オタク街

Otaku Districts

Shopping in geek central

Tokyo is Japan’s indisputable geek haven. From giant billboard video game ads to public awareness campaigns featuring popular manga characters, you just can’t escape otaku imagery. Even the jingles that play at train stations are sometimes from popular anime. With few exceptions, all the Tokyo subcenters—such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku— have their fair share of otaku attractions, from themed cafés to arcades. But serious otaku should take a couple of days to explore the fabulously geeky Akihabara (shown here) and Ikebukuro. Akihabara, also known as Akiba, has shops for all kinds of otaku, whether you’re a fan of mecha models or J-Pop idols. Ikebukuro, meanwhile, is full of fun for casual shoppers, but also teems with geeky wonderlands aimed especially at anime and manga fangirls. The elegant Swallowtail Café, for example, is the female answer to the male-oriented maid cafés of Akiba.

Wherever you are in Japan, keep an eye out for the blue “Animate” sign. Each location of this nationwide chain feels like a mini otaku treasure trove of all the latest anime goods.