2nd Japan Trip - Day One Photos - Akihabara
I've been promising in all my loot posts that I'll put up the photos from my current Japan trip. On Day One, I arrived in Akihbara about 5pm, but still had a great time, before taking one of the last trains back. Returning to Akihabara felt just like coming home.
I took many more pics, but here is a small selection for you. Days two and three to follow, with more Otaku action in Nakano Broadway, Harajuku, and, of course, Akihabara.
(Sorry, just realised I had my photo resizer set to a smaller size than normal...)
All the lights just as its getting dark. I think that electricity saving has finished now. Sega are advertising the PuyoPuyo anniversary quite heavily.
This was the first meal I had in Japan this 2nd trip - a sushi and soba set, just before I got the Tsukuba Express train to Akiba.
And the first sight I saw - a lovely red SEGA arcade with a huge advert for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Extend. Unfortunately coming out just after I leave Japan. However, I haven't got Project Diva 2nd yet, and won't buy it now because a cheap Greatest Hits version is coming out in December, stupidly, a month after the 3rd game is released. Project Diva Arcade is also very popular now.
And then my first sight walking down the street to the promised land.
Gamers is looking awesome as always, now advertising Fate/Zero.
And my first sight of the main street. I was so excited! I love all the SEGA logos. You can see Taito HEY there too - the greatest arcade in the world.
The new(?) Volks showroom. I've yet to go in. Will have to make a point to before I leave Japan.
And just recently opened is an AKB48 Cafe & Shop, right next to the Gundam Cafe.
Here is the cafe and shop. There are always queues outside to get into the cafe. You can go to the shop on the left, but not on the right. There is a big video screen off to the right showing AKB48 videos constantly. And there is a take-out section if you don't want to queue to get in. The take-out section and shop are staffed by cutely dressed cute girls. Nothing worth buying in the shop though.
And here's the Gundam Cafe, still really popular.
Here's what you can buy from the Take-Out section of the AKB48 cafe. Sorry, not allowed to take photos of the staff. You can buy individual donuts, box sets of donuts, or a set of three "Happy Pies" which I've posted about already.
A nice big advert for Super Sonico :)
Many many Anisong CDs for sale. Any of them take your fancy?
A cool SEGA vending machine. I love Japanese vending machines., and Pocari Sweat.
The Yakuza/Ryu ga Gotaku section in Kotobukiya.
Large variety of Nendos for sale there also - Kotobukiya is one of the few shops which let you take photos of inside. I've got a load of some of their display cabinets too.
And an army of Danny Troopers.
As usual, it was raining in Japan, but the maids were still out in force. More maids this trip than I remember from last time. Again, you're not allowed to take photos of maids in the street, sorry.
There are now some awesome Evangelion coin lockers.
The Mari coin lockers are just to the left of those two, in the same place where there were Persona 3 coin lockers last time I was in Japan.
And just before I got back on the train, I saw a cool Miku Itasha.
More to come folks!
is there a Sonico artbook?
i've always wanted to know this and wanted to see more official Sonico art.
Not sure about an artbook. There is always loads of Sonico merch about in Otaku stores and sometimes in UFO catchers too.
Don't know anything about the character, but she has a very awesome design, sometimes a bit too ecchi for me though.
Cool post, Akiba is really an awesome place.
Thanks, I <heart> Akiba. Returning there after a year away really felt like going home. I went three days straight. Love everything about it (although it would be better if more maids spoke English and it was easier to get AKB48 tickets)
I love this show and am reading the manga as well. Hilarious!
What is it?
You can view it for free here as well as other anime without having to download and wait:
http://www.gogoanime.com/category/boku-ha-tomodachi-ga-sukunai
Thanks for the link Logan!! Gotta check that out! Started watching Gundam AGE and it's rather interesting. I like the animation and music, the story for now is ok. We'll see...
You're welcome. Lots of good stuff on that site.
I'll check it out. I haven't really started this season's anime yet due to my trip. Think this was on my "maybe" list.
Get ready to move it to Must See list. LOL
Home, sweet home!
I heart Akiba, it just feels so right being there. I'm sure you know what I mean...
Indeed I do. I smile so big when I stand in that street I probably look like a loon but who cares. LOL
ただいま！ Tada ima!!! XD
Okaeri-nasai
That's the first thing I say when I step off the plane at Narita.
Watching Fate/Zero and its awesome.
Never seen or played any of the Fate/series. I should do though!
You can find it at that site I sent you the link to. Good stuff. They also have Fate Stay Night series so you can watch that first.
Poor Gundam cafe is getting ignored. LOL
Pocari is awesome when walking around all day.
Pocari sweat is ALWAYS awesome. I just bought two massive boxes of the powder so I can have some at home. THE best hangover cure. I could post my supermarket loot too, was pretty awesome, and takes up a good chunk of my suitcase that STR 1/8 scale would have taken up.
I love the figure displays in Tokyo shops. Always so exciting.
