Things To Do in Akihabara With Kids (And Pokemon Fans!)

If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo and have even the slightest interest in gaming, anime, or Pokemon, then Akihabara should definitely be on your itinerary. There are so many things to do in Akihabara with kids, and it’s by far my Pokemon-mad boys favourite place to be in Tokyo.

Often called “Akihabara Electric Town”, Akihabara is a sensory overload in the best possible way. It’s everything you imagine a place called Electric Town to be! Think Neon Lights, tall buildings stacked high with anime stores, arcades blasting musics, and so many shops dedicated to collectibles I didn’t even know existing.

This is definitely one for the Otaku (Japanese for nerd) and my boys are glad to fit in that category. They just love it here: so much so that we visited three times on our last trip to Japan alone! Visiting Akihabara with kids is a memorable, surprisingly varied, and fun day out.

Planning your own day out to Akihabara with kids? Here’s our full breakdown of the best things to see and do:

Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!

Buying Pokemon Cards in Akihabara

The main reason most people go to Akihabara? For shopping! You can pick your poison here: retro computer games, sports trading cards, but let’s be honest. What Akihabara is most famous for is the reason my boys like to visit so often: Pokemon Cards.

If your kids are into Pokemon, then this is the place to go!
👉 You can read my full guide to Pokemon attractions in Tokyo here.

Akihabara is packed with trading card shops, and many of them specialise in Pokemon card, both modern and vintage, rare and bulk. You can find cards ranging from 50 yen to millions of yen.

A few things that we noticed that it’s worth knowing before you arrive:

• Prices can vary massively between shops, so it’s worth browsing a few before buying. This can also stop excited kids from making impulse purchases.
  
• Staff are generally kind and helpful (our boys even got some small free gifts) but English can be limited in some stores, so if you don’t speak Japanese have your Google Translate at the ready!
  
• Set a budget and stick to it. There’s so much cool stuff here, and it’s easy to get carried away. We find giving the boys their own set amount of cash a handy approach. They’re more careful with it when it’s theirs and in their pocket. They can also clearly see how much they’ve spent and when they’re running out of cash!

👉 We stayed in an AMAZING Pokemon-themed apartment close to Akihabara. Read our full review here.

Some Of Our Favourite Pokemon Card Shops

There were some shops the boys just kept going back to again and again. They had great stop, good prices, a great atmosphere, or a mix of all three. I’ve listed these here;

• Card Kingdom
• Hareruya 2
• Radio Kaikan (There are lots of different small Pokemon stores in this huge building)
• Cardon Akihabara Main Store
• BookOff Akihabara (A second-hand store, there are loads of these across Japan, but the Akihabara has a great card section with lots of budget options, so great for kids!)

Selling Pokemon Cards in Akihabara

Although they’ve visited Akihabara many times before, for the first time on this trip, the boys actually sold Pokemon cards! They both pulled waifu cards that they didn’t want in their collections, but that they knew were valuable.

A waifu is a fictional female character, typically from anime, manga, or video games but also in Pokemon, for whom a fan feels a strong, often romantic or affectionate attachment. So understandable that a pair of tweenage boys would have no interest in collecting those!

We did a lot of research, and found that Hareuya is one of the few Pokemon stores in Akihabara where foreign tourists can sell cards: most stores require a Japanese residency card. There are two Hareruya stores, with Hareruya2 being one of the largest Pokémon TCG specialty stores in Japan.

The process was so easy and such a core memory for the kids (pulling and then selling Pokemon cards in Japan! The home of Pokemon!) so I’ve broken it down below:

• Bring Your Passport. Most stores require Japanese residency but ALL need a form of ID. In Hareruya, foreign tourists can only sell cards if they bring their passport
• Bring a Grown Up. You can’t sell cards if you’re under 18, so although the boys sold their cards, we actually completed the transaction for them.
• Go To The Buy/Sell Counter. At Hareruya, there’s a clearly marked counter where you hand over cards for appraisal. In the original store (which is where we went) this is in the basement.
• Arrive Early. We were the first people at the selling counter when the store opened. This made the appraisal process faster. Each card is assessed for condition, rarity, and current market value. Obviously the more cards you have, the longer this takes
• You’ll Get A Printed Quote. There is no negotiation. You either agree to the prices printed on the slip of paper you’re given, or you graciously bow out and walk away.
• Get Paid in Cash. If you accept the offer, you’ll be paid in cash there and then. Obviously this will be in yen. Walk away and enjoying spending your spoils!

