Adventures in Akihabara

e14megan — Thu, 25 May 2017 09:04:34 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14megan on 5/25/2017 9:04:34 AM

“Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly the anime and manga fandom.” - Wikipedia

If there is a “geekier” place in the world than Akihabara, I don’t think my poor body could handle it. For those of you unfamiliar with the place, it’s basically the place in Japan for nerd culture. I don’t think there is anywhere else in the country (or even the world) where you will find such a space dedicate to everything and anything geeky, nerdy, otaku-y, whatever you want to call it. You will find some of the coolest, rarest, and at times weirdest collections of collectibles, in store upon store, building upon building, street after street.

It would probably take days to explore all of the stores, let alone the themed cafes and restaurants, but I did have the privilege of spending and afternoon there, and I wanted to share some my experience as part of our “Geek Week” celebrations.

Are there really maid cafés?!

… Yes, there are maid cafés. There are also cat cafes, owl cafes, ninja cafes, idol cafes, etc. As a matter of fact, one of the highlights of my trip was going to Eorzea Café, a Final Fantasy XIV-themed café where both the décor the menu items were inspired from in-game places and food items.

And yes, this tasted as good as it looks. I also enjoyed an Ifrit-inspired pizza, a Ether inspired white sangria, and... crème brûlée (which apparently just known as crème brûlée, even in a Final Fantasy setting).

Scavenger Hunting

This is actually the second time I’ve visited Japan, so I was a bit more prepared to face the daunting task of shopping in Akihabara than I was the first time. Even for an (almost) life-long nerd like myself, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Much of Akihabara operates like a flea market for anime, manga, video games and other pop culture related goods – a flea market that’s the size of a small city where every building goes up five to six floors, that is. While there are officially licensed stores that sell new products, many of the stores are dedicated to selling used or second-hand products, often times in rows upon rows of locked plastic boxes rented by independent sellers. There is often little to no organization (though certain series are often grouped together), and prices for the same item may differ wildly depending on the store, the condition of the product, and it’s overall rarity. It’s not unusual to find the same figure in the same store going for a drastically different price depending on any number of criteria – some stores even employ a grading scale to make it easier to determine the given value.

Things can often get a bit cramped, and the prime shopping areas aren’t designed for loitering – there are few places to sit, or use the restroom, or eat (outside of the aforementioned cafes, many which require reservations). If you ever have the chance to go here, be prepared to do a lot of walking, stair climbing, and standing.

It’s also important to note that shops dedicate to “otaku culture” aren’t the only type you’ll find, though it definitely predominates the scene. You’ll find all manner of hobby shops; model cars, radios, military gear, and even a store dedicated to yo-yo’s. There are also certain aspects of Western culture and collectables that have been embraced by Japan, such as Magic: The Gathering and Star Wars. And no, I didn’t buy this set, though I’ve never seen it before. As excited as I was to see a Mandalore the Indomitable figure (with his Mythosaur axe!), if it was a “Fett Legacy” collection shouldn’t it have been Cassus?

… Anyways…

I like to think of shopping in Akihabara as more of a scavenger hunt then your typical shopping experience, with an added game of chance. Assuming you find something you like – could you find it elsewhere? Is this the best price? Should I keep looking and risk someone else buying it (this actually happened to me…)

Have any questions about Akihabara, or Japan in general? Feel free to ask them below, and to check out some of other Geek Week content such as e14phil's adventures as a cyborg, and vote in our favorite superhero poll.

Tags: japan, akihabara, celebrate geek pride day, geekprideday