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.

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!