So recently while in Akihabara I was looking for a few certain stores but couldn't remember where they were. So I pulled out my cell phone and browsed the internet but still couldn't find where they were were. So I've decided to make my own guide of Akiba. Now, first of all a clarification. I am not into anime, I don't go to Maid Cafes, etc. I go to Akihabara for electronics, computers, and video games. So therefore don't expect to see anything about the best anime stores, so about 50% of Akihabara will be excluded right there. This guide is a work in progress. If anyone reading this has any suggestions of places I missed, let me know.

First, upon arriving at Akihabara take the "Akihabara Electric Town Exit". After passing through the gates you'll have a choice, go out the left side
If you go out the left side and head towards the main street, that's Chuo Dori. Chuo Dori is the main street in Akihabara, just walk down that street and you'll find plenty of stores, including Retro Games , however the best stores are the shady stores that are hidden away. Anyway though, if you head down that way you'll come across a store called Gamers With a name like gamers you'd expect to see games! Yet all I can find in there is anime... Very disappointing. But you might like it if you like anime and manga, I guess...

If you take the right side from the station you'll see Club Sega dead ahead Club Sega is also located on Chuo Dori, so ultimately both the left and right sides will take you to the same place.

Continue straight down the road to the left of Club Sega to find the "first section" of Akiba. Down here look for Messesano . Messesano sells mostly American games. A little pricey though. Next Look for Game Hollywood Game Hollywood sells import games mostly from the US. Extremely expensive though. Whats really cool though is that they sell lots of shady stuff as well (jigkicks, R4s, EZ Flash, cases, etc.) Another cool store is Trader 2 There are quite a few Trader stores in Akiba, this one is my favorite though. Used Games and DVDs but don't go to the second floor... Then across from Trader 2 is Hamada First floor has good cheap PC accessories like external hard drives (and enclosures). Second floor has PC parts, good deals on hard drives. Outside you'll find bargain bins with keyboards, mice, SD cards, USB flash drives, as well as whatever else they can get their hands on and sell for cheap. Also a good land mark. Hamada is located on a corner of a street, take that street.

Eventually you'll come across the infamous Super Potato Super potato is all about retro games. You'll find Atari's, NES, SNES, Genesis, Game boys, etc. as well as the games for them. Even if you don't buy anything it's like walking through a video game museum.

After Super Potato you'll come to a street on the right side, take it. You'll come to a large street, cross at the cross walk (a little to the left).

Down this street is the second set of stores in Akihabara. You'll find a lot of the shady electronics parts stores down here. First you'll find T Zone Which is the best PC parts store... EVER! They have stacks of used and new parts with motherboards on display and excellent prices. Best selection of used CPU's I've ever seen. Also, not far from it is a Sofmap (ソフマプ) that specializes in PC parts. And finally way down this street is Sellsta Small little store, sells PC parts, used laptops, and video game parts and mod tools.

OK, so everyone keeps asking me why I don't write anymore... Well I've been busy, very, very, busy. But it turns out I have a reader that I didn't even know I had, Hi Nattalie! But anyway...
Japan is the most resourceful and wasteful countries that I have been to out of my huge list of three. Recycling is huge, in fact everyone everywhere in Japan recycles. Whenever you see a garbage can you wont just see one, you'll see many in a row. Burnable, PET bottles, cans, and plastic. When you finish a bottle you should remove the label and the cap, throw those in the plastic bin, and throw the bottle in the PET bottle bin. But why do I say wasteful? First of all individual packaging. EVERYTHING is individually packaged. I got some frozen (Nasty, BTW) chicken things last night, opened the package and each one was individually packaged, the suggested serving size was 4! You go to fast food and they'll put your drink in a paper bag and the warm stuff in another paper bag, then put both those bags in a plastic bag, then put the plastic bag in a box. OK, OK, just joking, it stops at the plastic bag. But still, seriously?
As long as were on the subject how is fast food in Japan? Now, I try to stay away from it because it's expensive (Only more so than the US if you want the same amount though, an amount no one needs!) and because it's not that good... Well, compared to American fast food though, it's gourmet. Even McDonalds which they have in the US. The fries are the identical soggy imitation potato... But the Chicken is higher quality! I can't say for the burgers as I've never had a McDonalds burger in the US, I did have a Teriyaki burger here though.... Never again. McDonalds is not without competition though, Mos Burger immediately comes to mind. They're not in the States but they are in some other countries, I can't say which though. There quality of food is about three notches above McDonalds, but I still don't like them.
Recently my best friend, Matt, whom is training and will be leaving for Iraq and so I'd like to give him a big shout out! He sent me an email and asked a hole mess of questions. I'm going to post them and my answers.

