Tokyo Taito | Akihabara Electric Town - Mecca for Geeks (Otaku)

Asia

Beyond Asia

Gastronomy

Destinations Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

Joomla Templates

Tokyo Taito | Akihabara Electric Town - Mecca for Geeks (Otaku)

Monday, 10 May 2010 00:00

Akihabara (秋葉原) or fondly called as 'Akiba' alone is a venue that commercial tour operators usually forget to include in their itinerary. Yet, there is nothing to upset about if it is missing. Getting to Akibahara is pretty straight forward. Hop on a train (JR Yamanote Line) and get off at 'Akihabara Electric Town' station. And it is like taking your right to the door step of Akihabara Electric Town! In order words, welcome to the geek city!
Welcome to Akihabara - the geek city!
JR Yamanote Line (green bridge above) runs into the heart of Akiba Electric Town
Immediately as I got out from the train station, modern and sky scrapers sight started to fill up my eye line. For visitors, nothing else is best to do here except shopping.

Camera - a huge variety of brands and models

The favorite colors of working class Japanese are black and white!

Thousands of wholesaler or retailer occupy this area, selling all kind of technological gadgets that one can imagine and beyond. Household electrical goods includes washer, TV, vacuum or leisure and entertainment gadgets like camera, video game, computer, DVD are usually carried in multi-level stores. In smaller outlets, one can also find all kind of electronic components of various function or sizes, up to the microscopic components like transistor and capacitor. Everything that you could name, the odds is they have it here.
Come and visit our shop..

In the midst of bustling Akihabara, biking is indeed a practical mode of transportation

Crowned as the mecca for geeks, Akihabara Electric Town is perpetually crowded and bustling. For people watching, the best time to go is in the afternoon especially on Sunday. You could surprised with some 'street performers' that are also distributing fliers and inviting you to visit 'their' shop down the road.
Akihabara's latest boom is Maid Cafe (2nd floor)

Akihabara's latest boom is Maid Cafe (2nd floor)

Wakaranai = I do not understand! Anybody could help?

For the locals, Akihabara is also a venue to flock for arcade gamers. It is a common sight here that the whole building of 6 to 7 floors are invaded by arcade machines and game maniacs battling with animated warriors or among a bunch of camaraderie, each gluing on the ear-piercing machine. A word of warning, the whole building is like a smoke chamber so get in at your own risk!
Believe it or not, the whole building is occupied by arcade machines and gamers

Believe it or not, the whole building is occupied by arcade machines and gamers

If you are a big fan of Japanese anime, manga or comic, I guess this place is a heaven for you. Akihabara offers a number of large anime-goods stores along Chuo-dori. One also could be surprised that one level of some stores does carry souvenirs items like key chain, t-shirt, Japanese dolls, sake glass, kimono and Japanese snacks. Guess, they are hoping to provide tourists one-stop solution!
More manga, anime and comic, head to Chuo-dori

More manga, anime and comic, head to Chuo-dori

Happy shopping!

Direction:

Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 May 2010 14:05

Comments

0 #1 2012-03-22 01:31

If I'm gonna have the opportunity to go to Japan. I'll visit Tokyo and go to the city of otaku because it is very interesting and exciting to see animated gadgets, products, manga and games. They are very pretty and in high quality.

Otaku Shop

Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post.