A little quiz: name three tourist attractions in Tokyo. Struggling? You might have the Tokyo Tower. You might be able to picture the Shibuya Crossing, but probably don’t know it by name. It’s surprising when you think about it, considering its position as one of the biggest, most famous, cities in the world. Tokyo, though, isn’t really like most other cities. For one thing, it isn’t one city at all; it’s 23 small cities. As a result, it’s got more than enough to keep the average tourist occupied for at least six months. In fact, I could probably fill this whole website with stories of the brutal subway/metro lines (one of my proudest achievements in life being that I survived both for a week without once getting lost). Sadly, I only have a limited number of words, and so I’ll instead focus on my two favourite neighbourhoods: Akihabara and Harajuku.
Akihabara is probably my husband’s favourite place on the planet. Known as Electric-Town, it is pure geek heaven. Thousands upon thousands of shops selling anything electrical you can possibly imagine…and most excitingly for us, games. Lots and lots of games. As well as the arcade rooms that Japan is famous for, you can pick up new and retro consoles, and pretty much any game you want (as long as you’re willing to look for it, and you’re fluent in miming out your requirements to elderly shop owners). In addition, if you’re into anime or manga, you’ll be tortured by the impossibly vast array of goods available. And then there are the maids. Spend five minutes in Akihabara and you’ll happen upon a few dolled-up girls giving out flyers for cafes. Take them up on the offer, and you’ll find yourself being served and doted on by French maids (even spoon-fed, if you pick the right place). What did I tell you? Geek heaven.
If Akihabara is more for the male contingent of your party, then Harajuku is for the girls. Fans of Gwen Stefani will already have heard of it (her obsession with the area ranges from songs to her clothing line); otherwise, it’s more famous amongst teenagers. There’s plenty to interest those of us over the age of 18 though. Head through Yoyogi Park and explore the streets on a Sunday and you’ll find plenty to entertain. Men dressed in leather and jeans dancing to classic rock & roll? Check. The Harajuku Girls (and in some cases, Boys) dressed in some of the wildest outfits you’ll ever come across? Check. A novelty condom shop? Check. And if you like shopping, the impossibly narrow and crowded Takeshita-Dori is bound to have something original to catch your eye (me? I got an adult onesie in the design of a rabbit. With tail, ears, and everything…yeah, it’s hella cool).
From the outside, the likes of Akihabara and Harajuku aren’t all that different: grey, concrete buildings, an obviously consumerist culture and tremendous crowds of people. Tokyo is all about looking deeper. It is meant for exploring, meant for getting lost and wandering around neighbourhoods until you happen upon a subway station to whisk you somewhere new and possibly even more exciting. It may not have an Empire State Building or a Harbour Bridge, but, quite simply, it doesn’t need them.
