π Akihabara Shopping Guide: September 2024 π
π GIGO ββ Japanese-style game center: claw machines, arcades, photo booths, rhythm games. Formerly SEGA, now a game center mainly focused on claw machines, slightly more spacious than the SEGA era. There are numerous branches in Akihabara and Ikebukuro, and each store feels quite similar. The top floor has a bunch of super old arcade machines, including classics like Pac-Man from the CRT era, which are especially nostalgic. π Mandarake Complex ββββ The stereotypical Akihabara otaku second-hand goods store. Shelves are densely packed and tall, resembling a library or a warehouse. It's a good place for second-hand comics, doujinshi, and figures. There are 8 floors in total, each with different content. The biggest attractions are the doujinshi and comics from various eras, including many from the last century. (Just look at the doujinshi, don't buy them to take back home) Compared to other stores, the prices are relatively low. The women's-oriented floor has fewer items, mixed with 2.5D and 3D goods. It's better to go to Ikebukuro. There are also rare American comics, dolls, and dedicated floors. I won't comment on these as I don't understand them. π HEY Basement Melonbooks (Melon Books) βββββ A great (doujinshi) bookstore. Half of the store is new publications, and the other half is recent doujinshi. The doujinshi sold here must be carefully selected, with excellent presentation and reasonable prices. (Again, don't take them back home) Kunohiko ββ (Overall) ββββ (For small trash treasures) A warehouse-style otaku store. The store has a super abundance and variety of goods, categorized in a detailed and messy way. The overall price is a bit high, but the clearance of small trash items is beautifully priced. There are many items, many stores, and high pricing. The advantage is the detailed categorization, making items easy to find. The only recommendation is to look through its clearance section for small trash treasures. π Amiami βββββ The offline store of the famous figure website. Compared to a few other stores, it's bright and clean, with spacious aisles and well-categorized products, making it very comfortable to shop in. It's more formal compared to the others, the ANIMATE of the figure world. The proportion of Chinese comics-related products is not small, and if Bilibili's membership purchase opens an offline store, it would probably feel like this. (I was surprised to see a figure of the Shrimp Emperor, do people in Japan really buy such fan-oriented items?) There are second-hand goods, not many, and not cheap either. π Rashinban (Compass) βββ A regular goods store. There are many branches, and the one in Akihabara is relatively large and comprehensive. It's bright and clean with spacious aisles. The management and shelf concept of this store are similar to the feeling of domestic goods stores. If you only have one hour and can only visit one store in Akihabara, I would choose this one. There are many types of goods, and it's easy to shop here. π ZIN ββββ A comic specialty store. It has three floors, resembling a traditional Japanese small bookstore with almost no aisles. All the comics are new. The first floor is general, and the second and third floors are not suitable for children. The general all-age and youth comics on the first floor are not separated, so don't bring kids in. While shopping, I saw a Chinese father bring in a middle school boy and an elementary school boy, and the father was super awkward (why bring kids to Akihabara!). #Japan #Akihabara
