Themed Bars and Cafes in Akihabara
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
Almost any travel guide to Japan will spend time selling you on a trip to Akihabara. It’s hardly anyone’s best kept secret and it’s usually a go to spot for visitors. It’s extremely crowded but worth pushing your way through the dense crowds. If you’re spending time in Akihabara, you’d be cheating yourself out of a unique experience if you didn’t make time to check out the many themed bars and cafes in the area. Cosplay Bar ON STAGE is an entire bar dedicated to, you guessed it, cosplay. If you want a quick bite to eat surrounded by all things Gundam, Gundam Cafe is exactly what you’re looking for. There is even a Square Enix cafe that occasionally changes decor and special menu items to reflect whatever game is being promoted at the time. The list of themed bars and cafes in Akihabara is quite extensive and pop up cafes come and go frequently so be sure to see what’s currently open in the area before planning a trip to the insanely popular district.
VR Zone
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
VR Zone is just one of many arcades in Japan but it has recently also become the home of the first virtual reality Mario Kart game. Gamers all across the globe are hoping to see Mario Kart VR come to their own local arcade but, for now, Mario Kart VR is only available at VR Zone’s Shinjuku location. The new VR game was introduced to the arcade on July 14 and joins a host of other impressive VR arcade games. While VR Zone has a great selection of more generic games that are also a blast to get your hands on, some of the true standout titles are attached to franchises like Dragon Ball Z and Gundam. If you can make time for some new age VR gaming in the midst of your journey through the best of what retro gaming has to offer at many of the other arcades in Tokyo, there is no spot better than VR Zone.
SEGA Tower
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
The Gigo SEGA Building, also referred to as the SEGA Tower, is a massive arcade in Akihabara. The arcade expands six floors and features a variety of historical games inside. One of which is the first ever Pokemon arcade game. The first two floors of the towers are reserved pretty much just for claw games and a variety of capsule dispensers. If you’re looking to get your hands on actual arcade games, you will be far more interested in making a beeline for the third floor and slowly working your way up. While there are still tons of claw machines on the third floor (many of which I would recommend actually giving a shot), you can also find that historical Pokemon game here along with One Piece, Dragon Quest, and Hatsune Miku games as well. From the fourth floor up, you will find yourself in an arcade heaven.
Capcom Bar
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
Yes, Capcom has a bar—an entire, alcohol-serving bar. If you want to experience a gaming themed bar but also want to venture outside of Akihabara, you should definitely consider visiting the Capcom Bar in Shinjuku. It’s one of the few bars that will feel far more like what you would expect a bar to feel like in the U.S. and it boasts a menu that pulls inspiration from a wide variety of Capcom’s games. Resident Evil themed cakes look like tiny faux brains while the drinks have garnishes made to look like an eyeball. It may sound gross but when you actually see the menu items, they don’t look hardly realistic enough to make you lose your appetite. If you don’t think you can stomach a brain shaped spongecake, however, there are tons of other options that pay homage to Capcom titles. Other standouts include a pizza inspired by Devil May Cry’s Dante and a unique tea recipe inspired by Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney’s Miles Edgeworth.
Tokyo Anime Center
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
Some anime fans like to take a stop at locations that are a bit more “gritty,” for lack of a better term, but if you don’t mind a more polished way to get your anime fix in the Tokyo Anime Center can be a great, quick stop. It’s completely free to stop by the center, which is dedicated solely to all things anime. The vast majority of the space is meant to entice you to spend your money and walk away with souvenirs, t-shirts, and other merchandise but there is more to see than just things to buy. There are small sections devoted to showing off teaser content for upcoming anime and another exhibition that puts a variety of different rough sketches on display. It probably won’t take you much more than 20 minutes to really get in and see everything the Tokyo Anime Center has to offer but it’s still a quick pit stop that can provide a nice change a pace during a trip to the ever-so-busy Akihabara district.
