An hour in Akihabara
June 10th, 2006 by Jeremy ToemanAkihabara is Tokyo’s “electronics town”. Prior to about 2001 or so it was about the coolest place in the world to go look at gadgets, as it was often the only place to find really interesting stuff. With today’s globalization, it’s definitely lost some of its allure, but is still a must-see spot in Tokyo. Heck, even my wife got a kick out of it! Here’s a fun assortment of photos I took in my extremely rapid stop at Akihabara last week…
In-store demos actually show the insides of these machines and how they work. Of course you can only wash one sock at a time.
Here I am at the Akihabara subway station
Remember Taito? Anyone? Cool 80s video games… Well, they seem to be alive and well in Akihabara!
More English here than anywhere I saw in Japan!
How can Sega even afford the lease anymore?
(also if you look in the background of the picture you’ll see a reflection of Ishimaru – I like the effect here)
(also if you look in the background of the picture you’ll see a reflection of Ishimaru – I like the effect here)
Ishimaru is a “middle tier” store in Akihabara
These Panasonic headphones have replaceable ear buds and retractable cables – nice.
These Panasonic headphones have replaceable ear buds and retractable cables – nice.
Despite the popularity of the iPod, Akihabara stores are full of tiny shiny mp3 players to choose from. After which, everyone inevitably picks the iPod…
One of the better in-store demos I’ve seen, both displays had the same DVD playing, with the obvious quality difference of the HD player. And with titles like “The Brothers Grimm” I’m sure people were rushing out to buy the players!
AirEdge is a company offering various 3G connectivity options
When the Japanese do mobile TV, they do it widescreen – check out these Aquos branded phones from Vodafone
I don’t think it’s perfectly clear from this picture, but this thing is bigger than the PPC6700. From AirEdge/Willcom, this is one big honking Windows Mobile PPC phone!
When the Japanese do mobile TV, they do it widescreen – check out these Aquos branded phones from Vodafone
Laox is the 2nd biggest store in Akihabara, behind Yodabashi. It has a bit of a K-Mart feel, but is a good stop.
I know it was big in Europe (it is huge in Belgium), and maybe Japan too, but at the end of the day, MD was lame, and good riddance. But, Laox still has a shelf full of the things…
While not commonly known, it’s actually illegal in Japan to run a store with no Hello Kitty products. This doll/gadget has built-in speakers (in the feet) and … uh.. hmm..
This portable media player is nicely sized, and plays all the ‘popular’ video formats, like xvid.
Oh, so shiny!
I think this one is pretty cool. Not sure if I’d pay $700ish for it, but it’s a cool idea.
Inside Laox Bose has their own store where they show their tiny speakers that sound awful or their really really big headphones that sound good but weigh 14 pounds
Panasonic brings you full 1080p vacuuming with their new HD unit
Love the concept, love the sign.
I really like the idea of video games that have exercise themes (note: I like the idea, but I don’t want one), Xavix has a full working in-store demo
Get your bronco workout in the convenience of your home… ?
I think this is where Tom and Katie picked theirs up
Shows you which floor on Laox to find your rodeo machine
Right across from Laox is a store with all sorts of wires and cables, they’ll even make your own custom cable there!
Another view of the buildings in Akihabara
A recent addition to Akihabara is this giant-sized Yodabashi store
Aww, so cuuuute
Someone’s still trying to push keyboards in the living room… ugh.
Seems similar to the new EVDO units we have in the US
I guess a lot of people are buying these things here…
If you haven’t found a way to thoroughly embarrass and spoil your pet yet, well, here’s the answer. Print your own design then clothe your lap-dog with this kit!
Yep, all mice.
I hadn’t heard of marimekko before, but I thought these were a little distinctive…
My wife thought this Disney-themed mouse was the ‘pick of the litter’ (so-to-speak)
Fans, lights, vacuums, cup warmers – if you have USB, you can do just about anything now!
