AnimeTrails
Brick arches of the old Manseibashi Station near Akihabara at night, TokyoPhoto: くろふね / CC BY 3.0

Tokyo in 1 Day: Akihabara & Ikebukuro for Love Live!, Steins;Gate & Pokémon

  • 1 day
  • Ochanomizu Station → Ikebukuro Station (any central Tokyo hotel)

At a glance

Fares & tickets (adult)
Varies
One short train ride between Akihabara and Ikebukuro, paid with an IC card. The shrine and every shop are free to enter.
Best time to go
Any time of year: almost everything is indoors, so it works on rainy and very hot days.
Closing days
No regular closing days. Radio Kaikan and most shops open at about 10:00, so go to the shrine first.
Walking (our estimate)
Moderate: roughly 6–8 km, much of it indoors and on stairs.

First time in Japan? Read our first-timer's guide

Tokyo's two big anime shopping districts, linked by one train ride. Start at Kanda Myojin, the shrine the Tokyo tourism board calls a key setting of Love Live! and a Steins;Gate location. Walk down to Akihabara Radio Kaikan, a building full of figure and card shops that appears in Steins;Gate. After lunch, ride to Ikebukuro for Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO in Sunshine City, the shops of Otome Road and Animate's flagship store. Apart from the shrine, every stop is indoors, so it works in most weather.

Your booking checklist

Four things to book before you go.

Partner links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we choose

The route

  1. 1Kanda Myojin Shrine · Chiyoda, Tokyo
  2. 2Akihabara Radio Kaikan · Chiyoda, Tokyo
  3. 3Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO · Toshima, Tokyo

Day by day

Times, fares and opening hours are approximate. Check the official pages under Sources before you go (last checked September 18, 2026).

Day 1

Kanda Myojin → Akihabara → Ikebukuro

A shrine and Akihabara in the morning, Pokémon and Ikebukuro's anime shops in the afternoon.

  1. Morning

    Kanda Myojin Shrine

    Arrive before the shops open. The shrine is a 5-min walk from Ochanomizu Station (JR Hijiribashi exit or Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line exit 1) and a 7-min walk from Akihabara Station's Electric Town exit. The shrine has offered anime collaboration charms and ema over the years; what is on offer changes, so look at the amulet office when you visit.

    Spot guide: Kanda Myojin Shrine

  2. Late morning

    Akihabara Radio Kaikan

    Walk down to Akihabara Station (about 10 min). The building opens at about 10:00 and has floors of figure, card, doll and hobby shops up to a 10th-floor event space. Steins;Gate fans know it from the start of the story. The summer 2026 Steins;Gate RE:BOOT. collaboration has ended; check the building's news page for new events.

    Spot guide: Akihabara Radio Kaikan

  3. Midday

    Lunch and a walk around Akihabara

    Eat around the station. The Tokyo tourism board describes the Akihabara streets as a mix of electronics megastores, small parts shops and stores for anime, manga and games.

  4. Early afternoon

    Akihabara → Ikebukuro

    Take the JR Yamanote Line from Akihabara to Ikebukuro (about 25 min, no change). Alternatively, walk back to Ochanomizu and take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line straight to Ikebukuro (about 20 min).

  5. Afternoon

    Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, Sunshine City

    The shop is on the 2nd floor of Sunshine City's Alpa mall, about 8 min on foot from Ikebukuro Station (about 3 min from Higashi-Ikebukuro on the Yurakucho Line). Open roughly 10:00–20:00. Popular trading card releases are sometimes sold by lottery only, so check the shop's news page if you want a new set.

    Spot guide: Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO

  6. Late afternoon

    Otome Road

    The Tokyo tourism board describes Otome Road as dedicated to girls' comics and video games. It is a stretch of shops near Sunshine City; browse on the way back toward the station.

  7. Evening

    Animate Ikebukuro flagship store

    Animate's flagship store is about 5 min on foot from Ikebukuro Station's east exit and open until roughly 21:00, so it is a good last stop. Several floors hold anime goods, books and collaboration events that change every few weeks. Tax-free shopping is available.

Arriving? Japan eSIM

Where to stay

Brick arches of the old Manseibashi Station near Akihabara at night, Tokyo

Stay in

Akihabara

Stay nearby so you can reach Kanda Myojin early and walk to Radio Kaikan at opening time.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Akihabara
Sunshine 60 tower in Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo

Stay in

Ikebukuro

The day ends here, and the shops stay open into the evening, so you can shop late without a ride home.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Ikebukuro

Getting around

IC card (Suica / PASMO)

A rechargeable card you tap at ticket gates, and the simplest option for this plan: most of the day is on foot, with one train ride between Akihabara and Ikebukuro. It also works in convenience stores and many shops.

Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours)

About ¥1,000 (adult, 24 hours); 48- and 72-hour versions also exist

Unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for 24 hours from first use. It covers the Marunouchi Line option to Ikebukuro but not the JR Yamanote Line. Worth it only if you add more subway rides to the day. For visitors from overseas.

Check pass prices Official info

Visiting with respect

  • Kanda Myojin is an active shrine. Bow at the gate, keep your voice down, and give way to people praying and to ceremonies.
  • Many shops in Radio Kaikan, Animate and the Pokémon Center limit photos inside. Look for signs or ask staff before taking pictures.
  • Don't photograph other shoppers or cosplayers on Otome Road or in Akihabara without asking.
  • Aisles are narrow. Wear your backpack on your front or leave large luggage in a station locker.

FAQ

Where is THE GUNDAM BASE?

According to the official site, THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO is on the 7th floor of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba, not in Akihabara or Ikebukuro. A new store, THE GUNDAM BASE SHIBUYA, is announced for November 2026 in Shibuya PARCO. The life-size Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba ended its display on August 31, 2026.

Do I need tickets for any of these places?

No. The shrine and all the shops are free to enter. The Pokémon Center may hold lotteries for new trading card releases, announced on its official page.

Is Kanda Myojin connected to Steins;Gate as well?

Yes. The Tokyo tourism board lists it as a setting in both Love Live! and Steins;Gate.

Can I shop tax-free?

Animate Ikebukuro says it offers tax-free shopping. Other shops vary; bring your passport and ask at the register.

Combine with nearby routes

Have more days? These routes start or end close to this one.

Your booking checklist

Everything to book for this route, in the order most people book it.

Partner links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we choose

Sources12 official pages, checked September 18, 2026

Photo credits