A Yen for Tokyo

Disclaimer | Gratitude | Tokyo Tours | Why go to Tokyo?
please click on linked images to view full size

Disclaimer

What follows are my experiences only. Individual results may vary. Moreover, due to fluctuating exchange rates, constant construction in Tokyo and other random acts that befall this world, your experience may differ.

This guide is geared towards Fujoshi (female Otaku and fan of yaoi/BL/boy’s love). Male fans of yaoi and even non yaoi Otaku may find quite a bit of useful information herein. Notations regarding hentai (which I do enjoy as well, but such was not the focus of my 2006 Tokyo trip) will pot this guide as necessary (my next trip to Tokyo will be March 2008, at which time I’ll be going with my husband, and many trips to Akihabara will be had, so I’ll be able to comment more on hentai after that).

top of page

Gratitude

I’d like to thank Pira, my most awesome travelling companion, for sharing in the amazing experience of Tokyo-a-Go-Go in Fall 2006, and for finding the Tokyo City Atlas on the Internet, which became THE bible.

I’d also like to thank Insaneneko for providing a variety of information that proved invaluable and has been a constant inspiration and help.

top of page

Tokyo Tours

Yes, there are tour groups (i.e. Pop Japan Travel) that will take you to Japan and show you the sights, offering their own expertise and itinerary to indulge your Otaku self. These tours are great for the single person who doesn’t like to travel alone, or the person who wants someone else to make all the arrangements for them and just follow along, or for someone who just wants a taste of Japan.

However, if you plan on going to Tokyo with the express purpose of utterly wallowing in Japanese culture and all things Otaku, including major purchasing (i.e. you have a serious list of books and doujinshi you must acquire), you are not likely to accomplish much of this on a packaged tour. This is not intended as a slight, but travel tours like this are short and packed so full of activity, it’s difficult to spend considerable time on one aspect of your trip.

I spent 4 hours alone in Shibuya’s Mandarake (and scored a case of books that I had delivered to the hotel). Akihabara was an all day affair and I could have easily returned at least once more just for shopping. And I spent two day trips to Harajuku. Many evenings were spent in one of the doujinshi shops in Ikebukuro, padding my collection. It’s difficult to seriously shop when you have limited time.  On the other hand, if money is no object, and you don’t have a list, you can simply quickly scour the shelves and grab any and all that interests you.

A personal comment regarding Butler cafes, which, while seeming totally Kawaii, you can see tonnes of real life (drop dead sexy) bishounen in their native habitat all over Tokyo (often found holding up walls and buildings — especially in Shinjuku) if you just stop and watch the world go by – for free, leaving more time for buying goods. But if you enjoy the novelty of cafes, and they are all the rage right now, and do have time for them – why not? They can be a lot of fun.

However, let me just reiterate that if you’re looking for a taste, and not a serious acquisition trip, you may wish to consider these arranged travel tours. They’re decent value, you’ll be among good companions, and they do have special events planned just for the tour. On the other hand, if you’re on a serious mission, I hope you find my guide useful.

top of page

Why go to Tokyo?

There are many reasons to go to Tokyo, and these will vary from person to person. However, some may be as follows:

• Buy manga, doujinshi & related items cheap,
• Visit friends,
• Hit tourist spots (i.e. Tokyo Tower, Sensoji Temple etc.),
• Party in Rappongi,
• Play pachinko,
• Experience true local Japanese culture,
• and whatever else you want to rationalize for yourself.

My agenda:

• Buy manga, doujinshi & related items cheap, and
• Experience true local Japanese culture.

As Otaku, we shouldn’t beat around the bush. We’re there to buy porn. And as much of it as we can because E Bay equals rape, on line doujinshi buying is beyond painful, JPQueen’s shipping rates leave you penniless, and your local Japanese shops just don’t carry what you want. If you really need to justify a trip to Tokyo, then look to the formula in the next section.

top of page