Eating in Akihabara

Akihabara's area is wide spread.   There is no official address named "Akihabara" (in comparison to Roppongi or Shinjuku), and it seems the area is expanding a little by little.  Of course, the center of the area is the highest in rent, so that the small stores and shop owners tend to step away from the centerto surrounding, but still accessible areas, and that makes the Mecca of Otaku to expand.  It will take a good 6-8 hours to check out the stores in the entire area.  Some people spend 2 to 3 days, to look for something particular.

Akihabara does not only have otaku stores, but also many small places to eat, ranging from McDonald's to a counter-only small restaurants.  For those who are on budget and in hurry, "ramen" (pronounced: rah-muhn) will be a great way to fill your appetite.  Ramen is a soup containing noodles, vegitables and a piece of meat(usually pork). 

One of our staff's favorite stop is Hakata Furyuu

 A basic bowl of ramen cost only 500yen, and you will get 2 free bowls of noodles!! 

When you are done half-way with noodles, ask for "kae-dama"(a bowl of noodles. pronounced: kaE daMa), when you finish with your noodles, then the chef will give you another bowl of noodles.  HOWEVER, kaedama is normally just the noodles, and no soup, so make sure that you don't finish you soup when you ask for kaedama. 

If you want to arrange the soup's to your taste, there are some condiments on the counter

From the left, pickled ginger (red), garlic puree (white)  and spicy mustard leaf(brown).  Also there ground black peppers, and sesame.

Ramen is very cost effective, filling and fast.  So whenever you have a chance check out Hakata Furyuu or other ramen shops in Akihabara.  For location of Hakata Furyuu, please check out our  Map of Akihabara HERE.  You will find it in the top-center of the map.

By the way, ramen's soup is usually made with pork and chicken bones.  So based on your diet requirements, it might not be suitable for everyone.

New Era of Akiba

Every time I go to Akihabara, I am seeing more and more Gaikoku-jin(non-Japanese) tourists.  I guess Akihabara will become as popular as Kyoto for the tourists very soon.  About 15 years ago, people's interests in Japan were Karate and geisha, but now otaku culture has replaced the old image of Japan.  Otaku is the new trend and the Akihabara is the Mecca of Otaku.  And we, as JapanSearch.jp believe that the culture still has a lot space to grow.

Those who are interested in anything from Akihabara, just let us know via email zembu@japansearch.jp   JapanSearch.jp offers shopping help and over-the-phone translation services.

Parts Market

Once you get out of the JR (Japan Rail) Akiharaba Station's Electroic Town Exit (under rennovation), you will be encountered by electronics and otaku stores.  One of the most popular site to visit is the Buhin Ichiba(electronics parts market).  Once you get out of the exit, turn right. 

Right after the rennovation area, you will see a small alley just like this:

Once you step into the market, you'll find hundres, even thousands of electronic parts in the tiny store booths.  Tiny bolts and nuts for your pcs and whatever the pieces used for the electronics.  They even probably the world's smallest the spy cameras, which James Bond can't even handle.  Sorry, but I was not allowed to take any pictures....actually I was warned not to do so, so you gotta be there to see it.

The outside of the building looks like this:

Inside is about a one hundred tiny stores, which are specialized in their own parts.  I was finally able to take some of the stores outside.  If you are a computer freak that loves to build own computers or anything electronic, this is the perfect place to be.

It's Spring!

I know this is not related to Akihabara or Otaku culture, but it's spring in Tokyo and people are parting under the cherry blossom trees.  Well, as for otaku, it may not be common to go out and spend so much time out in the park, but it can be refreshing sometimes.

 So, if you have a chance, enjoy Hanami(Cherry Blossom Party) while they last.    Hey, don't drink too much

Look What I've Found!!

Potato Chips flavered hard candy!!!!  Isn't this amazing? 

Do you wanna know what this tastes like?   Exactly like a salted potato chips, except that this isn't crunchy.  Do yo wanna try this?  You can order this via Shoperone on JapanSearch.jp 

Akihabara Train Station

Look what I found at a stair well of Akihabara Station.  Otaku already begins from the station.  Well, if you think about the otaku population that uses this station, that's understandable.

There are 2 major exit for otaku at Akihabara Station.  1) Central Gate and 2) Electric Town Entrance.
Central Gate is facing Yodobashi Akiba, Akihabara's mega store for electornics, PCs, mobile phones, cameras, toys etc.

Central Gate

Yodobashi-Akiba

I walked over the Electric Town Gate, but it was under rennovation, it should look like this

If you are looking for deeper otaku materials, this is the exit you want to look for.  Nothing much on Central Gate, it's a new and clean part of the town that was innovated some years ago.  The REAL Akihabara starts from here.  Check out JapanSearch.jp's Akihabara Page, where I have posted a map.  I'll start introducing those places as I move forward.  You'll get to see some of the deep side of Akihabara, which your ordinary tour guide will not show you.....

Getting to AKihabara

OK, let's start the tour.  First getting to Akihabara is not so complicated from anywhere in Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa or Chiba.  It is a big terminal station, and there are 3 major JR lines:

1)Yamanote-Line (green), the loop line

2)Sobu-Line (yellow), east-west line

3)Keihin Tohoku-Line(blue), north-south line

 

Also, there are Hibiya-Line and Tsukuba Express, which both are subways.

Yeah, I know how it can be to catch the right train/subway.  To find out the right time and train, check out JapanSearch.jp, it has a link to Train Route Finder on the top page.