Tokyo or rather Japan, has become near synonymous with otaku culture. The producer of all things weeb, it is the home of anime, manga and some of the biggest gaming companies in the world. Akihabara, affectionately nicknamed Akiba, by Tokyoites, is known as the otaku centre of Tokyo, a haven for tech geeks and anime fans alike. If you’re ready to unleash the otaku in you, head down to Akihabara for the full experience.
Electronics
Akihabara is actually known as Electric Town in Tokyo, and for a good reason too. Step into the street and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a myriad of brightly lit signs, and you’ll know you’re in the right place. Whether you’re looking for a cheap deal on electronics, or you’re just a tech geek, Akihabara has just the thing for you. Along the street are smaller electronics shops that number in the hundreds, each selling everything from the latest iPhone to tech parts and junk. Amongst these more famous and reputable stores would be Sofmap and Laox.
Sofmap
Sofmap has a total of six stores in the Akihabara area, each specialising in one type of electronics. There’s one Sofmap store dedicated to subculture and mobile, another to PCs and four more buildings dedicated to Apple and Mac, Amusement, Secondhand and Cameras. If you root around, there’s bound to be something to bring home, whether it be an exciting new computer part or a novel piece of history. It’s also worth going in the stores just for the display alone, many of them sell merchendise such as t-shirts from high-tech companies like Alienware.
Laox
Laox may at first appear to be a mix-bag, seeing as the retailer also sells things like beauty and cosmetics on different floors. But they do have specialised floors, dedicated to Audio-Visual Systems, computers and gaming. You may not be able to find a secondhand gem here, but if you’re looking to buy some of the latest gadgets, the staff here has a reputation for being extremely knowledgeable and patient. They are also prepared to deal with customers in several different languages, so you have nothing to worry about.
Nisshin Camera
A favourite haunt of local photographers, Nisshin Camera sells both new and used cameras. They are known for offering discounted prices, so you’re sure to find a great steal here. They sell a range of items, from the camera body to lenses, and are known for being the one-stop-shop for telephoto lenses. You can even trade-in your used cameras here, the folks at Nisshin are more than happy to buy it over for a price.
Yodobashi Akiba
Yodobashi Akiba is the thriving hub of Akihabara. It’s the biggest electronics department store in this area of the city, also making it the busiest. There’s something for everyone at Yodobashi, they also have a sizable toy department, and house some thirty restaurants on the higher floors, perfect to end off a busy day of shopping. But the main draw of Yodobashi has always been cameras. They have a wide range of brand new cameras to choose from, including equipment like tripod, lenses and camera bags.
Otaku Goods
Otakus, or fans of Japanese anime and manga, also flock to Akihabara to get the bulk of their goods. From secondhand editions of manga to the latest box sets and pristine figurines, Akihabara has it all and is sure to satisfy the anime-nerd in you. Even a casual fan will be able to appreciate the sheer amount of otaku goods stocked in Akihabara, along with the quirky, unique experiences the area has to offer, such as maid cafes and even anime-themed night clubs.
Super Potato
Super Potato has a reputation for being a trove of retro video games. As soon as you enter the store you’ll be greeted by a life-size statue of Mario, in his red hat and suspenders, as well as dozens of shelves packed to the brim. You can also buy equipment to play the games on. There are floors dedicated to the Nintendo gaming systems of the 80s and 90s, which you can still purchase in-store. You’ll be impressed by their collection of games meant for systems that are no longer produced, though you may be disappointed to know it’s all in Japanese. There’s also plenty of gaming-themed knick-knacks up for grabs, such as keychains, video game soundtracks and stuffed characters.
Mandarake Complex
Mandarake Complex is also chock full of otaku goods. There’s a whopping total of 8 floors to explore, each specialising in a different aspect of otaku culture. The first floor, for example, is dedicated to pop antiques and is a space for people to buy and sell their secondhand otaku goods. The floor’s display changes every week, so you’ll be surprised by what you can find. The second floor is dedicated to Animation Cells, Dolls and Cosplay. From the bright-eyed, porcelain Blythe dolls of the eighties to autographs, original scripts and wigs you can find it all on the second floor. The third floor consists of shelves full of just about every volume of manga ever published, with the fourth and fifth floor specialising in Boys and Girls comics respectively. The remaining floors are reserved for games and toys, such as collectable figurines.
Cospa Gee
An integral aspect of otaku culture is cosplay, where people dress up as their favourite characters, with elaborate, carefully designed costumes. Whilst the more illustrious amongst us might opt to hand-make these costumes, if you’re in a pinch, Cospa Gee will do just the trick. Not to worry, all the merchandise sold is authentic, so the retailer can definitely be trusted. All of the clothing, wigs are guaranteed to be of high quality. You’ll also find accessories, dye-ing equipment and any materials you may need to do-it-yourself.
Cure Maid Cafe
Maid Cafes were popularised by the 2010 anime, Kaichou Wa Maid Sama, that told the story of a class president that moonlighted as a maid in a maid cafe. Cure Maid Cafe was ahead of this trend by several years, having opened its doors in 2001 as the first-ever maid cafe in Akihabara, an impressive title in a district full of maid cafes. Whilst the general atmosphere of the cure maid cafe is less cute and “moe '' (endearing) as the cafe focuses on the victorian-era aesthetic, you’ll still be treated to the full maid cafe experience at this themed cafe.
Club Mogra
Club Mogra is proof that otakus know how to have fun. As an area, Akihabara sees the convergence of a strong community of otakus, who in this case, like to party. Head down to the club on any weekend night for anime song night, and get down to your favourite title sequence OSTs (Original SoundTracks). The Club also holds regular events that feature local DJs, themed around anime and other aspects of gaming culture.
