Akihabara
Akihabara is home to the infamous Otaku and maid cafes as well as all things electronic, gadget, anime and gaming in nature. Also known as Electric Town, it is easy to access on either the Yamanote Line or the Keihin Tohoku Line as well as the Tokyo subway. When you get to the station you just follow the signs to Akihabara Electric Town and you'll find yourself in the heart of the action.
If you are looking for electrical goods of top notch quality or the most innovative and stylish new products currently hitting the market, this is the place to be.
Tokyo Maid Cafes
Immediately you leave the station via the Electric Town exit, you can't help but meet the Tokyo maids for the first time. They are everywhere. They call to potential customers as they pass on the street and hand out flyers inviting them to visit their particular blend of cafe. It's all done in good humour - if you don't want a flyer just smile and walk on.
What's it all in aid of? Well there's nothing sordid about this pastime. The maids really do work in cafes and you can sit down and have a drink if you happen to fancy taking a break from the streets for a while. The maids will make you more than welcome - this is where they come into their own. They will pamper you and fluff your ego until you feel like a peacock strutting your stuff! When you've had enough, they'll see you off with a 'Have a good afternoon Sir/Madame' and turn to the next street tired customer.
Otaku
In English they might be referred to as 'nerds' or 'geeks'. In Tokyo, Akihabara is the place to meet their Japanese equivalent - the Otaku. The term Otaku still gets a little lost in translation though. Whereas geeks tend to be associated with computers, these guys are the anime kings of the world. You will find all the anime characters you want in Akihabara along with all the merchandise that goes with them.
Regardless of whether you're into either of the above, Akihabara is worth a look just to see these sub-cultures in action.
And then of course... there's the shopping. Roll up your sleeves and be prepared to be bombarded by sound bites from various advertising campaigns as you wander from store to store. It's all part of the Akihabara experience - enjoy.
