Akihabara – What is it?
Many of the gadget lovers have heard about Akihabara – Tokyo’s electronics discount district. It was sunny today — a good time to go to Akihabara and show you around.
Location
Akihabara is located between Tokyo and Ueno station on the Yamanote line, Tokyo’s central circular line.
Akihabara’s History
During the Edo period (1600-1855 1603-1867) it was a place for low-class samurai. A huge fire in 1869 flattened the entire area. The authorities decided to leave the place open as firewall protection for the nearby Imperial Palace. As trees took over the wasteland, the ground was littered with dead leaves in autumn. The area became known as Akinonohara which stands for autumn leaves ground. It was later baptized as Akihabara by train conductors.
During WOII, the area hosted a black market for radios, an excellent place for students of the nearby electrical engineering college to make some money. Though the Americans tried to close down the illegal trade after the war, the trade grew. Akaihabara is now the well-known electronics shoppings district in the world.
You do not only find the latest electronics stuff here, but it is also a good place to find second hand computers.
A good English page about Akihabara where you can find shop information is http://www.akiba.or.jp
The place where the electronics trade started was under the train viaduct.
The main street in Akihabara with the big shops that most of the visitors will see.
The back streets with the more interesting shops. Look for the the latest electronics components and second hand stuff.
Everywhere ‘SHOUTING’ billboards with price information. Competition is tough!
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