Akihabara, shop till you drop!

Juniper Foo | Oct 18, 2007

First stop, follow the signpost to Akihabara Denki Gai.

At last, I can finally say been there, done that. Having heard for so long about Tokyo's most famous magnet for tech geeks big and small, there's a certain tingle of expectation when one hops off at Akihabara subway station, and like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, following (in this case) the yellow signpost which states quaintly: Exit for Akihabara Electric Town.

Exiting from Akihabara Station, you can't miss the Radio Kaikan Building with its bubble escalators.

Be warned, though. Travel guides list the area as a large population of stores selling all kinds of electronic, anime, and otaku (obsessive fan) goods. What Akiba, as the locals call it, really is is a giant outdoor electronics mall like nowhere on earth. For an idea of how big this Electric Town is, our much-vaunted Sim Lim Square would probably fit into just one of the many-storey computer buildings.

Outwit, outplay, outlast

Some quick survival tips. Be prepared to spend several full days exploring this fascinating town which operates from 11am to 8pm, with Sundays closed to traffic so you can walk freely. Wear comfortable shoes. Believe me, you'll be thankful for them. By all means pack a collapsible stool as you'll be walking your feet off and there are hardly any courtesy seats along the way. Bring a portable fan if you're making the rounds in summer. You can forget that water bottle of H2O. With vending machines within sneezing distance, at up to 150 yen (US$1.28) for an ice-cold drink, you're in no danger of expiring from thirst. Finally, and most importantly, bring enough yen in cash. Your credit card is unlikely to go far in most of the smaller stores.

The real backstreet boys

In fact, it's the little shops you'll want to check out. Located mainly in the back lanes and side streets sprawling off the main Chuo-dori road, there's an entire warren of mom-and-pop stores crammed from floor to ceiling with all sorts of tech gizmos and junk, ranging from new to secondhand items that sometimes spill onto the pavements. Expect to shove your way through the packed interiors and passageways since even the ever-polite Japanese don't bother to say "sumimasen" (sorry, pardon me) in this instance. Prices can vary greatly from shop to shop. One learns quickly that the same item can sell for double its sticker price just one street down. Sim Lim Square diehards who've honed their scouting skills should do quite well here. However, take heed. The further you venture from the main thoroughfare, the less likely the shopowners will be able to converse in the Queen's English. Knowing a bit of the local lingo goes a long way.

A mom-and-pop shop where sales assistants decked out in uniforms are expected to bellow their wares aloud.

Cutting across the dense human traffic can be a danger to exposed sandaled feet.

Something for everyone

For those who think it's a geek's town, think again. Locals can point you out to 100 yen (US$0.85) shops tucked away

Cosplay cafe girls dressed as maids handing out pamphlets

in unexpected corners. Daiso, a budget outlet with a branch at Singapore's IMM, was discovered hidden away in the basement of a shop selling RA-rated DVDs. If you're a newbie daunted by the smaller electronics outlets, major stores like Laox and Sofmap which also sells used products from PSP games to notebooks operate multiple branch stores mostly along the main roads. Or if you're an anime fan, there is no lack of shops selling floor upon floor of just figurines and even cosplay (costume play) cafes where waitresses dress up like anime characters. It's a maze of varied offerings that never cease to amaze.
Tokyo Disneyland? Nah. Who needs Mickey when you can get better mice at this weird and wondrous tech town.

Related links:
For a tech guide to Akiba, check out the official Web site by the Akihabara Electrical Town Organization. For a traveler's quick guide, click here.

Reproduced from CNET Asia's Tech Buzz archives; photo credit: Juniper Foo

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