Akihabara Radio Kaikan — Attraction in Tokyo

The first couple floors? 2/5 The middle-ish floors? 5/5

Be wary about buying things on the first couple floors, especially the big figurine store right in front of you after you go up the first escalator. It is really cool to see the sheer amount of IPs they have, but man the prices are RIDICULOUS. Go explore other floors here or other smaller stores of Akhihabara and you'll be able to find better deals.

The hobby stores in the middle-ish floors (the ones that take up the entire floor) were really, really cool actually! You can find board games, massive paint sections, good deals on figurines deep in the stores in the back, huge video game sections, car and plane model kits, etc etc etc. Definitely go check those out for gifts.

As for the rest of the entire mall - it is quite big and there are a surprising amount of TCG stores if you are into that. At the very top was a section promoting a Steins;Gate collab which the bottom floor goods store at the entrance had! Not sure if that random table at the very top floor is supposed to advertise such promotions in general but might be worth...

This is like the holy land for collectors and anime lovers. Ten floors stacked with shops selling everything from high-end figures to trading cards, model kits, rare manga, idol merch, vintage electronics, you name it. It’s colorful, chaotic, and pure heaven if you love Japanese pop culture.

I started at the bottom and worked my way up, and every floor had its own vibe. One had a whole section of just rare capsule toys. Another had display cases filled with ultra-detailed anime figures. Even if you’re not buying anything, just walking around and looking at the displays is pure fun. Everything is super well-organized despite the visual overload.

Some shops specialize in second-hand goods, which is awesome because you can score great finds – I saw mint-condition boxed Nendoroids for way less than online prices. And don't worry about language barriers – most shopkeepers are used to tourists, and signs are often in English.

If you're even a casual anime/manga fan, this building is a must-visit. I came out with way more stuff than I planned....

Stepped into Akihabara’s Radio Kaikan and immediately felt like I’d been sucked into a parallel universe, one where neon dreams, anime obsessions, and endless vending machines rule the land.

This place? It’s not a mall. It’s a temple for the gloriously geeky. Ten floors of pure sensory overload: rare figurines, retro video games, robot kits, gachapon galore, and more anime merch than your suitcase can legally handle. Don’t know what half the stuff is? Doesn’t matter. You’ll want it all.

One minute you’re browsing hyper-detailed Gundam models, the next you’re eyeing magical girl wands like you’re actually about to transform and save Tokyo. And yes, somewhere between floor 5 and 6, I’m pretty sure I made accidental eye contact with a grown man dressed as a schoolgirl. Zero judgment here — this is Akihabara, baby.

Hot tip: bring cash, comfy shoes, and zero shame. You'll be elbow-deep in boxes, giggling at NSFW keychains, and debating if you really need another Pikachu...