Akihabara: The home of anime and cosplay in Japan Satisfying your anime, cosplay and gaming needs

Touring Akihabara, the Japanese subculture Mecca. Featuring anime, cosplay, manga, games, maid cafes, electric goods and all kinds of collectibles and curiosities in Japan. One guide with a passion for these subcultures has launched an Akihabara tour, one that can be customized for newbies of the anime culture but can also be leveled up depending on the visitors level of knowledge and interest.

Akihabara is a must-see on the list of any Tokyo visitor. Even people who are not interested in Japanese pop culture will have to at least come and marvel at the skyscrapers covered in cute anime characters or to come and shop for the cheapest camera available. Although I've personally been to Akihabara many times, the reviews of this tour said that the Guide Naomi is interested in pop cultures herself, which caught my interest. Wanting to get more inside knowledge of a local fellow otaku, I booked this tour though WOW-U. Naomi swiftly offered to pick me up at my hotel but since I live in Tokyo we agreed upon meeting at Akihabara station.

I used to think "Electric Town" was a nickname for Akihabara, but any visitor will soon find out that's not the case. I followed the signs inside the station to the "Electric Town" exit and was greeted by Naomi. In fluent English we made our acquaintances. Turns out she also knows French an a bit of German, to my surprise. Naomi also checked straight away what I wanted to see the most and we went straight on our way to spend the next three hours in Otaku wonderland.

Near the station Naomi took me straight into Radio Kaikan to show me all the stores that any visitor to Tokyo had to check out. Our first stop was a floor that was covered in rows of tall glass cases called "rental boxes." I am a big fan of rental boxes. Once a seller rents such a box, they can fill it up to the brim with collectibles that they would like to sell, adding a number to each item and to the box itself. Visiting customers will note down the number of their desired items and the staff will help with the purchase. It is like second hand online sales, similar to Ebay or Yahoo - just analog and instant. Since the contents change daily, depending on the sellers, buyers can often spot rare items or wanted items at a lower price than in stores. I personally can spend hours in such a place, marvelling at figurines and keychains, and Naomi gave me all the time I needed.

Our next stop was K-Books which is great for people who love idol anime and more. Shelves and isles are decorated with anime characters and rows and rows of anime merchandise make it impossible to not get tempted to buy something. I managed to spot some second hand pokemon items for a bargain price compared to new pokemon merchandise. I should mention here that generally second hand items in Japan are very clean and well kept. Even plushies will be wrapped in plastic after the stores acquire them, so they are less likely to collect dust and thus stay in a good condition.

At our next store Ami-Ami I spotted a digital floor guide panel, displaying a cute large anime girl as guide. Visitors can try to speak to the guide and she will answer in an electronic voice, giving advise on the floor, while her movements are being animated. My geeky heart loved this little extra note to the store's interior. Naomi also told me that she likes to bring families to this floor as it contains many girly items as well as Studio Ghibli merchandise.

Kaiyodo was a store that I had not entered before. The more surprised I was about Naomi's knowledge who told me that Kaiyodo is a famous producers of figurines. Their quality is so high that even non Japanese merchandises are getting some of their figures produced by them. High class Batman, Disney and Avengers figurines were in the shelves amongst some unconventional artistic figurines and gatcha items.

We also took a detour past Robot Robot, which stock mainly western merchandise, such as Star Wars, dolls and Disney characters, to then reach Yellow Submarine which is one of Naomi's favourite stores. If you love miniature items, such as little sweets sets or gatcha items, this is your place. I loved seeing my guide getting excited about the items displayed. I had been wondering if my geekiness would clash with a cool, corporate guide. However, since Naomi is genuinely interested in subcultures herself, it made it easier for me to talk about my passions. It felt like going shopping together with a friend.

