Akihabara in March 2026: Highlights, Events & Festivals
Tokyo is the epicenter of Japanese pop culture, with areas like Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and Nakano showcasing the best of what Japan's pop culture has to offer. When I first visited Akihabara, I was overwhelmed by the electric atmosphere and the powerful presence of otaku culture. I'm writing this article because I want to share this incredible experience with international visitors to Japan.
In recent years, as anime and manga have gained popularity worldwide, there's growing interest in guided tours that let visitors explore otaku culture with local experts.
Magical Trip, which won TripAdvisor's #1 tour ranking across all categories in 2024, offers the "Akihabara Anime & Gaming Adventure Tour" where visitors can experience Akihabara's otaku culture alongside local guides. This hugely popular tour has attracted over 3,500 international visitors through 2024.
（Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku was ranked #1）
If you're interested in otaku culture, I recommend starting with this Akihabara tour to deepen your understanding of Japanese pop culture before visiting the otaku spots I'll introduce in this article!
For those who would like to check more tour options for Tokyo, please visit the tours listing page.
Introduction
While Akihabara is famous as an area densely packed with electronics stores, it's also the heart of Japanese Otaku culture, including anime and games. With many anime and game concept stores, Otaku enthusiasts from both Japan and overseas gather here to experience these contents firsthand.
March in Tokyo is known as "A cycle of 3 cold days and 4 warm days," a month where you can experience temperature fluctuations between cold and warm days. Toward the end of the month, temperatures often exceed 15°C (59°F), and cherry blossoms begin to bloom, marking the start of comfortable spring days.
In Akihabara this March, besides anime and game events, there are also events featuring beautiful seasonal blooms like cherry blossoms and plum flowers that can only be encountered during this time. Here, we'll introduce the highlights, basic information, and access details for events being held in Akihabara in March.
Events You Should Experience When Visiting Akihabara in March 2026
Akihabara always hosts special events that can only be enjoyed during specific seasons.
For example, there are events like Hanami (cherry blossom viewing events) where you can enjoy scenery only visible in March, and annual events like the Tokyo Marathon that make local residents feel the end of winter.
Additionally, as the center of Japanese pop culture, Akihabara hosts numerous local-like pop culture events limited to specific seasons. First, we would like to introduce ANIME JAPAN held at Tokyo Big Sight, an absolute must for pop culture fans.
What is Anime Japan?
Source:Anime Japan
Anime Japan is one of the world's largest anime events with the slogan "Everything about Anime."
It is divided into Public Days for general participants and Business Days for industry professionals, providing a place for fans to enjoy while also serving as a venue to support the future development of anime. This time, we will focus on introducing the features of Public Days.
Things you can enjoy at Anime Japan include cosplay, food, and exhibitions. Exhibitions cover a wide range, including stage shows such as work talk shows and live performances, merchandise sales featuring advance and limited-edition items, panel displays, and interactive exhibits.
Anime Japan is the perfect place to enjoy your favorite works and discover new works that suit your tastes.
Highlights of Anime Japan 2026
Here, I will introduce the highlights of Anime Japan 2026, selected by me, someone who has participated in Anime Japan three times.
First is the interactive exhibits. Although details of the 2026 exhibits have not yet been confirmed, in the past there were booths recreating the Dungeon from "Delicious in Dungeon," offering experiences that felt like entering the world of anime.
As an Otaku myself, it was an incredibly exciting experience to see a world spread before my eyes that I could previously only imagine through video.
I am also very much looking forward to the Production Works Gallery. The work of various producers involved in anime will be showcased. When you watch anime fans, don't you wonder how such wonderful things can be created? I certainly do. Let's go find some answers to our questions!
You can also check information on the official X and official YouTube, so please take a look.
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Official X: https://x.com/animejapan_aj
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@animejapanAJ
Event Overview of Anime Japan and Access to Tokyo Big Sight
Dates: Saturday, March 28, 2026 and Sunday, March 29, 2026
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight East Exhibition Halls 4-8 / South Halls 1-4 / Rooftop Exhibition Area
Access: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line
Admission: Varies depending on ticket type, please check the official website for details (Advance tickets 2,500 yen, same-day tickets 2,800 yen, etc.)
