L. M. Lloyd

I really thought I was going to come back and write up a comprehensive guide to every little nook and cranny of Akiba. Once I was there, however, the reality set in. There is just too much stuff. It really was overwhelming. Everywhere you turn there is another great store with more great stuff. You don't really need a shopping guide for Akiba, you just need to walk around. That said I did check all the placemarks in my KMZ, and with the odd exception of Mandarake (which I was never actually able to find in Akiba) they all seemed correct. I am even going to be adding some more over the next few days, so that the map will be even more complete.

See map after the jump.

This was actually the first shop I hit on my trip, and it was a nice one. Actually, there are two shops a few blocks from each other, as shown on the map. One of the shops is just manga and magazines, and the other is general manga and anime related goods. I suppose I should say a bit about what Animate is for those who don't know. It is kind of the Barnes & Nobel of the anime scene. There are a ton of them all over Japan, and they have a pretty good selection of all the newest stuff. It isn't really the place to go if you are looking for a specific obscure piece, but it is a fantastic place to go if you are just browsing for what cool stuff is out. They have them all over Japan, so there really isn't any excuse not to stop in and check one out. Some of the stores in places like Shibuya, Akiba, and Ikebukuro are bigger than the rest, but by American standards, they are all pretty decent shops. The two stores in Shibuya are particularly nice, because they aren't as crowded as the one in Akiba. The isles are bigger, and it is much more comfortable to just leisurely browse. They also seem to have a pretty good selection of music at most of the Animate stores, if you are into that sort of thing, which I am not. On the whole, a pretty decent place to check out if you are looking for a one-stop shop for your anime geekery.

See a map after the jump.

Probably my favorite store of all the ones I went to in my KMZ, was the Mandarake in Shibuya. No, it isn't because of the undeniably cool storefront, or the fact that through that storefront is a set of stairs that goes so far underground that they actually sculpted stalagmites in the roof of the stairway. It is my favorite, because of all the old stuff there. Toys, models, books, magazines, it is all vintage at this store. If you are looking for some piece to your collection that you had back in the '80s, but sold and have never been able to find again, then Mandarake Shibuya is the first place you should check. I picked up some Hobby Japans from the late 80s myself, and saw so many other things I would have loved to buy. This isn't the place to go if you are looking to find what's hot, or merchandise from the latest show, but it is one of the best places you could hope for if you are a serious collector looking to fill some gaps. What's even better is that, at least to us American geeks, the prices are a lot better than what you might be expecting to pay. Just about everything I saw elicited a "That cheap, really?" from me. I was in heaven in this place. I wish they would have had more models, but then I found plenty of places to satisfy that craving later on. If you are looking for old stuff, then the Mandarake in Shibuya is a must-visit!

See a map after the jump.