Akihabara Audio Guide

Welcome to Akihabara

Welcome to Akihabara. The moment you leave the station, walls of anime billboards, countless electronic signboards, and the cheerful jingles of electronics stores all rush at you at once. This is Akihabara — 'Akiba' for short. Here, Japan's passions, from electronics to anime, games, and manga, are packed tightly into a single town. For the people of Japan, it is an exciting place to meet the latest technology and the thrilling worlds of their hobbies. For travelers, it is a rare corner where you can bathe in Japan's world-famous pop culture at its very source. Turn into a narrow side street, and tiny shops selling electronic parts line up one after another, the heat of hands-on making still alive today. But you may find it surprising to learn that the story of this futuristic town actually began with a single great fire. Over the next hour or so, let's trace the stories behind this city together. Stop wherever catches your eye, and listen at your own pace. Let's begin with the history of Akihabara — how a firebreak became the town of electricity.