Website: https://anime-japan.jp/en/
Pop Culture Events Around Akihabara
Scale Modelers Festival
Source:Official blog
If you love scale models of cars, airplanes, and trains, this is a must-see Akihabara event in March 2026. The Scale Modelers Festival is regularly held in Akihabara on March 15th.
At the event, there are garage sales of scale models and sales of original garage kits created by hobbyists themselves. This event is well-known among enthusiasts as a place where "you can find hidden treasures," and you might discover rare kits from leading Japanese manufacturers like TAMIYA and BANDAI that you've been searching for.
What I look forward to every time at this event is the display of scale models created by fellow enthusiasts. The delicately crafted scale models and dioramas are incredibly enjoyable just to look at. It's a fun event where you can also enjoy interacting with other hobbyists and expand your circle of friends.
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Date: March 15, 2025 / 2026 date TBD
Venue: Typically Akihabara Untsuu Kaikan
Hours: Typically 11:00–16:00
Access: 7-minute walk from Electric Town South Exit
Admission: Typically 1,000 yen
Website: https://firstair.co.jp/modefes/
Don't Miss the Simultaneously Held Sobu Line Hobby Festival Modelers' Flea Market
Source:Official website
On March 7th, a Modelers' Flea Market will also be held on the 8th floor of Kinshicho Marui. The Modelers' Flea Market is a garage sale mainly featuring plastic models and miniature cars. This traditional event will celebrate its 21st anniversary in 2026, making it a must-see for enthusiasts.
The 20th anniversary event in 2025 featured a talk event by the executive of "Kaiyodo," who is also a Guinness-level plastic model collector, giving it a strong "event" atmosphere. On the other hand, the 2026 edition plans to increase the number of flea market vendors and will be held as a shopping-focused event.
I participated in the Modelers' Flea Market in 2025. The shopping experience was so fulfilling that I wanted to browse for hours, so I'm really looking forward to 2026 when the shopping aspect will be even more enhanced.
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Date: March 15, 2025 / March 7, 2026
Venue: Kinshicho Marui 8F
Hours: 11:00–16:00
Access: 2-minute walk from Kinshicho South Exit
Admission: 1,000 yen
Website: https://www.modelers-ff.jp/index2.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Events at Pop Culture-Themed Anime Cafes
As an anime fan, one of my favorite ways to spend a holiday is visiting anime cafes. There are many anime cafes in Akihabara, from limited-time ones to permanent establishments! (Even permanent anime cafes tend to change more frequently than regular cafes, so if you're interested, I recommend visiting sooner rather than later.)
Here, I'll introduce the features of three anime cafes, so please visit one that matches your preferences!
GiGO Collabo Cafe
Source:Google Maps
GiGO Collabo Cafe is a collaboration cafe that partners with different anime for each period. It's recommended for people who like to support specific characters from anime as if they were idols.
Collaboration partners often include works featuring beautiful men and women, such as Love Live!, Pretty Cure, Holostars, and Kuroko's Basketball. Love Live! in particular is an extremely popular title that sometimes has multiple collaborations throughout the year with different themes.
GiGO Collabo Cafe is characterized by drink menus inspired by characters based on their hair color, personality, and other traits.
Of course, you can order a drink in your favorite flavor, but my recommended way to enjoy it is to go and drink the beverage representing your favorite character.
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Address: 1-11-11 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Sotokanda 1-chome Building, inside GiGO Akihabara Building 3
Hours: 10:30–20:10
Phone: 070-1450-1564
Official Website: https://tempo.gendagigo.jp/tnsb/cafe_akb3/
COLLABO CAFE HONPO
Source:Google Maps
COLLABO CAFE HONPO is also a collaboration cafe where the featured works change periodically. It's recommended for people who want to enjoy the overall world view of a work.
