2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan

Iconic building near the JR Akihabara Station Electric Town exit that reopened in 2014 following the demolishing of the old building in 2011. When it first opened in 1962, it was the first “high-rise” building in Akihabara. Today, it has moved with the times and the focus has shifted away from electronics to manga, anime, and “otaku” goods.

A 9-floor shopping complex, the first six floors of which are occupied by the electronics chain Yodobashi Camera. This branch is the biggest consumer electronics store in Japan (and maybe the world). There is a tax-free counter and English speaking staff are on hand. Heaven for gadget-lovers.

The viaduct in which this shopping arcade is housed lay derelict for the best part of 60 years before re-opening following refurbishment in 2013. The interior arches of the old structure have been preserved, and these now act as dividers for the boutiques and coffee vendors inside.