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Akihabara

Photo credits: travel.gaijinpot.com

Akihabara conosciuta come Tokyo’s Electric Town si trova nel quartiere speciale di Chiyoda a Tokyo. Vivace e luminoso, in questo piccolo distretto si concentrato tutti i negozi  di elettronica, informatica, videogiochi e quant’altro legato al mondo degli anime e manga.

Akihabara è sicuramente il centro di attrazione principale per gli Otaku che si possono incontrare in ogni angolo del quartiere. おたく/オタク è un termine della lingua giapponese che dagli anni ottanta indica una subcultura giapponese di appassionati in modo ossessivo di manga, anime e altri prodotti ad essi correlati. In Occidente il termine viene usato per indicare sia specificatamente gli appassionati di cartoni animati e fumetti giapponesi, sia le persone appassionate, in generale, di quello che proviene dal Giappone, senza le implicazioni negative.

Akiahabara in sè non è una meta turistica essenziale, ma se si è particolarmente appassionati di elettronica essa si trasforma sicuramente in una tappa da non perdere.

I luoghi cult del distretto

Photo credits: wowsabi.co

Passeggiando per le vie dell’”Electric Town” ci si può imbattere in una serie di famosissimi negozi e palazzi da non lasciarsi scappare come lo Yodobashi Akiba, il centro commerciale di 9 piani più grande del mondo. Troviamo anche il negozio Animate che offre ben 8 piani pieni di merchandise di anime, manga e videogames, o il Mandarake sempre dedicato a manga e anime anche se di seconda mano. E ancora il Super Potato, un negozio di 4 piani che offre un vasto assortimento di video games retrò e una piccola sala giochi anni ’80.

E se si è alla ricerca di qualcosa che non si riesce ad ottenere in nessun luogo, quasi sicuramente lo si può trovare dove tutto è cominciato: a Radio Kaikan!

Photo credits: Google image

Aperto nel 1962, fu il primo negozio a fornire di televisori, lavatrici e frigoriferi gli abitanti. Nel tempo si è evoluto divenendo il paradiso degli otaku. Nel 2011, dopo il grande terremoto, fu raso al suolo, ma ricostruito restando sempre un punto di riferimento per gli appassionati di anime.

Il miglior locale di intrattenimento è sicuramente il Maidreamin Maid Cafe, un’esplosione di colori, esibizioni e di temi “kawaii”. Questa è la meta adatta per chi ha voglia di sorridere un po’ e vedere cosa sia un maid cafe anche se è un po’ costoso. Se invece si è fan di Gundam, ecco ergersi il Gundam Cafe il quale, proprio all’entrata, offre un piccolo servizio take-out per chi non ha tempo di sostare. Sempre qui è possibile prendere il taiyaki (tipico dolce giapponese a forma di pesce) con la forma di Gundam e altri cibi a tema!

Photo credits: akibacity.tokyo

La grande insegna verde.

Photo credits: mishajoh.blogspot.it

Quando si parla di “sexy shop” si pensa immediatamente a qualcosa di “dubbio”, “losco”, qualcosa da cui stare alla larga. Invece il Pop Life Department M’S, situato esattamente sull’angolo appena fuori dall’uscita della stazione di Akihabara, è attraente e divertente. Molto pulito ed ordinato, tra gli scaffali di M’S si possono trovare oggetti inimmaginabili! Set di sexy cosplay, DVD per adulti molti dei quali anche di nicchia, tutte le ultime invenzioni tecnologiche per “uso personale” e prodotti di lifestyle. La maggior parte dei visitatori del negozio sono semplici turisti curiosi o giovani coppie. La cosa più strana è che nel seminterrato ci sono due macchinette automatiche per la vendita di mutande “usate”!

Photo credits: Google image

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Akihabara

Photo credits: travel.gaijinpot.com

Akihabara, known as Tokyo’s Electric Town, is located in Chiyoda’s special district, Tokyo.

Lively and bright, all electronics stores, computer stores, videogames, and everything related to the world of anime and manga are gathered here, in this small district.

Akihabara surely is a center of attraction for otaku that can be found at every corner of the district. おたく/オタク is a Japanese word that since the 80s is used to describe the Japanese subculture of obsessive enthusiasts of manga, anime, and other related products. In the West, this term is used to indicate both Japanese anime and manga enthusiasts, and people passionate about Japanese products in general, without the negative connotation.

Akiahabara itself is not an essential tourist destination but, if you are particularly fond of electronics it definitely transforms into a place not to be missed.