1.what is the culture like in japan?
Well it's really different than what I expected. But I didn't know what to expect. Customer service is well beyond imagination, and efficiency is insane. You go to a store and get in a huge line to check out and you'll be out in like four minutes. The food is different of course, but many things are familiar at the same time. Like yesterday I found fried chicken he he he. I also found corn dogs which they call "America Dogs" ha ha. Theres so much more but wording it is nearly impossible. I love it though.

2.is it clean there?
You better believe it. You almost never see litter and the air even smells cleaner. Of course the first time I saw graffiti (which is rare) it was in English!

3.are they friendly?
In customer service yes, extremely, outside of that well... It's different, they are very quiet but they wont hold back from pushing you out of there way etc. Especially on the trains.

4.is college tough?
Ha ha he he he ha! I think that sums it up. OK, well for the first time in my life I'm studying for multiple hours a day, not including in class studying.

5.how is the true Japanese food?
I haven't had much actually. I usually cook (It's cheaper) and I cook what I know. I have had authentic ramen (Technically Chinese but it's just as popular here) It will change any Americans mind (By authentic, BTW, I mean restaurant Ramen) made with real ingredients it was good. I have yet to go to a real straight up Japanese restaurant though.
Update: I went to a Okonomiyaki place...
6.do they have good sushi?
I've heard so...

7.do you sleep in a bed or is it one of those floor mattresses?
I'm gonna call it a wannabe bed

8.do you have to speak Japanese all the time, or do they speak english?
The safe bet is to go into any situation and assume they don't speak English and be grateful if they do. Most Japanese learn some English in High School however most forget it all and then a large majority of those who don't are afraid to use it. So that leaves less than 10% speaking English and often times that remaining percent only speaks a few words so it comes down to us speaking a hybrid language of half English half Japanese. If they speak no English (Most of the time) It gets very difficult but I do speak some Japanese so I always get through it.

So it's been a while sine I last posted. But heres what's happened. First of all allow me to tell you the story of the dumb gaijin and the honest Japanese.( Read more... )

I'm on a plane headed for Japan as I write this... I've been trying to do "As the Romans do" except in my case as the Japanese do. I mean this is a Japanese airline. I'm already a foreigner, but I want to respect customs and etiquette. The plan is spacious, right now I'm drinking sake as a follow up to a glass of champaign. They served a very traditional orderb consisting of raw prawns, an unknown meat or fish wrapped in an unknown green wrap (Not nori), a bar of, I have no idea, and some bread like sticks. The bread sticks were alright, but I wont dare touch the prawns or the unknown meat and the bar was disgusting. The sake is good but a little sweeter than I'm used to.
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In the culture I grew up in, there comes a time in everyones life or at least there's supposed to be, when you come of age and move out of your parents home. However we slowly prepare for this day and moment. It starts the first time you go to school and you then start playing with friends, going to sleepovers, maybe even a vacation with a friend. Next you get your license and from there your hardly ever home. Then finally you move out. Now some move out for some personal reasons and stay near home while others move out to go to college. Some even go to college out of state. But then there are that vast minority that move out of the hole damn country! This might be for college, or even for the military like my best friend, but were still a minority.
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It's new years eve. I leave for Japan in a little less than 6 days. I'll be in Japan for two to three years studying at Temple University, Japan. A lot of people have told me they're jealous of me. Well you try moving to a country where they don't even speak your native language! Give up everything and everyone you know! I'll have VOIP and email but still not seeing friends and family can not be made up with a phone. This might sound weired to some but I really regret leaving my cats behind as well. I speak some Japanese but still... I saw one of my best friends probably for the last time today, we went to a hibachi, how appropriate is that? Unless you've been in my position you have no idea what it's like to say goodbye because your leaving the country! I mentioned this recently though and got the response, "I thought you wanted to go". I do, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous... Excited, scared, happy, sad, ecstatic, lonely, confused, content, unfulfilled, rhetorical, empty, full, courageous, and any other emotion you can possibly think of! I've never done anything, like this before, but I can't back out now, I'd regret it forever. Japan here I come!