Akihabara Anime, Manga and Maid Cafe in Tokyo, Japan

We are heading to Akihabara after our lunch meals at Shibuya. Akihabara is located in the central district of Tokyo, which is a popular place for Japan's otaku (male nerds) who are obsessive with anime, manga, video games and computer goods (as well computer parts too). I am not an otakus (the term for female otaku) but I am curious to explore some of the stores at Akihabara.

Beside that, there are many interesting Maid cafes or Cosplay restaurants at Akihabara district. Due to my limited time at Akihabara, I don't get the opportunity to experience at a maid cafe or cosplay restaurant. It is not difficult to search for a maid cafe as there are many pretty maids standing and distributing leaflets, to promote their maid cafes nearby Akihabara Station. As when you step into the maid cafe, the maids will bow and greet customers in friendly mode besides offering them towels and menus as well as exchanging some basic interactions. This is  strictly clean service as customers have to obey the basic etiquette and rules when patronizing a maid cafe. Customers are forbidden to touch and take pictures of the maids, asking for their personal contacts and staking their privacy. 

It is highly recommended to get to Akihabara Station by riding on JR Yamanote (the Green Metro Train which runs in a loop in Tokyo city.) JR Yamanote connects you to popular districts of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Tokyo Station, Ueno and Ikebukuro without changing the trains at a short distance of traveling.

Arriving Akihabara at the train station in Tokyo, Japan

Pretty maids promote maid cafes at Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan

Famous Labi and Sega stores at Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan

Akihabara is popular for video games, manga, anime and computer goods in Tokyo, Japan

One of the maid cafes can be seen nearby Akihabara Station in Tokyo, Japan

You can find anime, manga, video games and computer goods along Akihabara streets in Tokyo, Japan

A popular Sofmap is selling all kinds of anime, manga and video games at Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan

There are rows of anime, manga, video games and computer goods along Akihabara Electric Town in Tokyo, Japan

An interesting softdrink dispenser machine with co-sponsor by Sega at Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan

A shop sells anime and manga at Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan

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Hachiko Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya is one of the most popular cities to visit in Tokyo, Japan. Tourists and the locals visit Shibuya for a few reasons such as shopping for fashion, entertainment and taking photos of the popular large intersection of pedestrian crossing in front of Shibuya Station which is normally seen on Japanese dramas and movies. Apart from that, visitors also take selfie photos with Hachiko statue, a popular landmark attraction outside of Shibuya Station.

There are many shopping malls and boutique stores around Shibuya. Shibuya 109 is a fashion shopping complex, targeting at young shoppers while there are some high-end shopping malls such as Shibuya Mark City, Shibuya Hikarie and some leading shopping malls from Marui department store to Parco department store. Beside that, there are many restaurants, bars and entertainment located along Center Gai. Center Gai is situated across the street, after crossing the main intersection of pedestrian crossing as when you walk out of Shibuya Station.

Overcrowded Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya Sakuragicho old train converted as a museum outside of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan

Visitors are able to see the old days and the current days of Shibuya on  Sakuragicho Museum Train, outside of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan

I was excited getting the Shibuya stamping at Shibuya Sakuragicho Museum, outside of Shibuya Station of Tokyo, Japan

The famous Hachiko statue in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan

Heading to Shibuya famous pedestrian crossing in dramas and movies, outside of Shibuya Station of Tokyo, Japan

It was the moment of pedestrian crossing at the large intersection in front of Shibuya Station of Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya 109 mall on the far left while Center Gai is situated on the right which is popular with stores, boutiques, restaurants and bars in Tokyo, Japan

A lot of restaurants and boutique stores are located at Center Gai in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

There are many cafes, restaurants and boutique stores along Center Gai in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Returning to Shibuya Station from Center Gai in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

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Observation Deck: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at Shinjuku, Tokyo

If you are on the budget trip to Tokyo, Japan but don't intend to spend a lot on getting an entrance ticket to the observation deck at Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. Then, you should make a trip to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at Shinjuku Business District in Tokyo downtown. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a government office tower where the observation decks are open to the public for free. The observation decks provide good panoramic views of Shinjuku skyscrapers, Tokyo downtown and Mount Fuji (on the clear view day).

In order to ensure the safety of the visitors at the observation decks, all bags are required to be examined by the security services on the ground floor of North Tower and South Tower before riding on the elevator. Tripods, big bags and luggage aren't permitted to be carried to the observation decks thus, please ensure to carry a small bag or backpack during your trip to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. We carried a small camera bag and backpack during the trip so we didn't encounter problems with the security over there. 

As we headed to the escalator after security check, we were guided into the escalator by a staff there. The moment before the escalator door closed, the Japanese staff gave a short briefing in Japanese before ended with a bow (Japanese Greetings) to us, which was a real shocking to us. I believed it was a  45-degree angle Japanese bow by the staff, which was the most polite Japanese Greetings Etiquette. As I mentioned before in my earlier post, Japan is well-known for its high hospitality service which also known as "Omotenashi" which ensures customers feel greatly satisfied with attentive care and attention provided by Japanese service industrial from hotels, restaurants, retail companies, supermarkets etc. Anyway, we didn't feel any language barriers as there was another staff in the elevator with us, gave us a translated version in English or Chinese before reaching to the observation deck. 

How to get there?

Address:  45F Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 

Subway:

Tokyo Metro Nishi-shinjuku Station via the passageway to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings: 10 minutes on foot  

Admission: FREE ENTRANCE

Open:  

North Observatory 9.30am-10:30pm daily, 

South Observatory 9.30am-5pm daily 

Closed: 

North Observation Deck: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month

South Observation Deck: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 

Both observatories: December 29 to January 3 (except January 1)

Heading to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at Shinjuku Business District for a free visit at the observation deck in Tokyo, Japan

A compact and high density of Tokyo downtown from the observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Japan

Another closer compact and high density of Tokyo city from the observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku

Look at how compact and high density Tokyo city is from the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Japan

Shinjuku Park Tower (235m) & Tokyo Opera City Tower (234m), the skyscrapers in Shinjuku Business District at observation deck in Tokyo

Shinjuku Park Tower and Tokyo Opera City Tower can be seen at observation deck, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku Sumitomo, Shinjuku Mitsui and Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower at the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Japan

Shinjuku skyscrapers at the business district from the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo, Japan

The model of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building can be seen at its observation deck in Shinjuku Business District of Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Skytree tower can be seen from the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at Shinjuku Business District of Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Tower can be seen at the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku Business District of Tokyo, Japan

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