Chiba Days 33 - Akiba Impressions

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale for another chapter of Chiba Days and my weekly trip down to Akihabara. Despite going there once a week, it never ceases to amaze me just exactly what I may find as stocks change so quickly over the course of the week. Not to mention, the sheer number of shops there are in Akiba!

In order to peruse every single shop in Akihabara, you would need to spend the entire day there. Even then, that may not be enough. For newcomers to the area, this contributes to the sensory overload that commonly comes with the first visit. Meanwhile, more seasoned visitors would have mentally mapped out the entire Electric Town together with their favorite stores that they visit on a regular basis. That being said, regardless of experience, I strongly doubt there is anyone who is able to cover every single store in Akiba within the course of a day.

With that in mind, I would like to share with you my little strategy on tackling this otaku-haven on a weekly basis. Over each weekly trip, I allocate roughly 3 to 4 hours in Akiba and have formulated the most efficient system of tackling the stores. This involves breaking the stores down into three major groups, the large chain stores, smaller re-sellers and, well, Mandarake. By splitting these shops into categories, you will be able to move in search of your most desired purchase more efficiently and with greater focus.

To elaborate, larger chain stores such as AmiAmi, Yellow Submarine, Lashinbang, Animate and Kotobukiya focus on selling newly released retail goods. Meanwhile, smaller re-sellers such as Tsuruga, Jungle, Robot-Robot, Melon Books and many others have a larger proportion of second hand goods. Knowing this, you are able to visit the stores based on the exact item you are want. Looking for that newly released figure? Head to AmiAmi in Radio Kaikan. Searching for rarer trinkets and event-limited goods? Then, the smaller re-sellers are your best bet. 

While I always love the neatly arranged new releases lined up in retail stores, there is a certain charm to the chaos of re-seller shops with most items being the only one of its kind there. In fact, you never know what you will be able to find in these stores. Even the most seasoned collectors always find something new they have yet to collect. Case in point, this Swimsuit Mami clear file, extremely rare and the first time I have ever seen one. But, be ready for the steep prices these re-sellers are touting as they too recognize the value of these hyper-rare goods. 

Then, there is Mandarake which is a completely different ballgame all on its own. Despite having an online store keeping track of its stock in-hand, you never know what you will find in their 8-storey complex building as there are many, many other items there not listed online. My advice for Mandarake is to find what you want there and do a quick browse for any other items you may want. Otherwise, you may end up spending an exorbitant amount of time in what is one of the best hobby stores in Akiba. 

With that in mind, you will be able to tackle Akihabara even if time is a limitation. And if all else fails, just plant yourself in Radio Kaikan. Not only is it located right next to the station, its 11-storeys have every sort of hobby store imaginable. Just do not expect the prices to be the best short of AmiAmi and Yellow Submarine's offering. 

With that, we come to the end of this quick Akihabara travel guide. I hope you have found it useful and if you do have any questions, do feel free to ask them in the comments section below. Shortly after this, we will have a Kurosawa Dia special as I help takuya hunt for her in my recent trip down to the electric town. Until then, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!