Akihabara
[Open 11am-8pm daily.]
A stylish new retail venture from JR (the train company), Chabara is a sister store of the nearby under-the-tracks Aki-Oka crafts complex, showcasing local food products from around Japan. The retail section offers a vast selection of food and...
[Open noon-8pm daily.]
A Mecca for manga maniacs, Mandarake carries a huge selection of toys, figurines and other collectibles as well as new and used comics.
[Open noon-6pm. Closed irregular.]
The rabbits seem friendlier and more outgoing than average at this small cafe. Perhaps it's a result of the cafe's policy of providing all visitors with a complimentary packet of rabbit snacks upon arrival. There are two small playrooms, with two...
[Open 10am-10pm (enter by 9:30) daily.]
With ten branches and counting, this popular chain knows how to deliver a cat-cafe experience to a mass audience. This particular branch seems even larger than average, with plenty of seating so that it doesn't seem crowded even when there are a...
[Open noon-8:30pm. Closed 3rd Wed.]
The highlight of this model-railroad shop is a giant Tokyo-inspired track layout that takes up most of the second floor. Customers can rent one of several tracks by the hour, and either rent a model train here or bring their own.
[Open 11am-7:30pm (LO) daily.]
JaLaLa distinguish themselves within the competitive cat-cafe world with their choice of exotic breeds such as Abyssinians and Maine Coons - seventeen in all, including some of the largest housecats we've ever encountered. The long-running shop...
[Open 11am-9pm daily.]
This repurposed former train station (Manseibashi, last used in 1943) has been beautifully transformed into a niche shopping complex, housing a handful of upscale interior and design stores, cafes, restaurants and other shops. Part of the original...
[Open 11am-8pm. Closed Tuesdays.]
This owl cafe in the center of Akihabara has a unique atmosphere - more like a theme-park attraction than an animal cafe. From the outside it looks like a repurposed downtown office, but inside it's a fantasy world of sleepy owls, crystal...
[Open 11am-7pm. Closed Wednesdays.]
Officially known as "2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan," this is a complex of galleries, boutiques and workshops for artisans of both traditional and modern crafts. Lined up under the JR railroad tracks are some two dozen shops selling (and often making...
Bakurocho, Asakusabashi
[Open 11am-7:30pm. Closed Mondays.]
Produced by the Japan Photo Arts Society, Kanzan puts on exhibitions of contemporary photography and other art. They have different guest curators for each show in order to present work from a variety of different perspectives. And be sure to...
[Open 11am-7pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays, holidays.]
Established in 1988 by Musashino Art University, this non-profit gallery is a platform for guest curators to introduce talented new artists. When you visit, don't miss the smaller exhibition room behind the reception desk, which also includes a...
[Open noon-7pm. Closed Sun, Mon, Tue, holidays.]
Koki Arts' gallery director grew up in New York City, and his gallery represents both American and Japanese contemporary artists at various stages of their careers, with the goal of introducing American artists to Japan and vice versa. In addition...
[Open 2-7pm. Closed Mon, Tue.]
This small building on a Bakurocho side street looks like it's midway through the process of being demolished, but it's actually home to three cutting-edge contemporary art galleries on its three floors. It's definitely worth stopping by if you're...
[Open 2-7pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays.]
Open since June 2019, PARCEL showcases up-and-coming Japanese and international artists, typically in month-long shows. The main exhibition area is a two-level space just to the left of the entrance to the DDD Hotel, but they have an exhibit area...
[Open noon-6:30pm. Closed Mondays.]
A small gallery located on a Bakurocho side street, San Ai regularly puts on one-week shows of up-and-coming Japanese artists. Hours and days of operation may vary depending on the exhibition.
[Open 24 hours a day.]
Even if you're not staying in the hotel, you can stop by the reception desk of the "Strange Hotel" to chat with the friendly robot staff - they can converse in several languages, and they seem to enjoy talking with customers. While you're here...
[Open 1-4pm. Closed weekends.]
Although it's called a stationery museum, you won't find any envelopes, notebooks or other paper products at this quirky little museum. Instead they've assembled impressive collections of rare inkstones and calligraphy brushes, vintage fountain...
Ryogoku
[Open 9am-4:30pm (-6pm June-August) daily.]
This lovely public park was once the grounds of a feudal lord's residence in the late seventeenth century, and it was restored in 1927 after being destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake. The pond at the center of the park was originally fed by the...
[Open 9:30am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm). Closed Mondays.]
This small museum will mostly be of interest to Japanese sword enthusiasts and collectors. The facility is run by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, and there are usually several dozen swords and other objects from their 190-piece...
[Open 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays.]
It's an entire museum devoted to old cellphones! The history and culture of mobile communication is the theme here, and visitors with an interest in Japanese industrial design can trace the evolution of mobile-phone fashions through the years. ...
[Open 9:30am-5:30pm (enter by 5pm; Saturdays -7:30pm). Closed Mondays.]
[Update: The Tokyo-Edo Museum will reopen mid-2025] This excellent museum is devoted to the history of Tokyo, formerly known as Edo. Entering the museum via escalator from the third-floor plaza below is an inspiring experience - the massive...
[Open 11am-7pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays, holidays.]
Consisting of two large gallery spaces and a small library nook where you can look over artists' scrapbooks, MoMo puts on regular shows of their mostly Japanese contemporary artists. They also take part in international art fairs in Basel, Miami...
[Open 9:30am-5:30pm (enter by 5pm). Closed Mondays.]
This lovely museum is devoted to the work of Katsushika Hokusai, Japan's most famous ukiyoe artist, who lived and worked for most of his life here in this traditional neighborhood. The wide-ranging permanent collection provides a good overview of...