Akihabara is a haven for lovers of Japanese anime, comics, and games, but what if I told you you can still have a great time as a “normy?”
1. The Akihabara Milk Stand
I’ve spoken before about the glory of Akihabara station’s infamous milk stand.
Located on platforms 5 and 6 is a humble but ambitious milk stand that’s become a favorite for commuters in need of their daily calcium.
Even if you’re not a milk person, you’ll enjoy the sheer variety of milk flavors and types on display.
From fresh plain milk to fruit smoothies, milk teas, and coffee milk, there is something for everyone at Akihabara’s milk stand!
Believe me or not, I think this milk stand is reason enough to come to Akihabara, even if it’s for a brief stop at the train station!
2. Enjoy A Halal Kebab
As a Muslim, you may struggle to find halal restaurants in Japan and typically have to resort to a vegetarian or pescatarian diet.
However, there is a halal kebab shop in the heart of Akihabara that is run by a Turkish man who, impressively, speaks English, Arabic, and Japanese.
The store (called Miku Kebab) cleverly intertwines Arabian food with Asian cuisine, offering both kebab wraps as well as kebab rice bowls.
For all those hungry Muslims in Japan, this Akihabara kebab shop offers both halal chicken and beef so you can get a complete meat fix!
The store offers dine-in or takeaway and is a local favorite even among the Japanese community!
3. Appreciate The Details On These Figurines
Even if you’re not into anime or manga (Japanese comics), it’s hard not to appreciate the amount of detail that goes into the craftsmanship of these figures.
Each muscle fiber is sculpted to perfection, an aspect of these anime figures which draws in ecstatic fans from all over the world.
The figures in the photo are from One Piece, the most popular anime and manga series in Japan, gaining enormous recognition worldwide.
The shops in Akihabara are stacked to the brim with detailed figures like these.
You don’t need to buy a thing to appreciate Akihabara as one of the most unique experiences during your trip to Tokyo.
Simply walk through the town and hop from store to store and witness the pinnacle of Japan’s “otaku” (obsession) culture!
4. Visit A Bunny Cafe
Okay, this next activity actually requires you to pay up, but I assure you it’s super affordable!
Moff Rell Bunny Cafe is a popular destination in the heart of Akihabara, allowing guests to book in time with some adorable fluffy bunnies in an enclosed space.
I was originally not keen on this one, but after going through it, I can say without a doubt it’s a worthwhile experience!
For just 1800 yen (less than 13 USD), you can enjoy a whole hour with these furry friends and you also get some rabbit snacks for feeding them and a free drink (for yourself).
There are also plenty of accessories for dressing up the bunnies and plush toys that you can get them to play with.
While you’re prohibited from picking up or “man-handling” the bunnies, you can take a seat and allow them to crawl into your lap naturally.
It may not sound like much, but it’s incredibly relaxing and therapeutic in practice.
After an hour (or 30 minutes if you want a discounted price), you’ll come out of Moff Rell Bunny Cafe in a fantastic mood!
5. Experience Japan’s Maid Cafe Culture
This last one is for the daring ones…seriously, you need a lot of courage to go into a maid cafe for the first time!
The concept of maid cafes has long been a staple of Japan’s culture of themed cafes and “cosplay” (costume play).
Akihabara is the hub for such culture, establishing the very first permanent maid cafe in 2001.
Originally, they were establishments designed to attract “otakus” or, for lack of a better word, geeks.
Proving popular among young male audiences, you could easily have called it a fetish of some sort, or at least that’s how they started out.
Don’t worry, maid cafes are completely G-rated (there are strict rules against inappropriate behavior), so feel free to bring your kids along!
However, nowadays, maid cafes have grown to become popular tourist attractions due to increased media exposure.
With so many of them popping up all over Japan, the competition became so fierce that many no longer resemble the traditional setup of maids serving customers food and drink in a cute and adorable manner.
While this aspect still exists, you’ll find many of these cafes putting on shows with singing and dancing or playing fun party games with customers.
Each maid cafe offers something unique, and while I’m not particularly keen to go again, I definitely recommend trying it at least once (or more if you end up liking it)!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!