SEGA VR AREA AKIHABARA

VR-Experiences have become largely popular across the world and Tokyo has several exciting VR Zones to offer. Naomi took me through the buzzing town to the Sega VR Arena. I had never experienced real VR, therefore I was lost of what game to pick. Some of the games there can be played as teams, while some have a whole space to walk around in and experience the digital world. Naomi explained the different games to me and recommended me her favourite "Mortal Britz". The game can be played in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, so you don't need to have Japanese knowledge to enjoy it. However, Naomi helped me out here a lot.

Since I speak Japanese she asked the staff if "Commander" could do my introduction to the game. On her request the staff requested Commander and indeed I was in for a treat. Wearing thick shaded sunglasses and camouflage gear, Commander stepped out of the control room and gave me my first briefing before battle. He spoke to me as if I was one of his acquainted soldiers against the dark forces and explained the VR gear at the same time. I already felt as if I was in an action monster movie. Head gear on and off I went into the digital world, slaying monsters as I went along.

The staff gave me help via the headgear when I got stuck but apart from that I totally immersed myself into the game. While other VR games have to be done standing still, in this game I was allowed to roam around a whole VR room and explore, fight, open digital doors and even balance on thin bridges. After the game I had a real glow of excitement on my cheeks. I had been skeptical about VR experiences before but after that game, VR has won a new gamer.

After virtual adventures, Naomi took me to meet real life robots. Japan is famous for creating some of the world's leading robots and in Akihabara is actually a place where potential customers can check out some of them. The Robot Center was so hidden away, I would have never found it on my own. Upon entering I was surprised to find expensive robots out in the open, and customers can try and interact with them or use control sticks to move them. Naomi interacted with the staff on my behalf and asked them to take certain robots down for us or explain us the controls. We had a chat with a mini robot called Sota. There was also a Pepper robot, which are sometimes found in large electronic stores. Other robots had QR codes next to them, to see them interact on Youtube. It fascinated me how very hands on Robot Center was. Some of the robots there cost more than my salary but with the guidance of the staff I was even allowed to gently stroke TARO. TARO, the seal shaped robot I had formerly only seen on TV where it was introduced as a robot to use in hospitals and other places where animal therapy was not possible. Many robots that I had only seen in books, museums or news reports are actually there on display so I felt like I had taken a trip into the future. If I ever become a famous star, I want to buy my robot pet there.

Akihabara also features a plethora of Game Centers, with crane games, shooting games and more. Naomi guided me to a game I had never tried but had always meant to get into. "Densha de Go" is a large box, simulating the drivers cabin of a train conductor of Japan's most famous train lines. Even with my knowledge of Japanese I had never quite understood how to play this game. Naomi explained the controls to me, helped and cheered me on while I was trying to drive and stop the Yamanote train line at Shibuya station on time and without missing the platform. Some games in game centers are hard to play without Japanese knowledge, so it helps to have a guide that not only translates but also has played the games before and can give you advice on them.

Akihabara is most known for its maid cafes but it actually also offers a variety of other cafes. Since I have visited maid cafes before, I asked Naomi to show me to another of her favourite cafes and she took me to "Owl no mori". Translated this means "The Forest of Owls" and it lives up to its name. Upon entering I instantly felt as if I has entered a tropical cafe. Compared to other animal cafes it was reasonably priced and the staff swiftly disinfected my hands and shoes for the sake of the animals in the cafe. One vending machine drink was included and sipping on my drink I explored the forest. The walls and corners are decorated up the the ceiling in leaves, items and tokens. And in between the decorations you spot the statue of an owl - no wait that one is real! It took me a moment to realize that all the cute fluffy winged creatures around me were actually living, breathing creatures. I felt like I was entering yet another type of wonderland. The staff had told me beforehand how to stroke the graceful birds and I tenderly stroked their heads. About 60 creatures are in this space and sometimes it's like playing a game of "where's Wally" to spot them. Most birds are out in the open, while others are protected and it is fun to walk around and look at their differences.