Cult spots of the district

Photo credits: wowsabi.co

Strolling around the ”Electric Town” you might come across a number of stores and buildings you should not miss, like the Yodobashi Akiba, a shopping mall that with its 9 floors is the largest in the world. We can find the Animate store that offers 8 floors full of anime, manga and video games merchandise, or the Mandarake also dedicated to manga and animes though second-hand. And more, the Super Potato, a 4-story store that offers a wide selection of vintage video games and a small 80s-style arcade.

And if you are looking for something you cannot get anywhere else, you will most likely find it where everything started: at Radio Kaikan!

Photo credits: Google image

Opened in 1962, it was the first store to provide television sets, washing machines and fridges for the citizens. It evolved over time to become an otaku paradise. In 2011, after the big earthquake, it was razed to the ground, but then rebuilt to remain a reference point for anime enthusiasts.

The best entertainment place is surely the Maidreamin Maid Cafe, an explosion of colors, shows and “kawaii” themes. This is the perfect place for those of you who want to smile a bit and see what a maid cafe is, even though it is a little bit expensive. On the other hand, if you are a fan of Gundam, there is the Gundam Cafe that right at the entrance offers a small take-out for those who don’t have time to stop inside. Here you can order a taiyaki (traditional fish-shaped Japanese cake) with the shape of Gundam and other Gundam-themed dishes!

Photo credits: akibacity.tokyo

The big green sign

Photo credits: mishajoh.blogspot.it

When we say  “sexy shop” we immediately think about something “dubious”, “shady”, something to stay away from. Instead, the Pop Life Department M’S, located on the corner right outside of Akihabara station, is attractive and funny. Very clean and neat, among the shelves of M’S you can find unimaginable objects! Sets of di sexy cosplays, adults DVDs and many of them are niche products, all the latest technological inventions for  “personal use” and also lifestyle products. Many visitors are simply curious tourists or young couples. Strange thing is that in the basement there are 2 vending machines that sell “used” underwears!

Photo credits: Google image

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Akihabara

Photo credits: travel.gaijinpot.com

Akihabara, known as Tokyo’s Electric Town, is located in Chiyoda’s special district, Tokyo.

Lively and bright, all electronics stores, computer stores, videogames, and everything related to the world of anime and manga are gathered here, in this small district.

Akihabara surely is a center of attraction for otaku that can be found at every corner of the district. おたく/オタク is a Japanese word that since the 80s is used to describe the Japanese subculture of obsessive enthusiasts of manga, anime, and other related products. In the West, this term is used to indicate both Japanese anime and manga enthusiasts, and people passionate about Japanese products in general, without the negative connotation.

Akiahabara itself is not an essential tourist destination but, if you are particularly fond of electronics it definitely transforms into a place not to be missed.

Cult spots of the district

Photo credits: wowsabi.co

Strolling around the ”Electric Town” you might come across a number of stores and buildings you should not miss, like the Yodobashi Akiba, a shopping mall that with its 9 floors is the largest in the world. We can find the Animate store that offers 8 floors full of anime, manga and video games merchandise, or the Mandarake also dedicated to manga and animes though second-hand. And more, the Super Potato, a 4-story store that offers a wide selection of vintage video games and a small 80s-style arcade.

And if you are looking for something you cannot get anywhere else, you will most likely find it where everything started: at Radio Kaikan!

Photo credits: Google image

Opened in 1962, it was the first store to provide television sets, washing machines and fridges for the citizens. It evolved over time to become an otaku paradise. In 2011, after the big earthquake, it was razed to the ground, but then rebuilt to remain a reference point for anime enthusiasts.

The best entertainment place is surely the Maidreamin Maid Cafe, an explosion of colors, shows and “kawaii” themes. This is the perfect place for those of you who want to smile a bit and see what a maid cafe is, even though it is a little bit expensive. On the other hand, if you are a fan of Gundam, there is the Gundam Cafe that right at the entrance offers a small take-out for those who don’t have time to stop inside. Here you can order a taiyaki (traditional fish-shaped Japanese cake) with the shape of Gundam and other Gundam-themed dishes!

Photo credits: akibacity.tokyo

The big green sign

Photo credits: mishajoh.blogspot.it

When we say  “sexy shop” we immediately think about something “dubious”, “shady”, something to stay away from. Instead, the Pop Life Department M’S, located on the corner right outside of Akihabara station, is attractive and funny. Very clean and neat, among the shelves of M’S you can find unimaginable objects! Sets of di sexy cosplays, adults DVDs and many of them are niche products, all the latest technological inventions for  “personal use” and also lifestyle products. Many visitors are simply curious tourists or young couples. Strange thing is that in the basement there are 2 vending machines that sell “used” underwears!

Photo credits: Google image

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