Kanda is the home to various shopping spots. Walking from the Kanda Station, it is possible to reach the mecca of Anime Otaku, Akihabara. Kanda and Akihabara is connected by Manseibashi, which is a red-brick bridge built in 1912. At Manseibashi, you can shop for many fashionable items, dine or relax. Let’s learn more about shopping in Kanda!
Kanda Station Shopping
Shopping near the Kanda Station is a fun activity because of the various small-sized shops and excellent facilities at mAAch ecute Kanda Manseibashi. The shopping area opened a few years ago, and it is tidy, modern and clean. Basically, it feels like the recently developed areas near campuses in Malaysia - young and hipster, except maybe mAAch ecute is cooler because there’s a train track right on top of it. The area is also great to shop for Japanese-made clothes and accessories.
Besides shopping and eating at restaurants in the shopping arcade area, you can also learn about the local history. There are a few selections of restaurants at the shopping area including a Chinese restaurant which serves spicy Tantan ramen, Japanese restaurant Platinum Fish, the cafe Fukumori which also doubles as a bar at night and more. Audiophiles will also be happy to know there’s a new shop specializing in audio called Onkyo Base. The shopping arcade is open from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm.
Spot information
- Spot name: mAAch ecute
- Street address: 1-25-4 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0041
- Access: A 4-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station. A 6-minutes walk from JR Kanda Station
Shopping in Kanda
Second-hand bookstores
Bookworms should take note that there are countless second-hand bookstores in Kanda, or to be specific, the Jimbocho area. Some of these shops sell books in English. If you can read Japanese too, then this is a must-visit for you! Books are sold as cheap as 108 yen each.
History buffs will also love the Japanese woodblock prints, known as ukiyo e in Japanese, and very old books sold at Hara Shobo. The bookstore is located near the Kanda Suzuran Shopping Street and Sakura Street. Make sure to check if they’re open since the bookstore is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Public Holidays.
Shop information
- Spot name: Hara Shobo
- Street address: 2-3 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
- Access: a 19-minute walk from Kanda Station. It is closer to the Jimbocho station which is 1 minute away.
Sports Equipment Stores
If you’re into sports, the Kanda-Ogawamachi Sports Goods District is right up your alley. It’s easy to imagine Japanese students picking up a sport as a hobby in between their study time. For people in search of a cheap deal, London Sports Kanda Branch (ロンドンスポーツ 神田店) is said to be a great place to start. On 28 - 29 October, there is a Sports Festival where you can try out many different Japanese sports equipment as well as shop till you drop at the sport equipment sale.
Shop information
- Spot name: London Sports Kanda Branch
- Street address: Matsuoka Ogawamachi Building, 2-3 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052
- Access: 10 minutes of walking from Kanda Station.
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