While the range of anime collaborations is very wide, I have the impression that shonen manga titles are common. Past collaborations have included anime such as Tokyo Revengers and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters.
The attractive point of COLLABO CAFE HONPO is its unique food menu that represents the world view of the featured work. The character-inspired menu items don't so much represent the characters themselves, but rather make you feel like "this character would definitely eat this dish!"
One of my happiest moments is eating while imagining the characters enjoying the same food.
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Address: 2F Chaton Building, 4-3-10 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Weekdays 12:30–19:40 / Weekends and Holidays 11:00–19:40
Closed: Generally Tuesdays (Schedule is often irregular, so please check the official website)
Phone: 03-3526-2972
Official Website: https://collabocafe-honpo.co.jp/shops/
Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe
Source:Official website
Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe is a cafe where you can enjoy the world of the game Final Fantasy XIV at any time. An attractive point is that not only the menu but also the interior recreates the game's world.
The reason I love Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe is that you can enjoy otherworldly menu items that would surely be eaten within the game.
For example, there are dishes like the Eorzea Monster Meal Plate, which uses ingredients found in the game world, and soups that are home-cooked dishes from Coerthas, a region in the game. For someone like me who loves feeling like I've entered a game world, these recreated recipes are not to be missed.
Actually, when I first visited Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe, I had never played Final Fantasy. (I recently got into it after being inspired by the collaboration cafe.) Even back then, I could strongly feel the otherworldly atmosphere and had a great time, so I highly recommend it even to those who don't know Final Fantasy.
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Address: 2F Pasela Resorts AKIBA Multi Entertainment, 1-1-10 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:45–23:00
Closed: None
Phone: 0120-192-759
March Seasonal Events Around Akihabara
Bunkyo Plum Festival
Source:FASHION PRESS
While Cherry Blossoms are synonymous with Japanese spring, Plum flowers herald the arrival of spring even earlier. In Japan, plum fruits are highly valued in the food culture, used for pickles and liquor. Plum trees produce gorgeous flowers in early spring, similar to Cherry blossoms.
The Bunkyo Plum Festival is held at the historic Yushima Tenjin Shrine, which boasts over 1000 years of history. The beauty of approximately 300 Plum trees planted within the shrine grounds is a must-see.
During the event period, visitors can enjoy not only the magnificently blooming plum flowers but also regional product fairs and traditional performing arts stages. As this event offers an authentic Japanese experience, please consider visiting when you're in the Akihabara area.
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Duration: February 8th - March 8th, 2026
Venue: Yushima Tenjin
Access: 10-minute walk from North Exit of Okachimachi Station (Take Yamanote Line/Keihin Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station)
2-minute walk from Yushima Station on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/b014/p003950.html
Yushima Tenjin: https://www.yushimatenjin.or.jp/pc/index.htm
Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
Cherry blossoms are called "Sakura" in Japan and are one of the iconic symbols of spring. There are many spots around Akihabara where you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms.
When you visit Akihabara, why not take the opportunity to admire the cherry blossoms as well? Since they are illuminated until late at night, we recommend enjoying shopping in Akihabara during the day and then heading out to view the illuminated cherry blossoms in the evening.
Kanda Shrine
Kanda Shrine is a recommended viewing spot for those who want to enjoy the collaboration between traditional Japanese architecture and cherry blossoms. The vivid red of the shrine and the pale pink of the cherry blossoms complement each other beautifully.
I vividly remember when I walked to Kanda Shrine with friends to see the cherry blossoms. We were laughing and chatting about silly things as we walked, but the moment Kanda Shrine and the cherry blossoms came into view, we stopped talking and became completely captivated.
Even though it was my first visit, I felt a sense of nostalgia and warmth in my heart, similar to seeing a school I used to attend after many years.
Additionally, Kanda Shrine is a relatively uncrowded location. When you're tired of pushing through the crowds in the city, we recommend visiting Kanda Shrine to find healing among the cherry blossoms.
