Akihabara – lately called “Akiba” – is a town of “Otaku” Geek culture of Japan. If you can spare a half day or even several hours, you’ve got to go to Akihabara to experience this very odd yet interesting side of Japan!

It is recognized as the holy ground of Japanese Animation “Anime” lovers and you will see young people walking around in character costumes. Amongst those costumed youngsters, you will spot some girls in cute maid uniforms on the streets handing out leaflets – they are from “Maid Café” where the waitresses welcome you in the maid costume and call the customer a “Master” as they attend on you! Don’t misunderstand this as something sexual as this is just a Café with a difference. In fact this is a classic example of spin-off business born out of Geek culture.

Akihabara was initially known as Electric Town. After WWII, people started to revive by gathering and opening little stalls specialized in electric parts in this particular area as a start of this electric town’s history. There are many buildings like department stores of electrical appliances around Akihabara Station selling ranges of the latest electrical appliances, on the other hand you will also see tiny shops lining up in narrow streets selling all the different parts of a PC and electrical appliances which is interestingly chaotic. If you are a self-proclaimed geek kind of person who enjoys building your own original PC, this is a perfect place for you to go shopping!

Akihabara is on the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin Tohoku Line and only 2 stops (5 minutes) from Tokyo Station. You can also use the subway Hibiya Line service.

These days you often see street performers and musicians doing their best as well as some themed events around the very crowded station square.