Yodabashi sells generic power supplies for virtually any laptop
Lots of routers and ADSL modems on display in Yodabashi
Yep, we’ve seen em before, but the display was nice. I especially like the touch of putting them under glass
This kids camera allows you to take pictures and instantly print them on customized little papers, some with different designs too.
Need a telescope? Binocular? Yodabashi’s got it!
Last I checked the local Best Buy has about 3 different varieties… Yodabashi has… more.
I like Canon cameras. That’s it.
8-in-1? got it. 11-in-1? got it. 13-in-1? got it.
Just follow the simple chart and display
Not sure why, but I’ve enjoyed taking escalator pictures recently.
This is the best way to train your children how to use a remote control, a skill they will need much later in life.
They sure do look nice
When you get to Yodabashi, just go to the 7th floor and take the escalators down from there.
In a rare sunny moment, here I am outside of Yodabashi
Small cubes and other tiny non-competition for Apple
Sigh, couldn’t Walt have inspired more in his team?
Never heard of it, but it’s iPod-white, so it must be good.
See, it’s red! Sharp’s iPod non-knockoff
I like the form factor AND the blue, but I’m sure Panasonic has otherwise messed up this small mp3 player
Yodabashi has about 400 different MP3 players to try out. And then you go buy an iPod (you know, to stand out from everyone else)
For all those times you’ve dropped your TV in the bathtub, fret no longer, thanks to this portable Casio unit
Yodabashi has all your stereo and home theater needs
Yes, that’s right, it says Rodeo Boy. How do you get to the Alamo? Practice, practice, practice.
The Japanese sure love their toilet seats. At $900, this Passo unit even has a built-in iPod dock! (just kidding, but it IS $900!)
Yes, the title is accurate, these are demos of high-tech toilet seats in Yodabashi. I wonder if anyone else has used “toilet seat” as a Flickr tag before?
Perfect fun for all the kids. My favorite part is the screen shot of the ‘fun’ game (red circle added for effect)
This is somewhat neat, this little kit has your favorite Peanuts characters playing along with your music. Not sure what you need it for, but, hey, there’s Linus!
Another kit to play along with your music, just in case you are bored of a peaceful looking mantle.
In the Tokyo metro system, just 15 minutes away from Akihabara!
June 11th, 2006 at 1:08 am
Okay, I’ve spent an hour just working on the formatting of this post. I hate CSS, HTML, PHP, JS, IE, LAMP, and AJAX, even though it has nothing to do with the matter.
June 11th, 2006 at 6:25 am
Rodeo Boy? I just did a quick Google search… there is both a RB band and at least 4 chaps-wearing men looking for love using that screen name.
The rack of USB gizmos and the cable store look pretty cool — things we’d never see in the US.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:00 am
You are right.
recently,Akihabara lost old charm.
But,It is an opening of new culture.
Akihabara does not yet serve as true globalization.
I wish it is achieved.
But Joy of shopping does not change.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:09 am
Ah yes, I can now SEE the comment box.
your journey took you to one of my favorite places on earth, well next to Yosemite, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Maccu Picchu, etc.
Akihabara is indeed a toy’s r us for giants, I could spend a whole day in there just playing with stuff.
they have a lot of my $$
June 25th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
[...] The Super Talent 2GB MEGA Screen MP3/FM/Recorder Player (Black), as it’s officially called, is unquestionably an iPod nano knockoff. It’s a bit smaller and shorter than the nano, although slightly thicker. It uses USB for both transferring MP3 files as well as for charging the unit (which I like a lot – all gadgets should do this!), although I was disappointed to see a proprietary USB adapter at the end (an annoyance in Japan!). Transferring files went fairly quickly, and no new drivers needed to be installed on my laptop, which was also a nice plus. [...]
January 10th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Looks fun
I`m in Japan at the moment and off to Akihabara today.. except it`s a shame that everything will be so much MORE expensive with the economy.. DAMN! Still it will be fun to look around,
It looks like you both had a lot of fun !