Being a fan of anime, manga, gadgets and tech, one of the places I spent the most time at and enjoyed the most while visiting Japan was Akihabara or “Akiba” as it is known by the locals. I learned a lot about Japan’s “geek” culture from my visit to Japan and conversations with Japanese pals in and out of Tokyo. The general concensus from the outside seems to be that Akihabara is a shady place filled with males of all ages with with lots of time and/or money on their hands. While from inside Akiba is a shrine, an oasis, a spit of land in a chaotic city that Japanese geeks have conquered and made their own by filling it with everything their geeky hearts desire such as electronics, manga, computers, anime, otaku goods, maids, robots etc.
Bless my geeky heart
My own geeky heart, like so many around the world resonates with Akihabara and after experiencing Akiba twice throughout my 3 week visit to Japan I have repeatedly stated that if I had the cash to burn I’d have spent most of those 3 weeks in Akihabara exploring stores, attending events and just absorbing the sights, tastes and sounds. It really is a wonderful place that is worth visiting whether you are just looking for deals on electronics or want to worship at the AKB48 altar. I am not a fan of EVERYTHING Akiba has to offer to but I am a fan of enough and my posts about the Gundam Cafe, eating at at the Akiba branch of Yoshinoya, visiting every floor of Club Sega and waging war on a bowl of Ramen do well to highlight some of my adventures there.
Share your Akiba experience/dream and check out more photos
Below you can look at a few dozen photos from the hundred I took while trodding around Akiba. Click on the photo to get the full view, RSS and email feed lurkers will have to click here to view the post on the site. While you all are here please share your own Akihabara experience, dream, fantasy or link to photos you took or like. Feel free ask me any questions about my time in Akiba or just about anything Akiba related in a comment below.
[surfer]
you certainly love you action figures. The city is clean and the builds seem all modern with fancy signs.
collectibles not action figures!
Tokyo was mostly spotless, makes other big cities I have been to like New York feel like a dumpster.
Hahaha, “mancave.”
I’ve been to Akiba many-a-time and it always titillates! I recall my first few times going with super geek/good friend and marveling at all the maids handing out tissues. Also of spectacle were the store signs that detailed the contents of each floor (and each floor, aside from street level, were branded with NO-MINOR emblems – proudly, almost). Oh, the things we found on the upper most floors of those shops. I do regret not buying that Hello Kitty vibrator.
Hello kitted brands EVERYTHING!
I did see some of those adult only signs but was too scared to traverse the darkness ^_^
I’m looking forward to see this part π Great shots.
thanks bro, looking forward to your photos