Akihabara and Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

Akihabara is a paradise for anime, manga, gaming, and electronic enthusiasts.  Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s most dynamic neighborhoods, offering a mix of modern skyscrapers, vibrant nightlife, and shopping.

A vibrant hub for anime, manga, gaming, and electronics enthusiasts. Highlights include specialty shops (Mandarake, Animate), retro gaming stores (Super Potato), themed cafés (maid cafés, Gundam Café), massive arcades (SEGA, Taito Station), and unique finds in Akihabara Electric Town. Perfect for otaku culture and tech lovers.

From the Akihabara subway station

Buildings here are tall and skinny

Each floor of the building has a collection of items.  As you can see here, most stores in Akiharaba sell video games, figures, comic books, and videos.

A video game store with crane games.  Crane games, also known as UFO catchers, are popular arcade machines in Japan where players use a joystick and buttons to control a claw in an attempt to grab prizes.

In Akihabara, it’s common to see young women in distinctive outfits, often promoting various establishments or engaging in cosplay.

Many women dressed in maid costumes distribute flyers to attract patrons to nearby maid cafés. These cafés feature waitresses in maid attire who serve and entertain guests, offering a unique dining experience.

Then I took a bus to Shinjuku area

I walked to Shinjuku Golden-Gai, a city district famed for its narrow, winding alleys and numerous snug taverns.

There were not many people in the area, as if it had lost popularity.

Most of the people walking around this area were foreigners, not Japanese. It seems it is more of a tourist area than a place where local Japanese come.

Out from Golden-Gai, I walked toward Tokyu Kabukicho

Kabukicho, located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, is Japan’s largest and most famous entertainment and red-light district. Known as the “Sleepless Town,” it offers a mix of vibrant nightlife, dining, and unique cultural experiences.

This is the center of Kabukicho

Like the one seen in Akihabara, this is one area in Kabukicho where all the custom girls stand and wait for customers.

Back side

The main gate to Kabukicho is located here. I came into Kabukicho through the back streets and exited by the main entrance.

The street in front of the main entrance

After Kabukicho, I walked toward Omoide Yokocho, an alleyway featuring a selection of food stalls for simple fare & alcoholic drinks.

Japan also has many Pachinko areas in many entertainment districts all around the country.

One of the entrances to Omoide Yokocho.

It was more lively than Golden-Gai, but the customers were mostly foreigners who wanted to experience how Japanese people spent their time drinking.