A Week in Akihabara

probably eroge, doujin/manga or figures
- no point buying gundam models in japan when first of all hong kong is cheaper (for some reason) and ya.. its seriously a lot cheaper -.-(and they ain't fake,etc if ur wondering)

and i see more of a purpose to buy eroge or figure msot there --> u can't get it anywhere else ^^ (unless u wanna pay shipping fee and all those stuff which is a pain)

*Wipes drool off face*

Heaven... Just... purely Heaven...

Anyways, I would love to visit, great illustration/pictures Danny!

Great as usual with this "A week" series

danny now you just made me want to go to akihabara more then EVER!!!! [rate is rising over 100% to 9000000%!!!!!]

DANNY! FROM NOW ON -- I SHALL CALL YOU AWESOME-KUN!!! ^_____^

i lol'd at the "wax the dolphin", "dolphin care products" and "nocturnal activity" comments XDDD

Akiba = the land of milk and honey *heart heart heart*

if ever i have the chance to visit Japan and Akiba, i'll but figures, doujins, manga, eroge and character goods and maybe also some PC parts that i can only find in Akiba ^___^

wonderful article as always.
I wonder why the shop keeps wouldn't want basically free publicity.their loss. 1st time hearing of waxing the dolphin.moaR.

You are right about one thing, Danny. You can never get tired of going to Akihabara. Except right after Comiket, Akihabara becomes so crowded and during that time, I might not consider going there daily...

I always come to Japan for Comiket so it's always crowded in Akihabara. Then again, Akihabara is always full of people, just there are way more people during and after Comiket season -_-

LOL @ the dolphin comments. For otakus, no matter how many times you visit Akiba, it's nearly impossible to get bored!! I want the FA Shiro Dakimakura!!

Btw the surprise up the 1/1 figure of Haruhi, she's wearing actual panties. And no I didn't look up (I wanted to though) but there was this group of high school girls who peeked and started "screaming" about it when I was nearby.

LOL waxing the dolphin... LOL!!!!
man we learn new things everyday on dannychoo.com LOL!

About that....
"Apparently there is a surprise if you look up this Haruhi's skirt."
Could it be a DOLPHIN lol omg.. that would be a terrifying surprise..

that's probably the one place where I could spend my savings ($7000) in less than one hour...

btw...I just realized how The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ended like a year ago, but its still popular...wish they made it longer >_

Language barrier keep me from purchasing lots and lots of doujinshi >_<

So I have only dakimakura, figures, mouse pad with oppai, onahole, renting candy girls, some music cd, eroge photobooks and some other stuffs to buy if I were to go there. ^^

I need to grab moar dolphin care products when I'm in Akiba again.

Need to go play some Natsukami. Cutesy girls.

LOL about looking up Haruhi's skirt. I remember reading it somewhere...

@Danny: Do you get the "AH! It's Danny! Do coverage of my store nao plz! I'll give you some dolphin care products" thing when store owners want you to do coverage?

If anyone knows where I can still get hold of that G's Festival for international delivery PLEASE let me know, I'm a collector of the series and amazon sold out too fast... orz.

Love the most danny, these are the posts I adore looking through the most :P

I can get a dozen doujins for the price of one decent figure... So doujin for me.

And Kodomo no Jikan poster? Why does that thing sell so well? ugh

"Waxing the Dolphin". lol I haven't heard that one for a while. got to save the Dolphin from cancer I guess. ^^ another similar idiom I found unique was a Cantonese term, "shoot the plane".

regarding taking pictures at gamer, I didn't know you needed permission to take pictures there. lol good thing they didn't throw me out of the building when I was taking pictures during my visit there. lol ^^

I think I would spend it mainly on music, games, and blank DVDs. I can always get cheap PC hardware from newegg.

The surprise is a deadpan image of Yuki Nagato...total letdown if you ask me.

Great coverage as always. Also, don't be fooled by the cover of that T2 H OVA. The contents are nothing like the cover and reeks of extreme QUALITY.

Interesting as always. Also, do I spy a Little Busters manga in the bed time reading picture?

I'd probably end up with tens of kilograms of doujin, manga, and artbooks, along with another few kilos of CDs and DVDs, if you were to ever let me loose on that place lol

I came back from Japan 2 weeks ago and I still miss it, especially Akihabara of course T_T I brought back with me about 100kg of doujinshis, which amount to about 4-500 doujinshis, crazy...

