It was a cold October night, and as I was stepping out of the Akihabara train station the chill of the wind dried my cheeks, but I enjoyed it. I mean after all, I was in Japan.
As I walked through Akihabara’s streets, I was mesmerized by the cool neon lighted signs, huge billboards in tall buildings and countless shops all around. Like a kid, I was filled with nostalgia and had butterflies in my stomach as I passed through tons of anime paraphernalia, music, electronic stores, and vintage shops, but then something happened.
The unmistakable sound of arcades called out to me the way sirens used to draw in sailors to their doom, and as I stopped to look, there it was, the famous red building “Sega” (One of several in Akihabara). My jaw dropped and my eyes popped out (I’m exaggerating of course), I was amazed by the sheer size of it. I walked in and couldn’t decide which one to play first, so naturally I had to explore.
Each floor is different, as there are crane machines, virtual reality, 2D fighting games, classic and modern arcade games, shooter games, music/rhythm games, and more. There are neat prizes in the crane games, and if you’re struggling with the item as it gets stuck in a corner, an employee can usually help you by giving you tips on how to knock it down or reset the prize in a favorable position for you to win.
It was a wonderful experience, the staff was friendly and I was able to make it out with a prize. There are other arcade stations that are great too but I’ve always been a fan since the Genesis. Hours later, after spending my daily budget in Sega, I was on the lookout for some Manga and anime stuff, so my next stop was at the Akihabara Radio Kaikan.
This place was awesome, it’s a giant building with eleven floors and a basement full of private shops that have anime figurines, manga, merchandise, cards, hobby stores, vintage games and more.
Akihabara is a town that has more to offer but truly is a paradise for those who can appreciate electronics, technology, anime and manga subculture. If you ever visit Tokyo be sure to stop by and explore this area.
If you want more information on this amazing electric town be sure to check out this blog Livetoliketravel.com
Writer Nova 