The boys sold just two cards (one each) and made a frankly incredible £400 from this transaction. I don’t pretend to understand Pokémon Cards or Pokémon trading, but I was very impressed with their approach. And of course, they managed to spend almost all of that money on OTHER Pokémon cards in one afternoon in Akihabara.

Visit A Shrine Hidden Among The Neon Lights

I almost called this section ‘something for the mums’ because, as a non-anime or Pokemon fan, I can often feel a bit lost (and if I’m really honest, a bit bored) in Akihabara, standing in the corner of card shops while the boys look at every. single. card.

But one thing I really love here is the Kanda Myojin Shrine. This is a small but beautiful shrine, as well as a historic shrine as its one of the oldest still standing in Tokyo. It’s a oasis of calm, and makes a wonderful break from the chaos of Harajuku. It’s a great place to slow down for a bit, especially with kids, and my boys loved that this Shrine had its own horse (the first shrine we’ve visited to do that!)

What makes the Kanda Myojin Shrine particularly interesting is that it’s connected to the modern culture that has grown up around it. People bring their electronic devices here for tech-related blessings and as well as the traditional charms you find in every shrine, you’ll also find anime themed ones here too.

One of the things I really love about Tokyo is how it blends old and new so seamlessly, and that’s particularly evident here.

Win In The GiGO Akihabara Arcade

One thing we all love when we’re in Japan are the arcades: We are a pretty competitive bunch so we love battling each other on Mario Karts and going mad on Taiko no Tatsujin (a drumming game that is so addictive). And of course the chance to win plushies and prizes from the abundance of unique claw machines.

There are plenty of great arcades in Akihabara, but our favourite and one of the biggest is the GiGo Akihabara Arcade (This used to be the SEGA Arcade). It’s a great place to let off steam, reconnect as a family, and get a break from those card shops!

Think one arcade is the same as another? I disagree! These arcades are on a completely different level to anything we have at home! And I really think you should go into at least one Japanese arcade during your visit. Some of the highlights are

• Multiple floors packed full of games
• Claw machines where you can win Pokemon and anime prizes
• Rhythm games, racing simulators, and retro classics you won’t be able to resit
• Entire floors dedicated to specific types of games, making it easy to find one you’ll love.

It’s loud, it’s chaotic. But it’s also incredibly fun! And something we really love doing together as a family. And the boys always win plushies so big I have no idea how we’ll bring them home (it’s tradition at this point).

Need to give the kids a break from the Electronics altogether? You’re only one metro stop away from Kinshi park. It’s small but it’s a great place to give younger kids a run around. We have a full Kinshi park review here.

Is Akihabara Good For Families?

I think Akihabara is a great place for families, and there are so many things to do in Akihabara with kids. BUT I will add a couple of small caveats to that, to help make your trip as family-friendly and enjoyable as possible.

So much of Akihabara is family-friendly. This is especially true of the Pokemon shops and the arcades. But there are some areas and stores (or parts of stores) that are geared towards adult anime fans. If you’re in a figurine store, for example, and there is a section separated off by a half-curtain, that bit isn’t for kids. Curiosity got the better of me because I didn’t know what was inside, and I found some very adult figurines.

You’ll also find, especially in the evenings, that outside many of the maid cafes there are many maids in their uniforms handing out flyers or encouraging potential patrons to come inside. This didn’t bother as at all, but I know some families might find this problematic.

If you stick to the main streets though, and the larger stores, the whole family will have a great time! If you ask my boys they will tell you it was their Tokyo highlight, and it’s a brilliant spot for balancing out kids interests with temples, parks, and more traditional sightseeing.

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

Whether you’re hunting for rare Pokemon cards, trying your luck in the arcades, or taking a quiet moment at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Akihabara offers something that feels completely unique yet very Tokyo. That’s why we recommend it in our 10 day Tokyo itinerary.

It’s busy, it’s bright, it’s bonkers! It’s my boys favourite place in the world. And it’s totally worth visiting.

Looking for more tips to help you plan your trip? Check out:

👉 10 Day Tokyo Itinerary for 2025: The Perfect Japan Stay For Families and First Timers
👉 Tokyo for Car Lovers: The Best Driving & Racing Experiences You Can Book
👉 The Ultimate Japan Itinerary 14-Day for First-Time Visitors

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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!