Many people who have never been to Tokyo often think of it as a single city. In truth, Tokyo is a megalopolis — a conglomeration of cities that have expanded until there is no more room left between them.
It’s hard to describe just how truly massive this city is. Because of its size, Tokyo is split into a number of different districts, and perhaps no district is spoken of in hushed whispers and scandalous giggles more than Akihabara.
What began as a collection of spare electronic vendors fighting for space under a railway overpass soon grew to become the electronics capital of the world. Everything from retro video games to big screen televisions and packs of transistors can be bought within Akihabara’s borders, but there’s something else it may be even better known for:
The sheer, overwhelming geekiness of it all.
Not that it’s a bad thing. In Japan, fandom is taken to the next level. Rather than being looked at as social pariah, anime and manga fans are often respected based on their level of dedication. The reason is because, well, almost everyone here is a fan. Of course, there are those who take it too far (hikikomori), but more on that later.
Walking down the streets of Akihabara is like stepping into another world. A cacophony of music, cars, conversation, and shouted advertisements assaults you from all sides. Girls dressed in Japan’s imagining of a French maid outfit are on every corner, advertising their respective maid cafes, institutions where the girls sing and dance over your food.
Normal-looking arcades often turn out to be pachinko parlors, drawing in guests from all over. At night, these parlors are often populated by single adult businessmen, whiling their time away at gambling, rather than going home.
Akihabara is also home to dozens of different arcades. Within their walls it’s almost impossible to talk — the music blares at max volume while kids and adults alike crowd around UFO machines, Dance Dance revolution machines, and other games. Take note: if you see a group of teenage guys playing a game, don’t challenge them. You’ll lose. Badly.
There are stores filled with anime figurines, and stores filled floor to ceiling with manga. There is also a 7-floor sex shop called “M’s.” I haven’t been there, but from everything I’ve been told, it’s a rather unforgettable experience.
Of course, there is an alternative side to Akihabara. Rather than being considered the otaku capital of the world as it used to be, there are a lot of stores that appeal to the every day consumer. There is one shop in particular that has the largest collection of music in one place I’ve ever seen. Another shop has nearly any type of elctronic device you can imagine.
There are theme cafes of all types. Some serve coffee and allow you to play with puppies, owls, cats, and a lot of other animals. There are also cafes and restaurants themed after a number of anime series, including the world-famous Gundam Cafe, or the AKB48 Cafe for those who like J-Pop.
The first visit to Akihabara is an almost overwhelming experience. Between the sheer number of people and the variety of shops, it’s easy to get lost — but even if you do, there is plenty to see, from beautifully decorated side streets to alleyways crammed full of vendors.
No Comments