UlasanAnime.com – The author recounts their trip to Japan in 2013, focusing on otaku-related activities and culinary experiences. The visit aimed to indulge in otaku pursuits, connect with people, and find relaxation, with the author feeling they achieved a degree of success in all three.
The article begins with a “loot pic” showcasing some of the author’s purchases, though it’s noted that this doesn’t represent their entire haul.
Otaku Stuff:
The author visited two maid cafes. While they had previously written about Schatzkiste, they made a point to visit Cirque De La Lune (Tsukiyo no Circus) before its impending closure. They considered visiting Backstage Pass but found it overwhelming, opting instead to save their first experience at Dear Stage for a more suitable occasion. The MaiDreaming cafe in Shibuya, known for its interior design by a famous designer, was also on their radar for a potential visit, as they had not yet experienced a full service-oriented maid cafe.
Wotagei Gear: The author identifies Ruifan’s King Blade x10s as the dominant light stick for wotagei, noting that this year’s models came with Eneloops and were surprisingly sold out everywhere except Akibazone. They also had to procure MAX Super S’s for a friend, with about half the available spots selling those. Standard MAXs seemed to be readily available at places like the Akiba Donki. A competing, less expensive brand was also observed but deemed inferior. Separately, the author discovered “towel holders” in Akiba, which are essentially clips with extra-large straps, costing around 1000 yen. These were seen for franchises like Steins;Gate and Love Live, and while a simple concept, they were considered a great idea for holding towels, similar to a busboy style.
Despite Shiny Festa being available on iOS, finding physical copies in shops proved difficult. The author visited a few used game stores, including K-Books, but only found a copy of Groovy Tune. They expressed a desire to visit a proper used game store and asked for recommendations.
The used market for older Blu-ray upscales was noted to be quite strong. Prices for items like Kamichu were considered reasonable, while Hanasaku Iroha was priced between 26000-29000. The author purchased Fate/Zero with a bonus box for just under 40000, regretting the additional cost for the box that held both sets. When compared to Amazon Japan, prices for used items varied, with no clear winner.
Regarding retail stores, Shibuya Mandarake was ranked similarly to Nakano Mandarake, both superior to Akiba Mandarake. Animate also showed a similar hierarchy, with the main Ikebukuro store and the Akiba shop being more notable than others. The author wished they had more time to explore Akihabara’s backstreets and smaller shops. They visited Liberty in Akiba and observed numerous second-hand stores, but felt prices wouldn’t deviate significantly. The author was keen to find stores selling “new” merchandise and learn how to get the best prices. They also fully explored both buildings of Tora no Ana, finding most desired items, but noted that doujinshi was something they could have purchased but didn’t get around to.
[As an aside, the author commented that OreImo S2 episode 4 was well-executed, even if not the primary focus of the episode.]
The Kotobukiya store was found to have high prices and was the only place selling dedicated figure shelf accessories. The author suspected there were cheaper options in Akiba and sought to discover them. They ended up buying Fate/Zero plates, which were somewhat expensive but not seen elsewhere.
The author participated in the AKB48 cafe daily show raffle with their travel companion. The process involved arriving around 4 pm on a weekday (realistically 3:45 pm), with one friend being told to line up at 3 pm, which the author found inefficient, especially in chilly weather. After lining up, numbers were assigned, and a raffle determined who could pay 2000 yen to enter. Approximately 40 people were selected out of about 130 attendees.
Click for full panaramic image
The Gundam statue in Odaiba was described as “pretty cool” and worth visiting, despite being a tourist trap. Odaiba itself was a scenic area with other attractions like Sega Joypolis and Gundam shops. Events were frequently held near the Gundam.
Based on displays at Tora no Ana, several Animate stores, and Gamers in Akiba, the author concluded that iM@S and Love Live were niche but popular properties receiving significant focus without dominating retail space. While visiting the Skytree on April 18th, the author purchased various trade keychains/dog tags, offering them to overseas fans who inquired before their departure. They also bought used iM@S Blu-ray discs from Amazon Japan for pickup in Japan, having conducted price comparisons. The demand for iM@S merchandise was high, with many usual retailers having limited selections. Regarding pricing, visiting used stores was generally more cost-effective than online purchases. Specifically, volumes 6-9 of iM@S Blu-rays were less discounted due to lower supply and being newer releases.
The author visited the Cospa store in Akiba and its Narita Airport popup shop. They noted that the largest Japanese size available was XL, which was too small for them, suggesting even at ideal weight, they might only fit in XL. The Akiba store seemed to stock XL sizes for all items, possibly because they don’t sell out quickly. The author speculated that XXL or larger sizes might be available, considering the presence of larger Westerners at Narita.
