Akihabera - anyone ever been there?

[tpremo55]

When I lived in Tokyo in the 1980s, I used to frequent a city called Akihabera. Most people on the list could easily spend all day and night wandering through everything from formal electronics showrooms to small alley booths (like the one pictured). This is one of the (if not 'the') biggest techno city in the world.


Anyone ever been there? I'd love to have this place a short train ride away today as it was for me in the 80's...

[Mark65]

Oh, man, I'm jealous! Do you have any projects with that lineage? I love the cello packaged inductors and caps on the wall to the left.


Mark

[tpremo55]

Oh, man, I'm jealous! Do you have any projects with that lineage? I love the cello packaged inductors and caps on the wall to the left.


Mark

I was a bit younger back then and was more interested in walkmans and R/C cars. I bought my first CD player in a shop not too different than that one...

[Æ]

Yes, but only in my dreams!
Wow, look at all those wonderful full range drivers.
If I were there, it would be like a kid in a candy store.

When I lived in Tokyo in the 1980s, I used to frequent a city called Akihabera. Most people on the list could easily spend all day and night wandering through everything from formal electronics showrooms to small alley booths (like the one pictured). This is one of the (if not 'the') biggest techno city in the world.


Anyone ever been there? I'd love to have this place a short train ride away today as it was for me in the 80's...

[Wolf]

I want the horn-loaded cabs in the back!!
Later,
Wolf

[LoveDoctor]

I was in Tokyo last October, and we strolled through the electronics district (maybe not the same thing as Akihabera?), wandering through the blocks of stores like that. There was an interesting demographic shift once we crossed into that section. Literally, by crossing the street, everyone was a little bit rounder, the glasses got thicker, and the fashion sense (in Tokyo, even the men carry purses) got noticeably worse. The only women in the area were dressed up as the anime-character schoolgirl, trying to lure geeky men into electronics stores. Somewhat creepy, but all kinds of crazy electronics that we won't see for a few years.

[CokewithLime]

Akihabara(which is the correct spelling) is the electronics mecca district in Tokyo. You can find anything and everything electronic, game related there - you can also negotiate and bargain with the vendors. At night Akihabara is lit up 10 times brighter than Times Square.

If you ever get a chance to visit Japan, Akihabara is a must see for techies.

Here's a link to a local map(in english) of the Akihabara area http://english.itp.ne.jp/content/dis...kyo/m_aki.html

- and yes, I've been there

[nick29498141]

I understand that a lot of designers go there to pick up insanely high-quality OPTs for little $$$..

NK

[MSaturn]

Funny thing is, those caps look a whole lot like Dayton 1%'s. Probably the same manufacturer!

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a Fostex driver there listed for about 8700 yen, which is 92 USD. Same driver is $102 at madisound, so you're not saving much (on the crap, anyway! ;P)

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

i was in the area for 3 years and heard of it but at the time was only aware or factory built. my first good speakers were technics 15 inch woofer 5 speaker 3 way. they were great. went to the ginza a few times but not there.

[Paul W]

First time for me was the mid 80's. Last time was in 2005 or 2006. Personally, I feel it has gone downhill over the years...the area seems smaller and not as great a selection as before (it was overwhelming in the 80's). Still, don't miss it if you get to Japan. Train or taxi will get you there from just about anywhere in Tokyo (trains are cheap, taxi not).

[MSaturn]

that dude in the picture is probably the CEO of fostex

[tpremo55]

First time for me was the mid 80's. Last time was in 2005 or 2006. Personally, I feel it has gone downhill over the years...the area seems smaller and not as great a selection as before (it was overwhelming in the 80's). Still, don't miss it if you get to Japan. Train or taxi will get you there from just about anywhere in Tokyo (trains are cheap, taxi not).

Paul, it's sad to hear it has declined. I've not been since 1989 and it was truly a 'day' trip for those of us who partake. I've been considering a trip back in the next year or two but 20 years is a long time and I'm sure it's changed a LOT.

[romanbednarek]

My best friend lived in Japan for about 5 years from the late 90's on. He taught English there and learned the Japanese language on the fly (I don't know how he did it but I guess that while he was teaching them English, he was learning Japanese).