Hopefully I can go back to Japan in time for Comiket 74 and visit the Akihabara again(plus doujin shops in Ikebukuro, Shibuya Mandarake and Nakano Broadway) >_

*sigh*

I miss Akihabara...
Most of my money while I was there were spent on figures ^^;

Wow. Superb coverage... Oh yes, the comments:

- Tony Taka anime as well as specialized magazines... *Quickly bans perverted side for a while*
- Even elevators (Say, who wouldn't mind to stay stuck inside the 'vator and drool at pictures all day? Be honest, lol) and public lockers are magnificently decorated...!
- LOL at the Konata's version of "The girl who leapt through time" (as a pose);
- Haruhi is quite cute as a maid and with that kind of embarrassed face. Would like to see more of her dere part.

Danny, you truly are a swift Master Ninja and our hero. ^^
What? Flattery? This is not flattery.

"Nocturnal activity material."

My favourite definition is "clandestine night time operation."

Oh by the way, if I were to be traveling in Akihabara, I feel I'd run for figures, anime songs, anime series and maybe some costume of warrior/samurai (without the weapons sadly, since the Customs would panic like no tomorrow otherwise) or other male-oriented costume/accessories... ^^

For the poll, if I ever have the chance to visit Japan and go to Akihabara, I'll probably waste my moneys on everything!
LOL, nocturnal activities... The dolphin would get really smooth or hurt real bad if you have night time fun everyday...

I never visited Akiba when I was in Japan last year. (*sigh*...last year? It was only 3 months ago!) But on our next visit, I plan on Spending a week in Tokyo. My Dad was Stationed in Japan between 1954-1956 and took lots of photos. I've been scanning the old 35mm Negatives and posting them in my Flickr account. What I'd like to do is find the old places where he visited and take pictures now from where he took his photos to see how much things have changed. I know the old Hardy Barracks don't exist anymore. I wonder what else is different/the same? Of course, while we were there, I'd HAVE to take a full day and visit Akiba. :)

I have to admit that I don't have a particular drive to go to akiba should I go to japan. I would, for the experience but in terms of Geek stuff, I keep hearing good things about denden town in Osaka. Went there before and the gaming stuff was great!!

Wasn't into figures and stuff back then so I can't remember how well they stacked up in that regard.

Some many awesome care products!!! Too bad I still have more than half a year to go before the shops would allow me to legally purchase all those goodies >_

I suddenly feel motivated to create a teleport machine o.O

I think it would be half on figures and half on artbooks... mainly I mean. Because I'd probably spend tons of money in different things.

That is today. Couple of years ago when I've been on Akiba, I spend tons of cash in Artbooks... my figure side still wasn't awake back then (T_T).

Anyways, nice pics. I see some stuff changed. Such a nice time to be there... I'd take a thousand pictures with life-size Haruhi.

Hmm planning on a trip to Asia this year, I wonder where the best shopping for techno hardware and stuff is? Any one in Hong Kong or Seoul?

GAH! You are making me drool MORE.

I would pretty much unload on everything, but with limited space back on the plane AND considering I own one figure- I would dump massive amounts of cash on figures, then gundams, then anything else that tickled my fancy (fon't misconstrue that =p).

seems fun >< gotta visit that place

"My Master costume for 8,500 yen and Haruhi for 7,900 yen - a great gift for your GF/Wife/Mistress or BF." My Girlfriend would kill me if I asked her to wear this... Sadly but true... ^^

GOSH! Thanks for the coverage! I'm going there in April! Can't wait!

thx for the coverage. August really put a lot of effort, everywhere Fortune Arterial ...

Wow, i would give my right arm and do a tsukkomi in my underwear just to have access to that great a variety of manga...

I'm getting baited to Akibahara- I mean Japan. lol.

I went to Japan in 2005 and am returning this April.

After the initial mind-explosion of my first Akihabara experience and visiting the big stores, I spent a lot of time exploring the little shops tucked away in the side streets. I've read so much about how Akihabara has changed in the last couple of years. I'm glad some of those indie places are still there!

(The next two months can't pass soon enough!)

I put hardware because you left out video games. Where's the love?

Planning a trip there this summer, so these Akiba pics are great! Looks like my limited funds are going to be hit pretty badly...