The author visited Garten and A-button, described as “nerd bars,” noting that they were enjoyable places. They recounted a peculiar experience of watching OreImo at 2 am with the A-Button crew on a Saturday night, followed by the realization of being near Hayami Saori (Ayase’s voice actress) performing hours earlier. Garten was considered more of a proper bar compared to A-Button. Conversations about Zeta Gundam occurred at both establishments. The author had a brief conversation with Shin-san, the proprietor of A-Button, facilitated by their limited Japanese, alcohol, and translation assistance, describing him as a “good guy.” A-button was humorously dubbed “where everybody knows your waifu’s name.”
The author left Japan just before the home video release of Eva Q, noting the strong marketing. They purchased Eva beer glasses and observed Eva tie-in merchandise being sold in seemingly ordinary shops within the Akiba station’s Tsukuba Express tunnel.
Set Lists:
- True Tears x Hanasaku Iroha x Tari Tari concert. A blog post is available.
- Coorie 10th Anniversary Acoustic. The author appreciated artists posting their own set lists.
- A blog post exists for a Tamayura Season 2 event, but the author opted not to detail the set list due to the short performance of only four songs.
Movies:
- Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouki no Deja vu – A blog post is available.
- Hanasaku Iroha: Home Sweet Home – The author understood this movie better than Steins;Gate but did not write a blog post due to prioritizing the Coorie show.
In a semi-nerd note, the author mentioned the proliferation of pop culture crossover promotional items for the Tokyo Skytree, estimating over nine thousand. The Skytree is built on a mall complex, with the main crossover merchandise shop located on the ground level above it, creating a “mind-boggling” shopping environment.
The author considered a separate category for “nerd food” versus “real” food. This included discussing “Shiroi Koibito” knockoffs, such as the “???次??の?人?” boxes sold in Akiba and Chiba/Tokyo versions at Narita. The Skytree Village store offered a significant amount of such merchandise. The author bought K-ON chocolate crisps and manjuu, expecting the latter to be overly sweet. Narita Airport provided the best selection of Kit-Kats seen in Japan, and the author purchased sauce with Kirino’s face on it, noting their frequent consumption of tonkatsu.
Food
The author revisited the topic of nerd bars, specifically A-Button, which they described as a “blaze of glory of game nerdness.” Curry was also mentioned as having a “coefficient of nerdness,” and A-Button’s curry was praised for its good flavor and kick.
The author also visited Manten, a budget-friendly curry establishment catering to students and salarymen. Described as a literal “hole-in-the-wall,” Manten’s curry was considered extraordinary for ordinary curry. Wah’s write-up was cited as an accurate description. The restaurant is located in Jinbocho, a bit of a trek from Ochanomizu station, and the author suggested that accessing it from Suidobashi JR station or the metro might have been more convenient. The author enjoyed Manten’s offerings, including the complimentary espresso-sized coffee and the overall experience of the restaurant and its location.
Nagi Ramen in Shibuya (the Niboshio location near the station) was recommended as a solid choice. A 10-minute wait was experienced on a weekday evening around 8 pm. The soup’s combination of fishiness and burnt notes was described as creating a full-bodied flavor with abundant umami. The author opted for abura noodles, though they believed futsuu noodles would also be good. Nagi Ramen was considered a top 5 destination for ramen broth enthusiasts.
The author visited Tanaka’s Akihabara location, a meat-focused ramen place specializing in “soba” with an emphasis on toppings and a lighter soup. This style was compared favorably to Chinese or Vietnamese noodle dishes, offering a more honest, simple, and greasy experience. The “niku soba” came with a generous portion of sliced pork and was described as rich, though perhaps not something to be consumed frequently. The author noted that the standard chuuka dishes at Tanaka’s seemed to have better flavor combinations. The Akiba location, though not listed on their website, was situated near Akihabara Station. Roasted red peppers were offered as an optional addition to the soup, providing a steady, mild heat characteristic of spicy Japanese noodles.
The author visited Marugo, a high-end katsu restaurant in Akihabara, located next to a small shrine. They ordered filet katsu, which they later felt might not have been the best choice. The set lunch cost 2000 yen, placing it on the higher end for katsu, but the quality of the fried pork was considered top-notch. The set meal included soup and rice, with the katsu served with a salad. Special house tonkatsu sauce, pickled vegetables, and plum were available as accompaniments.
