Ask any local in Akihabara and they can easily point out the building for you. Standing with 15 floors that zoom up to the sky when you crane your head up for a glimpse, Akihabara UDX or Urban Development X is one of the high-rise buildings that will greet you immediately after a few-minute (or few-second) walk from Akihabara Station.
It is a multi-purpose complex that houses several establishments like restaurants and food shops, souvenir shops, a gallery, an open college, a guest room, theater and event spaces, among others. From the first to fourth floors, you can enjoy several choices of restaurants with Chinese, American, Cantonese, Italian and Japanese specialties, and some cafés and bars. You can also find a convenience store and a service shop; and when you just feel like sun-bathing on a sizzling hot summer day or taking the air on a cool spring or autumn day, their East and West Deck provides several benches on a spacious open-air terrace overlooking the busy streets below.
Since its opening in 2006, the building has contributed a lot to the dynamic change in the area, encouraging and generating more income in the place. This proves that an influx of economic activity is greatly possible in Tokyo’s Otaku Epicenter.
For a more foreigner-friendly experience, Akihabara UDX provides a guide to their floors and shops in four languages. One side is written in Japanese, while the other one is translated into three languages – English, Chinese and Korean.
Going there in a private vehicle is also convenient. Their huge parking spaces are more than enough to accommodate you and your automobile. Provided that you dine in or purchase something from one of the Akiba-Ichi stores with a minimum spend of ¥3000, you will get a UDX parking coupon good for an hour of parking. Information about access from Narita and Haneda Airports via public transportation is posted on their website.
Except in cases where a Sunday falls next to a public holiday, Akihabara UDX operates daily, from Sundays to Saturdays and even on most public holidays from 11:00am to 11:00pm. However, the various shops and restaurants in the building operate different opening hours from each other.
