L. M. Lloyd

Ok, this is a prime example of why any attempt to make a detailed list of shops in Akiba is next to impossible. You see, there is this one building, that has more anime and model shops in it than your average American city. I could try to break it down by shop, and what they carry, and what kinds of things you can expect to find there, but it would be a waist of both my time and yours. The reality is that if you are looking for any sort of anime-related good, and you are in Tokyo, then it is worth your time to go to Akiba, and if you are in Akiba, then it is worth your time to start at the bottom of the Radikan Building, and just browse all the shops in there. There are a few Kotobukiya shops, a couple of Yellow Submarine's, K-Books, Kaiyodo, Volks, various collector toy places, and just all sorts of stuff. You should just go and look around, and chances are you are going to find something that will make you happy you spent the time to check it all out. Personally, I found the most effective way to do it, was to start at the bottom, go to the top, looking at everything without buying, then work my way back down picking up the things I knew I couldn't live without. Of course my trip came up on short notice, so I didn't have much spending money. If you have a fat wallet, and aren't in any danger of running out of money, then just buy up everything you like in one pass!

See map after jump.

Asobit is like a big department store of models. Each floor has a different genre. It is all new stuff, and they have just about everything except resin kits. Gundam, trains, airsoft, game-related, if it is new, they have it. That said, it isn't exactly my kind of store, because I tend to go in for the obscure stuff, and they are all mainstream. However, I did buy a few things, and it was fun to look around. Definitely worth checking out if you are into models of any sort. It is right next door to the Radikan building, so give it a look.

See map after the jump.

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.

The Yellow Submarine store in Akiba both warmed my heart, and broke my spirit. It is this incredibly cramped little shop in the Radikan building, where there is hardly enough room to even see what they have. Once you squeeze yourself in and start looking though, you find some real treasures! I found a couple of resin kits that I never thought I would ever see in my life. They were rare back in the late '80s when they came out, and I really didn't expect to find them now. Unfortunately, the ¥40,000+ pricetags were not something I could afford on this trip. It was actually hard to shake it off after being inches away from something I have wanted for 20 years, and realizing that I couldn't afford to buy it. None the less, It was a sight to see.

See a map after the jump.