Help a noob go shopping in Akihabara

[Tomo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigjppop /img/forum/go_quote.gif So I just returned from a full day of exploring in Akihabara and I must say, I'm beat! The combination of me being a Noob to DIY stuff, not speaking any Japanese, and the heat and humidity of Tokyo summer has taken its toll.

Geez. I was busy bicycling around taking care of excess bicycle parts all morning and few hours in the afternoon. You gotta pump for a proper Akihabara trip.

P.S. Doc told me get my healthy arse out of his office. Yey! No detail checkup required.

 

[Tomo]

Hey,

I am sorry it took a long time. It took some time to get done with another project. I am taking this evening to assemble the picture I took today and write comments. So it will be ready tomorrow morning. This is a teaser picture.

This is your starting point. Akihabara Station. Please be careful of the girls in red jackets; you can see one on the left hand side. They belong to an art gallery and will try to sell you a drawing of some sort.

Thanks for waiting.

T

 

[Tomo]

Area II :

Observe the constructions in progress. Just look around and you probably see this.

Now the yellow store front :

This place has less than a half dozen DIY / Audio stores now. Use the escalator here,

Go up to the fourth floor. Further to the back there is two stores. This hot spot is fading, but uber quality stuff here.

If you do have time then, ...

Walking around, you will find two small roofed streets, one of them looks like this. If you can see some audio stores among some anime stuff.

 

[Tomo]

Area I:

Going back to the yellow store front and go toward a big street, but do not cross. Look around and you see this, (Under the train rails)

Or

If you look around, you will observe there are small walkways among the stores leading inside. Walk in there, you will be seeing many electronics related stores packed.

There are two long corridors full of stores like this and one on the second floor. (Finding stairs up is left as an exercise for you. There are two.)

This place has a tube store with pretty good but time-varying stock. Also, one speaker related store that has extremely esoteric (expensive) stock. There is a pretty good semicondutor store across from the tube store.

P.S. Trains are going over you.

That green looking over hang has the rails on it.

 

[Tomo]

Area III:

Go across the other side and you see a small street leading along the train rail over hang.

Look for old blinking ticker

Closer ...

You see a small store selling tools. Beside the store, there are two corridors leading in. Go in and check out the place. This place is packed. Be ready, however, to see closed places. Some place are open whenever they feel like it. ... They are old people.

Right next to this complex,

This place has a tube store all the way back. I think this place is cheaper ...

 

[Tomo]

Area IV:

This place has two audiophile stores and a junk parts store.

This is the view from across a street.

You get here by going further in from area III.

And turning left at KFC

I think the junk store is a place to visit if you are looking for something weird.

 

[Tomo]

Area VI: (Or a store there)

There is only one store in this location.

The red store front. Sells some tools. I kind prefer this store over the tool store in Area I.

 

[Tomo]

Area V:

Looking area near VI toward west.

You should be careful. Turn not at a green store front ("Tsukumo"), but at a used electronics store. (and an abundoned Laox Computer)

On this street, there are several interesting store in this area. I just have pictures of four stores I always visit.

You can't miss em. There is big (Japanese-sized) parking lot near them.

If you get bored, you can turn right toward a larger street at the parking lot. You see two audio equipment places

And, the weird vending machine place across the large street.

 

[Tomo]

Area VIII:

Go across the street at the weird vending machine place and take the small street north. Looks like this,

Turn right at the next crossing and you see the outdoor store.

Turn left there,

You will immediately see this.

This is the Area VIII.

 

[Tomo]

Area VII:

Looks like this from the across the street.

It says Wakamatsu. First floor has computer stuff, but go up few floors via stairs or elevators. Check all floors.

 

[Tomo]

Sorry about the outdated info before. I usually hang out at Area V. I come from west with a bicycle and park near the chinese food / ramen parlor.

You better park your bicycle elsewhere, because this place is mine.

Kidding.

Enjoy the Akihabara trip.

T

 

[Twoguns]

Thanks Tomo!
I travel regularly to Tokyo for business, and have been to Akihabara numerous times, but its hard to find your way around, without a guide, I will certainly use this next time I am in town!

 

[andrew jc]

Tomo, Thanks for your effort in putting together this guide. I just wish I had it when I was there in APR! I found plenty of electronics stores but little DIY stuff.

 

[pabbi1]

This is sticky worthy - VERY nice job.

 

[Tomo]

I am pretty sure the vicinities of the train station will change. I will update that once they get done with construction.

P.S. No. I won't do "maid-bar" guides. Thank you.