landmark
Tokyo Imperial Palace
The primary residence of the Emperor of Japan, set within vast gardens and moats in the heart of Tokyo.
2 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaJapanTokyo
Akihabara
Tokyo, Japan · Asia
About Akihabara
Akihabara works well as a base: 3km from Sensō-ji.
Akihabara is in Tokyo, Japan, with about 77,000 people. You drive on the left here.
Akihabara (Japanese: 秋葉原) is a neighborhood in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo, Japan, generally considered to be the area surrounding Akihabara Station (nicknamed Akihabara Electric Town). This area is part of the Sotokanda (外神田) and Kanda-Sakumachō districts of Chiyoda. There is an administrative district called AkihabaraRead more
(part of Taitō ward), located north of Akihabara Electric Town surrounding Akihabara Neribei Park.
The name Akihabara is a shortening of Akibagahara (秋葉ヶ原), which comes from Akiba (秋葉), named after a fire-controlling deity of a firefighting shrine built after the area was destroyed by a fire in 1869. Akihabara gained the nickname Akihabara Electric Town (秋葉原電気街, Akihabara Denki Gai) shortly after World War II for being a major shopping center for household electronic goods and the post-war black market.
Akihabara is considered by many to be the center of Japanese otaku culture, and is a major shopping district for video games, anime, manga, electronics and computer-related goods. Icons from popular anime and manga are displayed prominently on the shops in the area, and numerous maid cafés and large arcades are found throughout the district.
Where to Stay in Akihabara
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Akihabara?
Within an hour or so of Akihabara: Tokyo Imperial Palace (2 km), Tokyo National Museum (2 km), Sensō-ji (3 km), Kayaba Coffee (3 km).
Are there any good drives near Akihabara?
The nearest famous roads are Yabitsu Pass, Hakone Turnpike and Irohazaka Winding Road.
Where is Akihabara?
Akihabara is in Tokyo, Japan.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 77,200
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Tokyo
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.6985, 139.7725
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Akihabara
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Tokyo National Museum
Japan's oldest and largest museum, with an unparalleled collection of Japanese art and Asian antiquities spanning millennia.
2 km · about 5 min drive
cathedral
Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, located in the historic Asakusa district.
3 km · about 5 min drive
cafe
Kayaba Coffee
A 1938 corner kissaten in a converted machiya in Yanaka, saved from demolition and reopened with its original layout. Known for the tamago sando and a coffee-and-cocoa mix called Rousseau.
3 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Tokyo Skytree
Tallest tower in the world at 634 metres, a broadcasting and observation tower dominating the eastern Tokyo skyline.
4 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Tsukiji Outer Market
Tokyo's legendary outer market offering fresh seafood, street food, and culinary delights in a bustling atmosphere.
4 km · about 5 min drive
museum
teamLab Borderless Tokyo
An immersive digital art museum where interactive, boundary-less artworks flow from room to room in a mesmerizing sensory experience.
5 km · about 10 min drive
landmark
Tokyo Tower
Red-and-white communications tower inspired by the Eiffel Tower, an enduring symbol of post-war Japan.
5 km · about 10 min drive
Driving roads near Akihabara
6 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 28 kmTokyo Bay Aqua-LineA 14 km highway crossing Tokyo Bay via the world's fourth-longest undersea road tunnel, surfacing at the Umihotaru rest-island. Drive under the bay, then sip coffee mid-ocean with skyline views.
- 58 kmYabitsu PassA tight, tree-walled climb over the Tanzawa mountains west of Tokyo, long a favourite of motorcyclists and cyclists for its relentless switchbacks. The narrow western descent to Lake Miyagase is single-track in places.
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