The dripping water sounds from the aquarium and occasional animal noises were surprisingly calming and I felt really relaxed and at ease. What makes this animal cafe special is that it also takes care of owls from other cafes that have closed down or birds whose owners abandoned them. The price of Owl no Mori is quite low in comparison to other cafes, at around 1000 yen for adults, and a lot less exploitative than other cafes I have seen so far. This makes it easier for visitors to come back again, and little extra donations for the owls' food are always welcome. With this kind and caring attitude it quickly made it to my top animal cafe so far.

Next stop I was the most excited about. I generally love dressing up and I have cosplayed several times before. ACOS is Akihabara's biggest cosplay store. Entry level cosplayers as well as professional cosplayers do regularly frequent ACOS and I own several pieces of their items at home as well. Upon entering I always get this excited tingly feeling in my fingers. This store really covers all cosplayers needs from officially licenced cosplay costumes, wigs, cosplay weapons, accessories to specific colored contacts and makeup tools. For the casual visitor there are also the popular cat ears and paws. For the more advanced cosplayer there are also monocles or extra gadgets like specific items that an anime character would carry with them. I personally loved seeing shelves of wigs in specific colors and sizes. I have already over 25 wigs in my possession but there seems to always be a style I want to try out next. For people who want to wear more casual cosplay, there are also school uniforms, fluffy maid outfits and other uniforms. I found a shrine maiden costume I liked and the staff let me try it on. Since this is not a costume rental place, visitors are asked to refrain from taking pictures but I got special permission to take a shot. Once I was wearing the costume, I already started thinking what contact lenses, weapon and wigs would give this cosplay even more of an impact. I like that there is the opportunity to try on the cosplay, because Japanese and Western sizing can sometimes differ. There is generally English speaking staff available, but if they are out, staff will also use translation apps to help out foreign customers. Cosplayers of all level are welcome to improve their style there or find the item they were looking for.

On our way back to the station we had a little bit of extra time and Naomi also pointed out to me stores where I could get my name in Japanese as a stamp, as well as the place which was voted "the coolest game center in the world" and several retro games stores and second hand game stores. I really liked her in-depth knowledge and interest in the genre. That way I could openly talk about my interests and depending on that she could point out other places that would interest me.

At the end of our intense three hour tour, I felt like I had become even more knowledgeable of Akihabara and its many stores, secrets and mysteries. Akihabara has a lot of unique subcultures to offer, not just anime and manga. Since Naomi is a guide that knows this part of Tokyo like her back pocket, even a frequent visitor like me found out about new ways to enjoy Akihabara.

PRO: This Akihabara tour is not just for real lovers of the anime/manga/game culture but also for everyone who just wants to marvel at the fascinating items that modern Tokyo has to offer. Where else would you talk with a digital anime girl, interact with a robot, stroke an owl, immerse yourself into VR and dress up as an anime character in one day?

TIP: You can customize this tour to the things you love. Naomi prefers to tailor the tour to your interests, so message her on the WOW-U communication tool and tell her what you want to see more if.

GUIDE: Naomi Nashimoto is a subculture fan herself, which makes it easier to talk with her about common interests. If you don't speak Japanese, she will interact on your behalf with the staff in stores so you can look for a favourite item or play games in the arcades.

LOCATION: Naomi can pick you up at your hotel, if you reside in the Tokyo area. Otherwise, you can agree to meet straight at Akihabara station Electric Town exit.

LANGUAGES: Naomi speaks English fluently, also Japanese and French and a bit of German.

TIME: The tour goes for about 3 hours.

PARTICIPANTS: A minimum of two participants and a maximum of six is advised. There are no age restrictions and kids are welcome to join in too. They will have to be over 12 years old to be able to participate in the VR games.

OPTIONAL: Games, Maid cafes, VR experiences and similar are all optional and separate from the tour price. You can ask Naomi to add or take anything of the extra costs off, depending on what you are interested in.