This Akihabara event in March 2026 offers a perfect opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture alongside spring's most beloved natural display.
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Date: Late March to early April
Venue: Kanda Shrine
Access: 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu Station (Hijiri-bashi Exit) on the JR Chuo Line/Sobu Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/
Miyamoto Park
Source:Google Maps
Miyamoto Park is located right next to Kanda Shrine, which was introduced earlier. When the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, people spread out leisure sheets and enjoy their meals while gazing up at the cherry blossoms.
Enjoying beautiful scenery and delicious food in the warm spring weather will surely become an unforgettable memory.
When I was a child, my family and I used to eat together while viewing the cherry blossoms at our local park every year.
When I see people having picnics at Miyamoto Park, those memories come flooding back. I feel how truly happy those times were, and at the same time, I feel joy seeing others creating happy memories right before my eyes.
Miyamoto Park also has a playground area, making it highly recommended for families with small children. Adults can gaze at the cherry blossoms to their heart's content, while children who quickly tire of beautiful scenery can play happily on the playground equipment for hours.
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Date: Late March to early April
Venue: Miyamoto Park
Access: 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu Station (Hijiri-bashi Exit) on the JR Chuo Line/Sobu Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.city.chiyoda.lg.jp/shisetsu/koen/miyamoto-ko.html
Akihabara Park
Source:Google Maps
For those with a packed travel schedule who don't have time to go see cherry blossoms, Akihabara Park is highly recommended.
Akihabara Park is located immediately outside the Showa-dori Exit of Akihabara Station, making it easily accessible. If you're planning to enjoy Japanese pop culture in Akihabara, please stop by before or after your sightseeing.
Since you've come to Japan in spring, it would be a shame to return home without experiencing cherry blossoms at all. Akihabara Park is the perfect place to briefly stop by and view cherry blossoms.
Akihabara Park is more like a station square than a typical park, and I often use it as a meeting spot. If you happen to see someone standing alone at Akihabara Park, gazing up at the cherry blossoms in a daze, that might be me waiting for friends.
Don't miss this Akihabara event in March 2026—it's an easy way to add a touch of spring beauty to your otaku adventure.
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Date: Late March to early April
Venue: 1-18 Kanda Sakuma-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1-minute walk from Akihabara Station (Showa-dori Exit)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.city.chiyoda.lg.jp/shisetsu/koen/akihabara-ko.html
Ueno Park
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular cherry blossom viewing spots. The park features 800 cherry trees in full bloom, offering visitors a breathtaking experience.
The Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival will be held from mid-March to early April 2026. During the event, traditional lanterns are installed, and at night, you can witness the magical sight of illuminated cherry blossoms. The pathway surrounded by Shinobazu Pond's lotus pond and boat pond is a recommended viewing spot where you can experience walking through a tunnel of cherry blossoms.
During the Sakura Festival, the park hosts antique markets, portrait artists, and food stalls. Don't miss the traditional Japanese monkey performance called "Saru Mawashi" held daily from March 17th in front of Shinobazu Pond.
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Dates: Late March to early April
Location: Ueno Park
Access: 5-minute walk from Ueno Station (Park Exit) via JR Yamanote Line/Keihin Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://honyaku.j-server.com/LUCKENSETS/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jimusho/toubuk/ueno?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0
Chidorigafuchi
Chidorigafuchi, a moat area located northwest of the Imperial Palace, is a historically popular cherry blossom spot. About 260 cherry trees line the 700-meter moat. The area is known for its large, impressive trees, and the view from the rental boats on the moat is spectacular.
A festival is held annually to coincide with the cherry blossom season. The event features illumination along the 700-meter stretch, cherry blossom-themed merchandise sales, and guided tours of the area's shopping districts and recommended spots. English-guided tours are also available, so please consider participating.
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Dates: Late March to early April
Location: Chidorigafuchi Park
Access: 5-minute walk from Kudanshita Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line, or Toei Shinjuku Line)
Admission: Free
Chidorigafuchi Park: https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/800
