09 Akihabara／秋葉原

Akihabara was the largest electric goods shopping district in Japan.  After the WWII, many radio set assemblers and radio parts suppliers opened small shops around Akihabara station and the area developed into a home electric appliances market in 1960s.  In 1970s, 10% of home electric appliances sold in Japan were sold to consumers in this area.  Although the number of electric goods stores decreased since 1990s due to the shift to suburban type large stores and EC stores, there are still many electric goods stores in this area, which are popular among foreign tourists.

Akihabara is also known as a center of Japanese otaku culture (animation/manga/game culture).  In 1980s through 1990s, every size of personal computer systems and components shops opened in this area and attracted young computer maniacs (computer “otaku”), who tend to like animation and manga, and Akihabara gradually gained a character of Japanese otaku culture in 1990s though 2000s.

In the period from 1928 to 1989, there was the largest vegetable and fruit wholesale market in Tokyo on the site adjacent to Akihabara station.  The site was redeveloped into a large office and residential buildings in 2004-2006, and Tsukuba Express Railway connecting Akihabara and Tsukuba Science City opened in 2005.  After the large-scale redevelopment project, old small buildings in the neighboring area were reconstructed, rent levels were increased and many small-to-medium size stores of unique characters were closed.

Manseibashi station was opened along the Kanda River in 1912 as the station of Chuou Line.  As Chuou Line was extended to Tokyo station in 1919 and Akihabara station was opened nearby in 1925 and became a junction station of Yamanote Line and Soubu Line in 1932, number of passengers Manseibashi station gradually decreased, and the station was closed in 1943.  The station was restored into a commercial complex in 2013.

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