And methinks I'll be mainly investing in figures and video games. Maybe the odd DVD here and there.

I'll spend most of my money on gunpla, figures and electronics stuff if I do visit Akiba. which unfortunately won't be happening this year. Need to brush up on my nihongo too. I would love to meet up together and discuss anime/figures/gunpla/otaku stuff with you Danny. I'll be sure to bring you some maple syrup and grade AAA beef cuts...lol (Canada doesn't have anything worth exporting, so sad)

PS. can you actually rent candy girls? if so...that's nasty and unhygenic.

:3...nice post Danny i really like akiba..the holy land XDD i would get there some day...but i didn't do the poll because it was kind of hard to decide in what am i going to spend more money...i think i'll spend on everything !!!

How about: anything I can't find at Yamada Denki. Honestly, the point cards make the Gunpla so much cheaper...

Akihabara is the Heaven... Maybe I should die to go there? At least, my wallet die for sure :)

Lol danny you should have taken a picture of the surprise under haruhis skirt too.

Unless you included it and I missed it.
Anyways that surprise is pretty damn funny.

There be no dakimakura option in that poll there

I hope to make a pilgrimage soon, but the only funds I have are my student loan right now.

LOL. Billy Blanks, no way. hahaha

hey, you didnt tell us what surprise we would get if we peep under Haruhi's skirt..??

@ornehx
you really want to know that badly?
http://kotaku.com/348368/dont-look-up-haruhis-skirt

I WANA GO BAD!!!!!! I'll most likely spend my money on figures.

hmm it would be both figures and doujin on top of my list
I am going to tokyo in october.
(only for a week but hey,i am already glad i can go.)
100% sure that i will go to the holy land for doujin and figures.

btw,chose figures at for the poll

I SOOO WANT TO GO THERE T_T I'd mostly spend my entire life savings on anime stuff (cds, posters, figures, costumes and etc) and hardware. I love how anime is so mainstream in Japan. The holy land indeed. ^^

Rhaaaa ! I had not had my dose of Dannychoo.com for 10 days and I was in need. Now I feel better. Thank you Danny, nice coverage !

@qingy
LOL qingy LOL!

@quingy: Killer stuff!

I meant qingy...
Darn, why do I have to repeat nicks in my head before typing them? XD

I'd definitely spend my money on figures...then comes manga.

let's see hmmmmmm i'd say that if i ever get there i'd spend most of my money on figures and manga ^^ (AKIHABARA ROOCKS!!)

since i am a idiot i would probably spend my money on dip n dots & porn

I'm probably missing something obvious, but why would they want to turn down free publicity for their shops by not letting you cover them? And, good work on this post, it has a good visual impact, with great explanations.

One whole WEEK in Akihabara????
I visited Tokyo last year and after travel time etc. I ended up with two HOURS to see it all (sob!)
Next time I'll do better. HEH HEH!

great pictures :)
I take the train to Akiba whenever I get the chance. It's easy to spend an afternoon there.

It's been so long since i've been there, but it's mainly because i got the wierdest stares when i walked in there.. and it's not like i was the only girl walking in Akiba. Oh well i love it anyway.

When I go, first stop, Akihabara.

Just coming back from Akiba last month...I can show you a pic of my stash!

http://bp3.blogger.com/_3oa9yPh5YyM/SBcJSZfpSYI/AAAAAAAAAB8/gMYojPczSnA/s1600-h/IMG_3306.JPG

Eroge all day! :D

i really want to go there now....ty for this review danny choo ^^

I want to go in Akihabara.

hardware for me...ok maybe a few trips to the maid cafes wouldn't hurt ^^;

I have found...paradise!

great pics and blog danny. I would spend my money on hardware and a figure or two.

I would spend my money on manga and figures mostly. From the photo's it looks a lot quieter, I went on a sunday last year >.< Big mistake, considering I wanted to spend money. Too crowded XD espcially Chuo-Dori. Thanks for the pics Danny :D Happy New Year everyone ( yeah I know its early hehe)

I was there just a couple of days ago, bought loads of goodies (mainly hardware though) ^^

Those hard drive prices are very high though. I saw some 1TB SATA hdds for under 10 000yen in the backstreet shops, and even a 1.5TB for just over 10 000. ;)

It's depressing that I won't be able to go back to Japan next year. D:

I already miss it so much. > . <;;

The holy land it is.. I'd really love to have an armband. ^^

And its gotta be Shiro for Fortune Arterial!

