Akihabara Guide

Japan switches from at-register tax-free discounts to a customs refund system on November 1, 2026. Here is exactly what changes for Akihabara shoppers and what stays the same.

Akihabara has almost no public trash cans on purpose. Here is why, plus the real rule for using convenience store and pachinko parlor bins politely.

Chiyoda Ward bans street smoking everywhere, with a real ¥2,000 fine — here’s every official smoking area near Akihabara Station, plus a few shop-level spots worth knowing about.

A staffed luggage counter 2 minutes from Akihabara Station: hours, pricing, payment methods including Alipay, and the delivery service that ships bags to the airport for you.

Real prices and location for the coin lockers between Akihabara Station’s electric town and central exits, plus how the Multi e-Cube reservation system works.

Boxed figures and card boxes don’t survive a suitcase by accident. How to pack, ship, and declare an Akihabara haul so it actually arrives home intact.

Figure, trading card, and retro game price ranges in Akihabara, plus sample day budgets — so you can set a number before you shop instead of guessing at the register.

A practical guide to tax-free shopping in Akihabara: which shops qualify, what to bring, the step-by-step process at the register, and the mistakes that get travelers denied their exemption.

How to spot a counterfeit anime figure in Akihabara: box printing, sculpt detail, barcodes, and what to check before buying in person or through a proxy service.

From 1 November 2026 Japan switches to a refund system: you pay the tax in the shop and claim it back at the airport. What that means for an Akihabara shopping trip, including the mail-order rule that already disqualifies posted purchases.

Super Potato is the best-known retro game shop in Akihabara, and one of the few places where you can still buy — and play — hardware and cartridges going back to the Famicom era. The Basics Address: 1-11-2 Sotokanda, Kitabayashi Bldg, floors 3–5 Hours: 11:00–20:00 weekdays, 10:00–20:00 weekends and holidays …

K-BOOKS runs several specialised branches in Akihabara, each focused on a different category — doujinshi, character goods, idol merchandise. The Basics Note: multiple category-specific branches Which Branch Sells What K-BOOKS runs two connected shops inside Radio Kaikan — a Main Store and a MEN’S branch. The floor guide overhead breaks …