Akihabara Station (秋葉原駅; -eki) is located in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward. It is at the centre of the famous Akihabara shopping district specialising in electronic goods.

Lines

JR:

• JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line
• JR Yamanote Line
• JR Sōbu Line

Underground (subway):

• Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

History

Akihabara Station was opened in November 1890 as a freight terminal linked to Ueno_Station station via tracks following the course of the modern day Yamanote Line.

It was opened to passenger traffic in 1925 following the construction of the section of track linking Ueno with Shinbashi via Tokyo station and the completion of the Yamanote Line. The upper level platforms were added in 1932 with the opening of an extension to the Sobu Line from its old terminal at Ryogoku to Ochanomizu, making Akihabara into an important transfer station for passengers from the east of Tokyo and Chiba.

The huge growth in commuter traffic following the Second World War caused considerable congestion and was only relieved with the construction of the Sobu line tunnel linking Kinshichō with Tokyo, bypassing Akihabara.

In 2005 the underground terminus of the new Tsukuba Express Line will be opened at Akihabara.

The Hibiya Line subway station was opened on May 31, 1962 with the line's extension from Naka-okachimachi to Ningyōchō .

Adjacent Stations

Surroundings

The main attraction is the Akihabara electronics retail district to the north and west of the station.

The Tokyo Transportation Museum is within walking distance.