Arakawa (荒川) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Adele Arakawa (born 1958), American evening news anchor
Alan Arakawa (born 1951), American local politician, mayor of Maui, Hawaii
Daisuke Arakawa (born 1981), Japanese long jump athlete
Eriko Arakawa (born 1979), Japanese football forward
Hiromu Arakawa (born 1973), Japanese manga artist
Minoru Arakawa (born 1946), Japanese businessman, former president of Nintendo of America
Naruhisa Arakawa (born 1964), Japanese screenwriter
Nihito Arakawa (born 1981), Japanese boxer
Shizuka Arakawa (born 1981), Japanese figure skater, gold medalist at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Shusaku Arakawa (1936–2010), Japanese artist and architect
Toshiyuki Arakawa (born 1953), Japanese music composer
Toyozō Arakawa (1894–1985), Japanese potter
Yasuhiko Arakawa (born 1952), Japanese physicist