My hotel was in Akihabara last time I went to Japan. I couldnt have asked for anything better!

When I go to Akiba, I always buy some videogames, PC or PS3 american or imported games (asian english version). Spent mostly 15.000~25.000yen in games...

When I built my computer, I'd spent near 110.000 yen in 3 days...

I have at this time, 4 PVC figures and 1 action figure, think never owned more than one figure when I go to Akihabara, because figures are new for me...

Even thought I would buy a lot of figures hardware is my greatest passion.
So I think I would spent most of my money on hardware and such things.

Great photowalk like always. Thanks for sharing :)

Gokuraku Gokuraku （　´∀｀）.

I miss the point "Anime/Manga related stuff" so I chose "Eroge".^^;

I'm sure I will see a lot of stuff which don't come in mind now but I'm willing to pay for.

I would spend the most of the money for (ita-)merchandise stuff e.g. dakimakuras, t-shirts, random fan-stuff like Timotei or Pocky or ITA-Decals for my car. I guess i would run around the whole day and sing this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkEDxBo-REc (Perfume - AkihabaLove)

Awesomeness. If I went there I'd spend lots on figures and artbooks. Maybe even some gunpla too. If I was old enough then we'll add doujins to that list, though I get I feeling that I'd have the luck to be stopped by customs or have a package searched.

If ever I get to visit the Holy Land Akiba...I'd spend it on Figures, Doujin/Manga and Hardwares =3

This just makes me want to go to Japan even more. I would probably buy just about everything off the list exceot for probably the Gundams; I already have a lot of Gundam stuff back here in the states. I love how you said "Nocturnal activity material". That is why I love your website and posts like this.

Danny, i can't answer the poll XD
Everything in Akihabara that is related to anime and otaku are all eye candy to me XD
Love this coverage of Akihabara that you did. Seems that Akihabara is really indeed an otaku
heaven.

Coin lockers? That's a first for me seeing such. How many items could one store in the locker?

WOW!!! There's some many goodies that I want! ^^

I miss Akiba soooo much. Been twice to Tokyo and spent a lot of time in Akiba. The McD at Akiba in one of Danny's vids is a place I at at several times as the money in my pocket got smaller. BTW, why are pc parts so expensive in Japan??? I can get a 1TB hard drive for $100 in the US. Makes no sense.

I really really want that life size Haruhi, but why are the hard drives so expensive over there. I can get a 1TB drive for around $110.00 US dollars. The most expensive one I have seen lately goes for about $200.00 US dollars.

Ah, it's been a while since I've been to Akiba. I go there just to take in the sights, grab a few manga, doujins and miscellaneous items (trinkets from Gamers). Figures are too expensive for me and eroge I'd rather get via other sources due to the price tag (although some limited edition stuff warrants a buy). I also took a look around the tech stuff, but not as interested in that. God, I love Gamers so much.

Akiba is high on my priority list for when I visit Japan. It looks so awesome.

My parents promised that they'd take me to Japan if I get into medical school, although I'm not sure i'd want them around when I get to Akiba ^^;

The hard drives and SD cards are over priced. Are they cheaper online?

Probably doujins because I wouldn't be buying a lot of figures. The artbooks look cool, but I'm sure they're expensive.

This has probably been commented on already but good grief, you call that cheap PC accessories? If that's cheap I don't want to see the expensive ones.

There needs to be more shops like that world wide. Especially the ero stores!

Well, I think we all know what I'd buy... But alas, I have no money, and probably will never make it to Akihabara.

This is the kinda place where passing time is too easy...

Somehow when I got there, there's this uncontrollable urge to spend. I love the place but I fear it... Its taking its toll on my not so phat wallet >.<

I can't go there. I'll end up using my whole savings account on everything but eroge.

First thing I would do when I'm at Akihabara is buy figures and some art books. And yes, nobody gets bored when going there.

Nice Pics Danny, I wish I could Akihabara again some day ^^

heh, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Konata parody is funny.
Nice pictures!

Awesome pics Danny.

I only managed to make it to Akihabara once during my trip last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a different atmosphere than anywhere else I've been.