He had some interesting stories about the culture there. He said that you could get some phenomenal deals on used items there. He said that it had something to do with the Shinto based beliefs that used items retained the "essence" of the original owner. In the last week I've been working on an Aria Pro II (Argent series) electric bass guitar that he bought there used for a good deal (I tightened the truss rod and set the action).

He is a bicyclist as well and mentioned that Shimano parts cost more in Japan than they did from US magazines for some odd reason even thought they were all made in Japan.

I remember when he first got back to America how he wasn't used to seeing so many overweight people (no offense, but it seems that the majority of Japanese are thin and this was a big contrast for him as well as getting used to driving on the other side of the road again even though he was only gone for part of a decade).

I just thought that I would share those comments from somebody who spent a bit of time there.

[tpremo55]

My best friend lived in Japan for about 5 years from the late 90's on. He taught English there and learned the Japanese language on the fly (I don't know how he did it but I guess that while he was teaching them English, he was learning Japanese).

He had some interesting stories about the culture there. He said that you could get some phenomenal deals on used items there. He said that it had something to do with the Shinto based beliefs that used items retained the "essence" of the original owner. In the last week I've been working on an Aria Pro II (Argent series) electric bass guitar that he bought there used for a good deal (I tightened the truss rod and set the action).

He is a bicyclist as well and mentioned that Shimano parts cost more in Japan than they did from US magazines for some odd reason even thought they were all made in Japan.

I remember when he first got back to America how he wasn't used to seeing so many overweight people (no offense, but it seems that the majority of Japanese are thin and this was a big contrast for him as well as getting used to driving on the other side of the road again even though he was only gone for part of a decade).

I just thought that I would share those comments from somebody who spent a bit of time there.

Thanks for sharing. Japan is rich with culture and is generally much healthier than many of us in the US (myself included as I have falling back into the American way too far). I don't intend to be condescending, but when I was in Japan, fish and whole grains are the staple, walking or biking was the primary mode of transportation, and while they smoke like chimneys (at least they did in the 80's) their rate of lung and other cancers was much lower than in most western cultures. It was an incredible experience living there and I'm sure your friend would agree. It's not without compromise, but an experience all the same. As for him learning Japanese, the emulsion method works best . You could learn more walking the streats for a year than you could study in university for 3 years.

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

hai, so desu.

[Larry]

Many moons ago I lived in Tokyo; not far from Akihabara. I used to love to walk through the stores and stalls for hours. I've never seen any other place like it in the world. I still have a small pair of Technics speakers I bought there.

[nick29498141]

Funny thing is, those caps look a whole lot like Dayton 1%'s. Probably the same manufacturer!

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a Fostex driver there listed for about 8700 yen, which is 92 USD. Same driver is $102 at madisound, so you're not saving much (on the crap, anyway! ;P)

I'm kinda sure that they are Solens. Look at the picture close enough, the grey-on-black lettering looks right.

NK

[tpremo55]

Funny thing is, those caps look a whole lot like Dayton 1%'s. Probably the same manufacturer!

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a Fostex driver there listed for about 8700 yen, which is 92 USD. Same driver is $102 at madisound, so you're not saving much (on the crap, anyway! ;P)

True on the price, however the cost of living in Tokyo is just a shade higher than in Wisconsin (or Minneapolis for that matter) suggesting that comaritively things are cheaper. Moreover, as someone pointed out, you never pay sticker in Akihabara. In fact, the US is somewhat unique in our lack of price negotiation (compared to Asia Pac for sure).

[tpremo55]

Akihabara(which is the correct spelling) is the electronics mecca district in Tokyo. You can find anything and everything electronic, game related there - you can also negotiate and bargain with the vendors. At night Akihabara is lit up 10 times brighter than Times Square.

If you ever get a chance to visit Japan, Akihabara is a must see for techies.

Here's a link to a local map(in english) of the Akihabara area http://english.itp.ne.jp/content/dis...kyo/m_aki.html

- and yes, I've been there

Thanks for the spelling correction. Maybe I should have just written 秋葉原.
For anyone looking for a little more info - try this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihabara