Japan's Three Major Electric Towns Map
From electronic parts to subculture! The "Three Major Electric Towns of Japan" have evolved in their own unique ways. In Japan, there are three famous areas known as the "Three Major Electric Towns" that draw people in with their unique culture and deep, passionate energy. These are Akihabara in Tokyo, Nipponbashi in Osaka, and Osu in Nagoya. These aren't just places to buy home appliances. Starting out as post-war black markets and street stalls selling radio parts, they have adapted over the decades—shifting to PCs, anime, gaming, and pop culture. They are truly microcosms of Japanese craftsmanship and modern culture. Let's take a look at the distinct, vibrant personalities of each of these three districts!
2026.06.08
·Total ~405.8km
東京都 秋葉原電気街
In both name and reality, this is the world's largest electric town and a holy land for pop culture. How it started: Its roots go back to the post-war era. Street stalls selling radio parts around Kanda were forced to relocate under the GHQ's stall removal order, gathering under the elevated tracks of Akihabara Station instead.
〒460-0011 愛知県名古屋市中区大須
An electric town (and shopping district) that has evolved in its own unique way, setting it apart from Akihabara and Nipponbashi. How it started: This area has long flourished as the temple town of Osu Kannon. After the war, shops dealing in US military surplus goods and radio parts gathered here, turning it into the premier electric town of the Tokai region.
〒556-0005 大阪府大阪市浪速区日本橋
Affectionately known as "Pombashi," this is Kansai's hub for pop culture, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Tokyo's Akihabara. How it started: Before the war, it thrived as a secondhand bookstore district. After the war, shops selling radio parts and tools gathered here, helping it grow into a bustling electric town.
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