秋葉原 (Akihabara)
I’ve only been there once and briefly, but I know it’s one of my favorite places in Tokyo. Because it’s so stupid and nerdy and ridiculous.
I was greeted to the station with a huge sign reading: “Akihabara: Electric Town.” And, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a perfect appellation. My favorite part of the place is this tightly packed maze of tiny electronics booths. One-person shops sell every kind of electrical device you could ever desire, but I found the variety of decorative lights the most appealing. Here’s a miserably low-quality and poorly-shot photograph of how low the ceilings were and how tiny each booth was:
I’m planning on going back when I know exactly what kind of lights I want for my inflatable coffin installation (art project woo). I am anticipating this visit so much that even now I haven’t been back yet ahhhhhh.
Akihabara also has some of the best lights in town. Granted, Tokyo’s lit up in jaw-droppingly fantastic ways everywhere all the time, but here it’s… I don’t know. Almost self-aware.
(Yet another awful photo:)
I’d like to think it’s because Akihabara is hugely geared towards otaku. The district’s a highlight for anyone who loves anime and games. I am not particularly into either, but I enjoy taking advantage of the spectacles created for people who are. Maid cafes, huge arcades, sex shops, junk stores that sell everything you never knew existed: it’s all here, to confuse you and overstimulate your senses.