Is this the new Koto store?
Er, I don't know, you told me to look out for the new stores from that place which got demolished. I saw the new Volks one. This Kotobukiya has about 6 floors and is really cool. I went to a Kotobukiya last year, but not sure if its in the same place...
where is the kotobukiya store located? Some rough direction will be useful. ^^;
It's on the main pedestrian street (the one parallel to the main street in the first picture).
You can't miss it!
But have to turn into an alley right? Judging from your pic of the store.
Um, no, its on the main pedestrianised street. The one with lots of shops, maids, etc on. You'll definitely find it.
Ok if you say it then it shouldn't be hard to find. Thanks again! ^^
Thanks for the pics. So many great places to explore next year. Gotta find where some of my fave stores from Radio Kaikan went too.
Thanks. Sorry, I'm not so good at store names etc. Last year, I wasn't a big anime fan, apart from Ghibli, so was mostly going around Akiba looking for videogames... so there are differences this year, but I'm not the best at pointing them out...
No worries. Exploring is half the fun. LOL
looking forward ur post about this showroom xD
I hope they allow you to take photos inside...
yeah i hope too xD BTW nice post ^^
Thanks! I went to one in either Akiba or Osaka last year and managed to sneak a few photos... Have you ever been to Japan? Where in Vietnam are you from?
im live in HoChiMinh city and i just 21 year old so dont have enough money to travel in Japan now so sad maybe when i got a job i'll save money n go japan xD it my dream to go japan visit akiba n see sakura tress , snow too ^^!
Yes, Japan is very expensive, especially compared to Vietnam. I visited Vietnam in 2009. Was an amazing country. Ho Chi Minh city was very nice!
yeah i know this maybe i'll must save about 3000$ to travel japan lolz n thx u for commanding
Japan CAN be expensive but it doesn't have to be. I eat 3 good meals per day for about $40 per day and my hotel was about $30 per night. That's $420 for 1 week so if you get a good deal on airfare, you can have a blast at a reasonable price.
So the gundam cafe and AKB48 shop is directly under the Akihabara train station? And you mention nothing worth buying in the AKB shop means the shop is very small? Very little selection?
Yes, both right next to the train station, you just have to get out at the correct exit. So try walking about a bit.
The AKB shop in Akiba (there is another one in Harajuku, pics to come soon...) is very small. Probably the size of a small hotel room or something. They don't sell any CDs. But they do have some DVDs, a LOT of phone straps, a couple of "AKB48 Shop & Cafe" Tshirts, and a couple of other bits and bobs. There is much wider choice of AKB48 goodies available at other shops and stalls.
I see. Thanks. Have you visited the AKB theater? Am wondering is the AKB store still there or moved to the cafe? ('~')
Not yet - I believe there is still an official store there. I've applied for Super Enpou, and also applied for normal Enpou tickets but failed. Will try again. Doubt I'll win tickets though :(
You need a reservation to get into the Official Store in Harajuku though.
Ya I heard about the reservation for the Harajuku store. A bit of a bumper really. =(
so awesome! Is the Volks show room easy to find? LOL
Um, I don't know. I think its pretty near the train station. I did see it a 2nd time. I'll try and go back to it!
Thanks a bunch XD good to know :D
Never finished Fate Stay/Night yet...
Well worth finishing it.
That's awesome man!! Went to Koto a lot this year, but last year I only went one time with my friend and totally past this section... XD
:)
Its a great shop, I love the way they group series goodies together. The Yakuza gambling sets were cool.
Hey, I've uploaded the photo of the back of the Kazuma jacket. Its an Evangelion crossover!
http://www.figure.fm/post/en/32804/2nd+Japan+Trip+-+Day+3+Photos+-+Akihabara.html#image-284557
OMG! It's an awesome jacket!! Bet it was pretty expensive thought...XD Very nice find!!
I got pictures of that itasha too!! Sugoi!!
The same one?? Really?
Oups! Replied to the wrong comment!! XD Here's the link again... http://twitpic.com/72xp7o
Awesome post again!! Thanks for sharing these!! Can't wait for the next post!! :D
Thanks very much.
Next post is out! Third set of photos (Harajuku and more Akiba should be out later today too)
I think it's the same, don't you? http://twitpic.com/72xp7o XD I even saw someone else post pictures on figure.fm of the same one but with different layout on the dashboard!
Healthy <3
Akihabara! If I get to choose my heaven, I want it to be Akihabara~~~
:)
That or Nakano which is quite amazing as well.
Guh. I want all of them! I'd have to buy another suitcase to fit 'em all . Or throw out my clothes. Or both.
I brought a suitcase with a large rucksack in it. The suitcase is storing all the figures, and I'm going to leave in in the first hotel I stayed at. Then I'll travel about with the rucksack :)
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BAKA TEST OSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ME WANT!!!!!!!!
Sooo many Nendoroids *A*
I know! Such a great display!