Top 10 Stores In Akihabara
July 30, 2008
The first thing a true otaku geek will ask you after your trip to Japan is what you got at Akihabara, Tokyo’s famed electronic district. If you want to be not just hip but totally with it, you’ll respond with short form followed by downplaying the whole deal. Something like “Yeah, I checked out Akiba. They had some cool stuff but I think they survive on a lot of hype. Some of that junk I could find in the States for way less. I did however pick up this kick-ass glass CD.”
Now, at $800, you better be able to pull out that glass CD if you mention it.
Here’s the truth about Akiharaba: It’s overwhelming, especially if you can’t read Japanese and are disoriented anyway, and there’s a lot of megaphone barking outside the stores. Everything as priced is too expensive, but dickering is like a Japanese pastime. If you’re good at the game, you can get a good deal—until they pretend they don’t speak English anymore. Some say maps are useless in Akihabara and that’s no problem because the idea is to get lost in electronics heaven. But let’s get real. Most people have other things to do when they’re in Tokyo.
Here are the top ten stores to check out while you’re there. Browse, buy, move on to other things before you get sucked into the maze. And remember, if you’re not near your hotel, anything you buy, you’ll have to tote around Tokyo the rest of the day.
1. Yodobashi Camera. Just opened 2005. Turn east, look for the giant 9-story building devoted to nothing but electronics.
2. Super Potato. Just so you can say you’ve been there. The Japanese have a thing for weird potato pairings; there’s a grocery store called “I am Potato,” which is hilarious to any native English speaker. Lots of Nintendo and Sega, for the vintage game lover.
3. Laox. There are eleven stores just in Akiba under this ownership, each of them specializing in something different like computers, watches, cameras, etc. You likely want the Duty Free store. Asobit City is popular with gamers.
4. Akky. Three stores, specializing in bound-for-overseas electronics—in case you’d rather not have the Japanese version of Windows and Microsoft Office on your new PC (and you don’t, instead of paper clip, there’s a dolphin that squeaks at you!).
5. Yamada Denki-Labi. Right across from the train station, you can’t miss it. Computers and weird household accessories.
6. Sofmap. 16 stores, one of them has a duty free floor. If you can locate store number one, that’s the one with the duty free stuff.
7. Ishimaru Denki. Ten stores, some for electronic equipment, some for computers, some for music, movies, and games.
8. Media Land. Arguably the best video game store on Earth, according to the Otaku Genki Manual. Ten floors and ten dollars cheaper than rivals.
9. Book Off. First for a picture in front of yet another stupid English name, second for the second-hand junk found high above a sort of Starbucks. (Warning. Japanese coffee is usually awful. If you can find a Starbucks, love it, cherish it.)
10. Yellow Submarine. For obvious reasons, but also because the building it’s in—Kitazawa Building—has every repressed child’s sweet dreams inside. Robots, figurines, Manga and comics. Just keep climbing floors, you’ll see.
Top 10 Books about Tokyo
November 20, 2007
Here are 10 great books about Tokyo well worth reading. Each link takes you direct to Amazon where you can either buy new or used copies of each book.
1. Lonely Planet Tokyo Encounter (Paperback)
If you are planning to visit Tokyo, this book is ideal for you. Lonely Planet Tokyo Encounter, which was written by Wendy Yanagihara, contains almost every practical information that you should know before you go to Tokyo. This book provides maps, changing money, the best way to get from A to B, accommodations, art and culture and many more. If you need to get around Tokyo in the smartest way, this book is strongly recommended.
2. Little Adventures in Tokyo: 39 Thrills for the Urban Explorer
This book was written by Rick Kennedy who has lived in Tokyo for 20 years. In this book, Kennedy tells the story about Tokyo through many adventures of some Urban Explorers. In order to write this book, He wanted to create a slim and lightweight guide with fun rather than a thick book which contains too much unnecessary information. This book will help you understand the urban life of Tokyo.
3. I Live in Tokyo
Written by Mari Takabayashi, I Live in Tokyo is the book which tells the Japanese life and customs through the eyes of a Tokyo schoolgirl named Mimiko. Mimiko will take readers on a journey of the Japanese culture through the calendar year which highlighting each month’s important traditions. This book will help you understand Tokyo’s life, people and culture..
4. Tokyo Friends
Tokyo Friends tells the story about a young American girl named Katie who is living in present-day Tokyo. One day, she meets Keiko, a young Japanese girl and her brother Kenji. They agree to explore the city and its surrounding area together and teach each other the customs of their respective countries. This is a great book for everyone who interest in learning the Japanese customs and cultures.
5. Tokyo Fragments
Tokyo Fragments was written by Five of Japan’s most popular contemporary fiction writers Ryuji Morita, Tomomi Muramatsu, Mariko Hayashi, Makoto Shiina, and Chiya Fujino. In this book, they are jointly present the vision of life in different quarters of Japan’s capital. This is a good chance to read these five stories from the leading Japanese authors whose work has never appeared in English before.
6. Neighborhood Tokyo (A Study of the East Asian Institute Columbia University)
The book is based on the dissertation research of Theodore Bestor, Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University, who spent more than two years in Japan writing this book. Neighborhood Tokyo is one of only a handful of books in English that offers a realistic and insightful portrait of the lives of ordinary people in Tokyo city. After reading this book, you will understand the urban life in Tokyo better than ever.
7. Seeing Tokyo
Seeing Tokyo is one of many best books of the author Kaori Shoji. This book will take the reader on a visual journey to understand the urban life of Tokyo. The reader will know Tokyo district by district and area by area through six essays which was carefully written for transmitting the image of Tokyo city.
8. Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide (3rd Ed.)
This book is the updated third edition of an atlas book which first published in 1998. The transportation network of the metropolitan area of Tokyo has changed a good deal during the past six years, and then a new book which contains more update information is strongly needed, especially for tourists who are planning to visit Tokyo.
9. Time Out Guide to Tokyo, 5th Edition
Written by Time Out, Time Out Guide to Tokyo leads readers through the marvels and mysteries of this capital — from futuristic skyscrapers to ancient temples and from sex clubs to sushi bars. Additionally, travelers can also explore the sights beyond Tokyo including Yokohama, the hot springs of Hakone, and the slopes of Mount Fuji.
10. Tokyo: A Certain Style
Tokyo: A Certain Style, which was written by Kyoichi Tsuzuki, is a wonderful 400 pages book which is able to portray the life style of Tokyo’s resident. The book provides endless photographs of Japanese apartments and accommodations and also explains how the people in Tokyo city precede their life.
