap 2: Skipping the point card
Yodobashi’s Gold Point Card gives 10% back. On a ¥50,000 camera purchase, that’s ¥5,000 in store credit. If you’ll buy anything else (a case, SD card, batteries), sign up for the free card. Even tourists can use it.
❌ Trap 3: Buying figures at retail when used ones are available
A figure that’s ¥15,000 new at Kotobukiya might be ¥6,000–¥8,000 at Mandarake in perfect condition (opened box). Always check the used shops first.
❌ Trap 4: Forgetting your passport for tax-free
No passport = no tax exemption. Keep it on you when shopping. A copy or photo doesn’t count.
❌ Trap 5: Voltage and plug compatibility
Japanese electronics run on 100V / 50-60Hz with Type A plugs (two flat prongs, no ground). Some appliances won’t work at 220-240V. Check the label. Cameras, phones, and laptops are usually universal voltage (100-240V) — safe to buy. Hair dryers, rice cookers, and heated appliances are often Japan-only voltage.
Phrases for Akihabara Shopping
| Situation | Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax-free request | 「免税でお願いします」 | Menzei de onegai shimasu | ”Tax-free, please” |
| Asking the price | 「これはいくらですか？」 | Kore wa ikura desu ka? | ”How much is this?” |
| Asking for a different size/color | 「別のサイズ（色）はありますか？」 | Betsu no saizu (iro) wa arimasu ka? | ”Do you have a different size (color)?” |
| Asking if it works overseas | 「海外でも使えますか？」 | Kaigai demo tsukaemasu ka? | ”Does this work overseas?” |
| Price matching | 「価格.comの値段に合わせてもらえますか？」 | Kakaku-com no nedan ni awasete moraemasu ka? | ”Can you match the kakaku.com price?” |
| Pointing at an item | 「これください」 | Kore kudasai | ”This one, please” |
A Suggested Walking Route (2–3 Hours)
- JR Akihabara Station, Electric Town exit → Turn left
- Radio Kaikan (5 min) — Browse 2–3 floors. Figure shops, card shops, vintage toys.
- Walk south on Chuo-dori → Animate (10 min) — New anime merch
- Turn east → Mandarake Complex (20–30 min) — 8 floors of used goods. This is where you’ll spend the most time.
- Back to Chuo-dori → Super Potato (15 min) — Retro games. The 5th floor has a playable retro arcade.
- Walk north → Yodobashi Camera Akiba (30+ min) — Electronics, tax-free processing
- Optional: Don Quijote (15 min) — Snacks, costumes, tax-free souvenirs
- Optional: Gachapon Hall — 500+ capsule toy machines. Budget ¥200–¥500 per pull.
FAQ
Q: Is Akihabara cheaper than Amazon Japan for electronics?
A: Usually no. Yodobashi and Amazon Japan are within 1–3% of each other. Yodobashi’s advantage is the 10% point card return and tax-free for tourists. For a tourist buying a ¥100,000 camera: tax-free saves ¥10,000 + point card gives ¥10,000 in store credit = significantly better than Amazon.
Q: Can I ship purchases home from Akihabara?
A: Yes. Yodobashi and BicCamera offer international shipping on large items. For smaller items, any post office handles international parcels (SAL or EMS). The Akihabara post office is a 5-minute walk from the station.
Q: Are maid cafés worth visiting?
A: Once, for the experience. Expect to pay ¥2,000–¥4,000 for a drink + photo + interaction. It’s entertainment, not dining. Stick to established cafés with posted prices — avoid touts on the street. “@home café” and “Maidreamin” are the biggest chains.
Q: What about Nakano Broadway as an alternative?
A: Yes — Nakano Broadway (JR Nakano Station, 5 min from Shinjuku) is the “local’s Akihabara.” Less crowded, more Mandarake shops (the company started there), and better prices on vintage items. Worth a trip if you’re a serious collector.
Q: Do I need a full day in Akihabara?
A: For casual shopping: 2–3 hours is enough. For serious browsing (figures, retro games, electronics comparison shopping): plan half a day (4–5 hours). Completionists can spend an entire day.
Related Guides
- Payment Methods in Japan — what cards work, PayPay, and cash situations
- Suica Card Guide — how to get and use IC cards for transit and shopping
- Shibuya & Harajuku Guide — another major shopping district
- How to Navigate Shinjuku Station — if you’re connecting through Shinjuku
- Coin Lockers — stash your bags while shopping