Only downside was that I couldn't make it on a Sunday - was raining both Sunday's I was in Japan -_-`

ohhhh akihabara... the gaijin otaku's dream destination... when oh when will I finally get the chance to visit there... Such beautiful photos ;_; Though I'm a Gundam person, I'd spend most of my money on stuff that I can't even order online. Whatever that may be. I just want to go to Akihabara to feel the atmosphere!

I can't wait to visit Akiba when I go to Japan this summer.
Manga, doujins, hardware, and (eroge?) games are what i'm gonna buy.

I think I'm gonna buy some figures for drawing reference although doujins and manga sound good too.
But I gotta hand it to you, Danny, you express yourself very nice! "Dolphin care material"! Haha! Gotta take care of it!
It's nice to know that there are lockers in which you can leave your stuff! I didn't know that!

First i was like : Nice article, very nice *Click picture for higher res* ;_; oh boy so much detail and i can't zoom. Then non the less it was a superb article. Then at the bottom danny puts a poll about what one would spend most value-tablets on, now i can't acualy answer this, cause 1. haven't been to akiba 2. not sure what i would buy most of 3. dunno about the prices
probably a whole mix of it all.

first time i'll say it in 2009: I LOVE JAPAN ^^

by the way, is it possible to find animes subtitled in English or mangas in English in Japan or should all the gaijins learn japanese ?

Wow...Computer stuff in Japan is expensive...1tb Hard drive 32990 Yen...thats like 520 Australian Dollars. A hard drive costs about $190AUD for a 1tb Seagate hard drive

nice reportage!

I would probably spend it on anime/figures primarily. :D
Great pictures!

Hmm, was wondering how you got those store photos, Sir Danny. Er, do they make you sign anything in blood for those pics, hahaha!

This year, my friend and I resolve to visit Japan. I better stop pre-ordering all those LEs.

The last time I was there, I came prepare.
I kinda know what I want to get ahead of time. I did my research on where to get what.
I went through all the shop kinda marked down the price first then when really shopping.

I had set aside a certain amount of money to spend in Akihabara and I manage to spend it all in 3 hours of non-stop shopping. When I left there later on that night, I was your typical Otaku with bags both hand, backpack fill the brim and bags hanging here and there.

Anyway, All I could say is that if you want to get some animate related goods.
Japan has the best price and choice! However if you are going for figures (the typical one's, not the limited or non mass produce one) then it is still cheaper in HK. (Usually, however you would need to know the time frame of availability and where to get it)

I wish I could go to Akihabara again. I can't wait for my next shopping spree!

That seems like the kind of place that i would lose control of myself in and spend an absurd amount of money. I hope more stores invite you to take shots for us. I'd love to see a lot more photos of locations in Akiba. Great Article.

I love Akiba to bits and have been many times, but you make it sound like Akiba is all porn Danny, which it isn't.

When I go to Akiba I spend most of my time browsing old video games in places like Super Potato, Media Land, and Trader 2. Then I play new arcade games in the SEGA and Taito arcades, stuff like Street Fighter 4. Then I browse the anime and manga on offer in the dozens of stores that are full of them.

To be honest I have been into the eroge sections a few times, but the atmosphere there is so creepy I don't stay long. Lots of grubby middle aged salary men.

And is it stating the obvious to say does anyone really wax the dolphin over 2D naked girls? I mean, really? That's deeply disturbing if true.

I'll get tons of those nocturnal activity books ^.^ , but what tends to get in my way is money problems T.T . OH and most probably some dakimuras to accompany me on cold nights ^.^

I have to wonder though: why is the Lucky Star game poster from last year? I remember seeing that exact same post when I visited Akiba in december of 2007 and the poster is even dated 2008:01:24...

What's up with that?

What's the surprise under Haruhi's skirt?

if im alone, eroge. if im with friends, figures/manga. too shy to go to maid cafes..

i love to go to akiba one day coz it looks mint and i mean it coz look at all the stuff u can buy at those prices.

i would buy a ton of figures there but a t a pinch i would by manga in a book off store if there was one.

over here to even get a chance of getting a 1tb drive will set you back almost 500 quid which is a rip off.

I'm visiting japan next month, i'm really looking forward to Akiba , gonna but lots of figures ^-^

Isn't the English title for the series 'He is My Master'?