Always book a hotel (or AirBNB) close to a Yamanote line station. 90% of attractions are along the Yamanote line.

Nakano broadway is worth seeing if you like older anime from the 80s and 90s.

For cheap used retro games, anime goods etc go to Bookoff. The well known stores in Akihabara like Super Potato etc are a bit of a ripoff.

If you want to visit the Ghibli museum, you need to book it at 10AM (Japan time) on the 10th of december. Tickets sell out in less than an hour. Found the museum to be slightly underwhelming though, personally.

If you want a cheap shinkansen pass, buy it before the trip from outside the country. It'll cost a lot more once you're there.

The NAVITIME app is more reliable than Google Maps when it comes to transit planning. Plus, you can check the ticket prices including if you're using tourist passes (e.g. JR pass or local subway passes). Taxis are expensive af.

Tbh if you're not going in a big group, hotels are far more reliable than AirBnBs and their odd regulations.

Use coin laundry or washing machines in hotels instead of packing a lot of clothes.

Nakano Broadway >>> Akihabara IMO.