Akihabara Electric Town City

Posted by filipinoprogrammer | 618 Views
June 7th, 2007 in Life in Japan |

During my stay here in Tokyo I was very happy that finally I will be able to go and see Akihabara. Akihabara is one of the unique places here in Japan. Akihabara is located on the eastern side of the central Chiyoda ward. The area houses thousands of shops selling every technological gadget you can imagine, from computers to PlayStations and vacuums to DVDs, at reasonable prices. This area is also known as the “Gamer’s Mecca” and has in recent times become strongly identified with anime/manga (cartoon) subculture, with the legions of otaku geeks traipsing down on weekends known as Akiba-kei. This was one of my favorite places in Tokyo. In weekend, especially Sunday where the whole area’s roads are temporarily closed for vehicles, this place is very crowded. You will see people walking on every side of the road, Cosplayers either singing or posing for other people to take a shot of their own.

Otaku culture in Akihabara represents one aspect of the people who shop and ‘hang out’ there in the recent years. Some people there have unique lifestyles, centered on technological enterprises and an obsession for Anime/Manga, that have made them outsiders in other sections of Japanese society. These otaku are given the chance to gather here and to meet others who share their specific interests. Akihabara is currently seen as one of the shopping districts that represents a ‘mecca’ of sorts for otaku, as well as to the term Akiba-kei, or Akiba-type.

Recently, with increased exposure of “otaku” culture in the Japanese media, new buildings, and the opening of another new railway line, Akihabara has seen a boom in popularity and is a popular destination for many young people interested in its unique atmosphere. Akihabara’s latest boom is maid cafes, where pretty girls dressed up as French maids serve you drinks and dote on you, some going as far as to spoon-feed you.

Akihabara is also perhaps the last stronghold in the world for classic arcade gaming. Although arcades are still everywhere in Japan, and more so in Tokyo, the concentration (and skill of play) is especially high in Akihabara. The huge towers of Sega, Taito and others can’t be missed, but places like “Hey Arcade” (on Chuo Dori) have entire floors dedicated to shooting games (think Galaga) and fighting games (think Tekken). Recommended for a nostalgic trip back to the eighties, and to check out the pros.

On a more classic note, Akihabara also has its own temple site, to the left off of Chuo Dori as you walk towards Ueno. It is mostly noteworthy for the festival it organizes around May. On this occasion, a massive shrine is traditionally carried through the streets of Akihabara, providing an interesting contrast with all the high-tech to say the least.