Hirose Entertainment Yard
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
Not everybody is familiar with the name Hirose Entertainment Yard but almost anyone who has an affinity for arcade culture has heard the tales of Taito HEY. This arcade is far from the flashiest. It’s certainly not the newest. It’s not even the biggest arcade you’ll find in Akihabara. It is, however, the one arcade you should make sure you visit before leaving the gamer mecca. Taito HEY is frequently visited by some of the most talented gamers in the world as it has garnered a reputation as a go-to training grounds for pro-gamers all across the globe. The arcade is split between fighting games on one side and shooters on the other. What games exactly you’ll find there changes a bit depending on when you decide to pay this arcade a visit. Of course, classic and iconic arcade games are a mainstay but other games are switched out and rotated due to the massive size of Taito HEY’s game library. Whether you’re a pro, aspiring to be one or just like arcade culture overall. Taito HEY is a unique arcade experience that does a wonderful job of paying homage to the good old days.
Ghibli Museum
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
Studio Ghibli is one animation studio that has garnered a cult-like following that is well deserved and impossible to ignore. If you have even the slightest obsession with films like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky or any other iconic film from Studio Ghibli, you won’t want to miss out on visiting the Ghibli Museum. While museums often get a bad reputation as being a bland visit, the Ghibli Museum has plenty to offer to win you over. There is a replica of My Neighbor Totoro’s Catbus, a cafe, rooftop garden, an animation studio mockup and tons of unique temporary exhibits that come and go. There is even a theatre dedicated to screening various Ghibli short films like Water Spider Monmon and The Whale Hunt.
8Bit Cafe
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
If you want to experience a gaming themed cafe but also hope to get outside the borders of Akihabara, 8bit Cafe is a must visit. The cafe is in another popular region in the area—Shinjuku. This themed cafe is dedicated to all things retro gaming. Toys and figurines of some of the most iconic gaming characters fill the cafe and their influence goes far behind the decor. Even 8bit Cafe’s menu is inspired by 90s gaming culture. Just be away that this doesn’t have a traditional cafe feel at all—but many believe that’s the best part of the dining experience here. 8bit Cafe feels less like a public establishment and more like a friendly get rendezvous spot in your best friend’s basement. The lighting is low and the space can feel cluttered, but it all feels incredibly genuine and is a lot of fun. The best part is, unlike some of the other themed cafes you’ll find in Japan, 8bit Cafe also has a reputation for serving up some pretty good food.
Otome Road
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
If you consider yourself an anime junkie and find yourself anywhere near Ikebukuro, you’ll want to take a detour down Otome Road. Otome Road actually isn’t the official name of the street but rather a nickname that was given to the strip of shops that are all dedicated to selling merchandise from popular anime that target women. That’s actually where the name Otome Road comes from as the nickname translates to Maiden Road in English. This isn’t a terribly large area and it certainly isn’t anywhere near as crowded as some of the more popular clusters of shops in the area, but it’s still a unique location to visit. Be mindful, however, that Otome Road isn’t necessarily considered a cosplay-friendly zone. It’s not that anyone will ban you for showing up in full cosplay, it’s just that you should be forewarned that you may be the only one.
Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
Must See Places in Japan for Gaming and Anime Lovers
No Pokemon fan’s trip to Japan is complete without stopping by one of Japan’s Pokemon Center. While there are multiple locations to visit, Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo is the most popular of them all. Keep in mind that this also means it’s the most crowded. If you’re willing to brave the crowds, however, the trip is certainly worth it. Technically, this is a giant store filled with all kinds of Pokemon goodies. When you step foot inside it feels like much more than that. This is really part shop, part museum as large Pokemon replicas fill the space and leave you dreaming of a world where Pokemon really do exist. There are even stations set up for you to play games from the franchise like Pokken Tournament. It essentially has just about everything a true Pokemon-lover could ask for. Just do your best to budget wisely because there will easily be thousands of dollars worth of merchandise that you’d like to walk out the door with.
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