Tsukemen was another culinary objective, perceived as a rising trend in Japan. The author dined at Tsujita, which also has locations in Los Angeles. The Ochanomizu location was noted for its bright atmosphere and excellent food. While the broth was salty on its own, it paired exceptionally well with the noodles. The restaurant was a short walk from their hotel and not far from Akihabara’s Electric Town, and the author regretted not revisiting it.
The author visited the Ufotable Cafe for a late-afternoon snack, noting it as more of a “nerd” experience than purely culinary. They made two trips to this Nakano establishment, which was themed around Girls und Panzer during their visit. The cafe had a cafe menu and a dinner menu, but on their visit, it was not a dinner menu day. The first trip was unsuccessful as the cafe was closed on a Monday. The cafe is a considerable walk from Nakano station or Nakano Broadway. On their second visit, they managed to obtain a Team Duck pin and coasters. The “tank cake” was a standout menu item, resembling a tank. The special drinks were deemed not very good unless spiked, but the cafe served real food, which was considered a positive compared to other “nerd” establishments.
The Good Smile Cafe was described as more polished than the Ufotable Cafe, with Nakano itself characterized as “worn, but has character.” The author’s dining experience at the Good Smile Cafe was the only one in Japan they did not enjoy. Their Rin x Ren katsu dish was compared unfavorably to ANA’s in-flight meals, which, while acceptable, set a low bar for a standard restaurant. Waitstaff seated them near the door and provided menus for three concurrent promotions: Sakura Miku, Project Diva F, and Disgaea D2. The author ordered items from each promotion, including the Sakura Miku dango (which was good) with pairing tea, the Rin x Ren katsu, and a Laharl-themed soft drink. Coasters were provided for drinks and snacks, though the Sakura Miku coaster was unavailable. The decor and displays at the Good Smile Cafe were highlighted as a positive aspect. Customers received a coin for dining, allowing them to try for a pin from the current promotions. The cafe also served “real food” without promotional themes, but it was not considered particularly special.
Other dining experiences included a cheap yakitori chain in Nakano, a beef tongue restaurant near Kichijoji station, Denny’s, a kaitenzushi place at Yodobashi, a delicious and inexpensive chirashi lunch special, and taiyaki. While passing time, the author visited a pasta place that was decent but “weirdish.”
A brief meal was had at the Ghibli Museum’s food vendors. They offered a hot dog and ice cream stand with free seating, and a proper cafe with waiter service, known for its Ghibli-art milk art. Due to time constraints, the author opted for the hot dog stand, which sold “Valley of the Wind” branded beer and a pork rice combo, described as more substantial than a typical hot dog.
The hot dog looked worse than it tasted, with toasted buns. While not the worst meal in Japan (that honor went to the GSC food), it was not as good value as Freshness Burger.
The author’s intended high-end dining destination, Ryugin, required advance reservations, which conflicted with their flexible schedule. Additionally, having already spent a significant amount on a Blu-ray box set, they were hesitant about further expensive dining.
Miscellaneous
Tourism with Google Maps was highly effective, especially navigating Tokyo’s vast and complex layout. The author noted that even in pre-internet days, a map was essential, and Google Maps provided an interactive and navigable experience, aided by widespread wireless signal coverage.
Getting wireless data in Tokyo presented challenges. The author found Wi-Fi to be largely ineffective. For approximately 4000 yen, a data-only SIM card compatible with GSM (2100 MHz UTMS) was a more viable option for most needs (excluding voice). While Softbank’s service was generally adequate for non-data-intensive tasks like Google services, a purchased travel router proved useful as most hotels lacked in-room wireless. A significant issue arose with Verizon LTE devices not supporting data roaming on NTT DOCOMO’s 3G CDMA network, despite claims otherwise. This resulted in no data service on the author’s phone, forcing them to rely on their travel companion’s phone as a hotspot and a backup voice/SMS-only rental phone, likely incurring a substantial SMS bill.
The author had the opportunity to visit the suburbs, including a friend near Koshigaya Laketown mall, which was large and well-equipped. However, aside from travel to and from Narita, the trip primarily focused on Tokyo.
In conclusion, the author felt they needed a vacation from their vacation, not due to an overscheduled itinerary, but because the abundance of desired activities made it impossible to do them all. The trip was generally relaxed, with the jetlag adjustment upon returning to Eastern Time being more challenging. The author was still in recovery mode, exacerbated by work demands and late nights, attributing some of this to Nico Chokaigi. They anticipated more relaxed blog posts until mid-season, noting no significant impact from new noitamina anime.
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Finally, the author expressed gratitude to everyone they met, especially those who offered assistance with bookings. They were pleased to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new people, with a special mention to Moyism for their companionship throughout the trip.
