[Firebird]

The first time i went to Akiba i thought it would be a station where only few ppl get off, you can see the otakus already in the Subway etc. Outside there would be maids waiting for you and Manga and small electronicshops everywhere.

Truth was that alot off ppl get of in akiba because it is a important Station to change on the JR line so it is crazy in the morning. When you leave the Station you will have lots of electronic shops wich sell Cameras, games, etc. There is Yodobashi Camera next to the Station wich is huge!!! On the other side there is Radio Kaikan wich is more like youd think of Akiba. Lot of small stores cramped in a building selling electrics and Figures. On the mainstreet there are quite a few pornshops, Managshops (wich porn in the underground or Topfloors) and shops selling figures. Othewise more shops selling electronic tax free (thats only 5% though).
It can be heaven for anime/manga fans because shops like Animate stock heaps of Manga but they are all Japanese. The Figure shops are better because you wont need the language and prices are ussualy reasonable. I couldnt find lot of merchandise like Shirts or posters, doesnt seem to be a Japanese thing (ppl dont have space). You can find stuff in some figure shops and in Animate i think on the second floor. There is also the Animation Center wich always has something in display and some stuff for sale. Its hidden in the UTX (help me guys is it called UTX or different?) Building.
Otherwise theres lots of fun stuff around like the Maidcafes, a Maidcasino (akiba Guild) and ive seen Videos of a train cafe (where you can ride Modelltrains).
To the maidcafes: The @home cafe is in the Donki Hotte wich is a fun shop. There is a 500yen seating charge and a short show once an hour (you play Janken for a free drink) You have to buy 1 drink and can only stay 1 hour. Prices for drinks are ok and you will most probably see some real Otakus here.

I recommend the Nekko cafe on the second/third floor of Animate (or in the next building?). Its like a normal Cafe, no seating charge, reasonable prices and the waitress wear maid costums with cute Catears.

Theres lots of other cafes as well, i read of a prison cafe, a little sister cafe and a Mother cafe (so they play sister or mother) and other weird stuff but you will have to know where stuff is.
Akiba is quite big so better take a map ( i think the animation center has maps more specific for anime fans).

Weekends sees lot of people, Maids giving flyers and some cosplayers. Lots of foreigners during summer.

Dont worry bout the massacer, Greater Tokyo has over 30 million ppl so this happens sometime.


Have fun!


Edit: I forgot to mention that Yodobashi has a few hundred Gatcha Gatcha (machines sellings figures in balls) and other figures on the top floor.