Akihabara card shop guide
Akihabara has more card shops in a small area than anywhere else in Japan. Our map lists over 50 card shops within about 600 m of Akihabara Station. Most are not at street level, so it helps to know where to look.
How the area is laid out
- Around the Electric Town exit. Leave Akihabara Station by the Electric Town exit (電気街口). Many shops are in the buildings directly in front of the station and along Chuo-dori, the main street running north.
- Upper floors. Card shops usually rent a floor in a multi-tenant building. Look for signs listing the floors at the building entrance, and take the elevator or stairs.
- Akihabara Radio Kaikan. The tall building right by the Electric Town exit holds several card shops on different floors, including Yellow Submarine, Toreca Park and BIG MAGIC. It is an easy first stop.
- Side streets. Smaller specialist shops sit on the streets one block back from Chuo-dori. They often have different stock and prices from the big chains.
Shops worth knowing
- Hareruya 2 (Pokémon) has a whole building on Chuo-dori, the Akihabara Tower store, with English ordering terminals, plus a second store nearby.
- Card Rush has several stores in Akihabara.
- Hareruya (Magic: The Gathering) and Hareruya 3 (Duel Masters) are here too.
- Chains such as Card Labo, Yellow Submarine, Hobby Station, Card Kingdom, Amenity Dream and Dragon Star each have a store within a few minutes' walk.
See every shop with hours on the Akihabara map.
How to spend an afternoon
- Start at Radio Kaikan and one of the big chains to get a feel for prices.
- Walk north along Chuo-dori and check the floor directories of each building.
- Before buying an expensive card, check the same card in two or three shops. Prices for the same card can differ noticeably.
- Finish at a play space if you want to watch or join casual games.
Tips
- Many shops open at 11:00 or later; some open only in the afternoon on weekdays.
- Weekend afternoons are crowded. Weekday afternoons are calmer.
- Akihabara has no Pokémon Center. The nearest are Pokémon Center Tokyo DX in Nihonbashi and Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro.
- Read buying single cards for how showcases and price tags work.
Last updated 2026-10-06.