I ride my bike there from time to time to shop in a couple used camera shops near the station. I've had lunch at a maid cafe, and checked out the various stores and shops.

You'll see the "electric city" exit at the train station platform, just go through this exit and follow the crowds.

There are still quite a few electronics shops to be found, they sell things like closed-circuit tv cameras (perverts love them), and various audio-video gear. There are also countless shops which sell new and used computer gear and accessories.

But most of the smaller shops have been driven out by the bigger retailers, like Sofmap, Yodobashi, and the like. Don't bother shopping in these stores, the prices are much lower in America. Europeans may find some good deals though, though don't expect to save much.

The maid cafes are expensive and over-rated. They are popular mainly with tourists (from within Japan as well as foreigners), but the food is not particularly good, and the pre-school level games the maids play with the customers aren't my cup of tea.

There are lots of porn shops, though explicit pornography is not legal in Japan. Still, the shops manage to do a good business, particularly with Kanda (home to many single men) nearby. There isn't much reason to go to a porn shop when you can simply go to soapland in Kabukicho or Ikebukuro and get the real thing.

Other things to see are the comic and video stores. You'll often find long lines in front of these places when a new comic or video becomes available. It's funny to see a long line of otaku-types (men from their 20's to 30's) waiting patiently for hours while reading manga, or playing with a DS or PSP.

Akihabara is probably the best place for gamers to visit. It is full of new and used game shops, selling all types, from 70's era Pong and Atari 1600 games to the latest and greatest. You'll find lots of good deals on the used stuff.

There are also lots of costume shops for cosplayers to pick up things. If you don't feel like buying a costume, you can rent one for a day. I saw a bunch of ----- from England who were acting like idiots in Asakusa wearing costumes found in Akihabara. People don't mind cosplayers in Harajuku, but the old people don't care to see them (particularly foreign cosplayers) at the Sensoji temple, it's not very respectful.

Akihabara is an interesting place to spend the day. It's only a couple of stops from Tokyo station, and close to Ueno, anyone who comes to Tokyo should spend at least half a day there.

Gah... is Tokyo always that colourful?

Is it just me... or is that a maid in the bottom-right corner...


Eh... Tokyo is definitely something else...

I think it is a maid. lol.

That picture is how my heaven looks..... lol

I think I understand what M said about standing out... I will, most definitely, stand out. Then again, I stand out over here, too.

On another note; my fellow Scotsman!

I don't think it would be easy to stand out. Not unless you wore really bright clothes. lol. Although, you'd certainly stand out more than the locals.

Off-topic - Another Scottish Japan Fan? Nice. What part of Scotland are you from?

YouTube - Sega and Shinjuku

Shameful YouTube plug, activate!

On a serious note, Akiba is pretty chill. I did some of this footage a couple of weeks back, but I tend to go there about once a week to see what the latest deals are. Surprisingly, Akiba is really small in comparison to what people may think. You've got the major strip with the flashing lights and a couple more lit up side streets, but the majority of it is just major office buildings.

Anyone know if Den Den Town, the Osaka version of Akihabara, has also changed to more services lately? When I was there in the mid 90's, it was almost all small electronic stores, though there were also some duty-free gift shops selling things like kimonos and laquerware. There were no maid cafes or manga shops there back then, though there was 1 small manga shop I knew about 3 or 4 few blocks away on a side street.

Perhaps those still looking for a more traditional Akiba experience might go there instead, unless it has changed too...

I was there in 2008, but others might have more recent info. I don't recall any duty-free shops, but there's several HUGE anime/gaming stores now and a big modelling/minatures shop too. I'm told there are maid cafes and stuff there, but I never really looked for them so I've no idea really. But still, lots of electronics stores too, especially the smaller ones.

What's the other one in Tokyo...Ikeburo? Ike---something.


Urghhh.... I'm so sorry.

Unfortunately, I can't call myself a pure-blood Scot. In short, I'm a mutt. But, GLORY TO THE SCOTS!

And, that was my brazen outburst for the day.

I guess I should check out Akiba when I visit... it'd be interesting to set foot in a maid/butler cafe... but... I'd probably just chill there for the coffee... everyone loves the coffee hype. Coffee is your (a university student's) best friend...

I wonder if they have the same type of atmosphere as a normal cafe - none of that starbucks or timmy junk.

A little bit Scots is always better than none. The bit to hope for is the accent, I believe. :rolleyes:

But on-topic, I guess every big Japanese city (Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo etc.) has their own version of Akihabara. Would I be right in saying that?