Shopping in Tokyo (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Pics for day 4

This morning I left for Akihabara around 08:30, ensuring that I got there before opening hours. That way I could take my time exploring the place, while not having to navigate the crowds of thousands. I'd a few shops in mind that I really wanted to visit, so I wanted to scope things out undisturbed :)

Akihabara has become quite legendary on teh Intarwebs, leading a lot of people to think that it's a huge place. While Akiba does indeed span about three dozen blocks, I really wouldn't call it huge. One can easily traverse most of its streets in under an hour. Only when you start shopping, do you spend a lot of time over there. And seriously: it's -very- easy to get carried away in Akiba ^_^

I spent about three hours, visiting the most obvious shops: Trader2, Gamers, Asobit Chara and Mediaworld Akiba. An easy listing of all these shops (and many more) can be found here, at Akiba Channel.

One thing that's definitely worth mentioning is Sega Gigo, one of the many arcades run by Sega. The lowest two floors have annoying (and -very- noisy Ufo Catcher machines, but the higher levels have some very cool stuff! 4F is home to ten Gundam P.O.D.s (clip on YouTube), which are Gundam simulators that you actually sit in. Nice ^_^

5F houses card based video games, of which I have no idea how they work :D One nice example is Gundam Card Builder, set in the Gundam 0083 universe (clip on YouTube). This website provides detailed explanation on how it works. Basically, it's a video game that you control using both a keyboard and trading cards (like Magic the Gathering). The cards represent characters and mecha, which you move across a flat surface. The way you move the cards determines the actions of the mecha in the game. Confusing, yet uber-cool. If I have some time (and money) left at the end of my trip, I may just go back to try my hand at the game a few times.

Once I'd spent enough (and couldn't walk anymore) I headed back to my hotel to rest a little. I'd already started on this blog post, when Safari crashed ;_;

EDIT: Damn! I just remembered that I forgot to buy a Comiket #73 catalogue. I wanted one as a souvenir ;_;

I left for Ikebukoro around 15:00, wanting to at least visit the observation deck at Sunshine City. However, I couldn't find the building, so I gave up around 17:30. How I managed to completely miss a forty storey building is beyond me =_=

Anywho: dinner at the Ikebukoro station was quite tasty! I worked up enough nerve to eat among the Japanese all by myself and hopped into one of those small ramen shops. The measly sum of Y340 (about two euros!) got me a big bowl of Udon noodles, with tempura kakiage. Oishi!

Posted in: akiba , akihabara , ikebukoro , shopping , tokyo

I am -so- going shopping in Akihabara! (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

For a while now I've been lusting after the Panasonic Lumix TZ3. It's a great little camera, with an uber-huge analogue zoom. Unfortunately the best price I can get it at in the Netherlands is around 300 euros.

Thanks to the greatness of teh Intarwebs and its plethora of fora and Price Watch pages I've learned that this camera can be had quite cheaply in Japan.

This means that I'll definitely join my mates when they travel down to Akihabara (a district in Tokio). It's a great place to just browse around all day... Or so I've been told ;)

EDIT: Hmmm... The price seems to have come down in the Netherlands as well. It's down to 260 euros at specific dealers. That makes it less worth it to get it in Japan. By buying in the NL I'll be able to take pics with it during the -whole- trip for only a few bucks more.

Posted in: akiba , akihabara , camera , lumix tx3 , shopping