2 Japan Railway & Transport Review 42 • December 20052

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Transformation of Akihabara and RailwaysToday’s Akihabara StationAkihabara Station is one of the busiest stations in Tokyo, where JR East’s Yamonote and Keihin-Tohoku and Sobu lines, and TokyoMetro’s Hibiya Line intersect. The town is still developing, and the new, Tsukuba Express line, opened in October 2005, linkingAkihabara to Tsukuba Science City in Ibaraki Prefecture. TheTsukuba Express part of Akihabara Station is located at the former siteof a freight terminal on the east side of the Tohoku main line. JR East built a new Central Exit to connect with it.

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Platform of Tsukuba Express Akihabara Station opened in October 2005 (Photos: Tsukuba Express)

Today�s Akihabara �Electric Town� showing elevated JR East Sobu Line (yellow train) (Chiyoda City)

JR East Akihabara Station Denki-gai (Electric Town) Exit (EJRCF) People transferring between JR East (back) and Tsukuba Express(front) at Akihabara Station Central Exit during rush hour (EJRCF)

74 Japan Railway & Transport Review 42 • December 200574

Transformation of Akihabara and Railways (continued)Transition of Akihabara AreaAkihabara is known as ‘Electric Town’ not only to Japanese but also to foreigners. Many tourists from abroad come to Akihabara toshop for electrical goods and duty-free discounts.In 1890, the private Nippon Railway extended its line from Ueno to Akihabara, creating the freight terminal where goods had beentransported via the Kanda River running through the south side of the site. From late 1880s to 1920s, convenient transport by railwayincluding trams activated wholesale in the area. The Vegetable Market near Akihabara Station opened around this time. In 1936,today’s Transportation Museum opened at old Mansebashi Station, playing a role in drawing railway enthusiasts to Akihabara.Today, the town has become one of the most redeveloping areas, with construction of Akihabara Crossfield at the old Vegetable Marketsite on the north-west side of the station, offering a modern shopping precinet with good pedestrian and automobile drop-off access.

Akihabara freight terminal opened in 1890 for theprivate Nippon Railway (top left). Canal withinterminal to distribute goods from and to trains (topright). Tram running across Sudacho near Akihabarain late 1890s (middle left). Vegetable Market nearAkihabara Station opened in 1935 (middle right).Manseibashi Station and Railway Museum (today�sTransportation Museum) opened in 1936 (bottom left).Elevated at Mansei near Akihabara showing trams(bottom right).

(Leo Makarazuya)

(Transportation Museum)

(Chiyoda City) (Leo Makarazuya)

(Transportation Museum) (Leo Makarazuya)

75Japan Railway & Transport Review 42 • December 2005 75

Electric wholesale district during postwar period(top left). Today�s Akihabara Electric Town (topleft). Entrance of newly opened YodobashiCamera electronics mega store at east side ofAkihabara Station (middle left). East side ofAkihabara Station heading to Tokyo Metro�sHibiya Line station (middle right). Artist�simpression of Akihabara Crossfield, a mixed-usecommercial site with the 31-storey AkihabaraDaibiru Building (left), and the 22-storeyAkihabara UDX (right) (bottom left). Completeimage of Akihabara Station�s East Exit (bottomright).

(Chiyoda City) (EJRCF)

(EJRCF) (EJRCF)

(Crossfield Management Corporation) (Chiyoda City)