Akihabara Tours with Akibanana

Written by: Michael Keferl on August 12, 2008 at 3:31 pm | In LIFESTYLE / FASHION | 1 Comment

Our friends over at Akibanana have really been expanding since their debut this year. Much like with our own tours focused on business and innovations, Akibanana has built their reputation on knowing the geek paradise of Akihabara inside and out, and are working closely with many Akiba insiders.

While the Electric Town can be fun to visit, the large buildings and maid cafes are intimidating when you don’t know what’s inside and you’ll end up walking around aimlessly (believe me). Akibanana’s Akihabara Tours are an easy way for visitors to Tokyo to find out what’s really going on in Akihabara and otaku culture, and make the best use of limited time as well. Their multilingual, cosplaying guides take you around for 2.5 hours for 3,000 yen ($30) per person.

Also on the Japanese language tour is the Akibanana “Guidol” (guide + idol) Cherry who is said to have been (and we have no doubt) born in a candy shop and worked in a candy factory. Below is a video of Cherry on her blog.

For more information on the latest news in geeky Japan, or to check out the tours, check out Akibanana.com.

Tags: akibanana, akihabara, anime, Maid Cafes, otaku
Category: LIFESTYLE / FASHION
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Akibanana launched for growing global otaku

Written by: Michael Keferl on March 9, 2008 at 11:26 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION | 1 Comment

The new bilingual otaku (geek) culture media site Akibanana was launched by G.I. Jane Inc. in February, and has thus-far provided extremely good content about the ever-changing Akihabara scene.

In addition to having lots of great information about the Akihabara area (detailed shop maps, guides, etc) and its main highlights (anime, manga, games, gadgets, and more), Akibanana is also writing features about events and important happenings, and putting a focus on educating the world about the real Akihabara that exists in the alleys and nondescript shops. The Hibaritei cross-dressing maid cafe event is a unique example in itself.

In our experience, most first-time foreign visitors to Akihabara are a bit disappointed because it can’t possibly live up to the hype it receives in the media. When they don’t see robot maids, moving sidewalks, and people flying around on jetpacks they wonder what the big deal is (They also think the point of Akihabara is just to get cheap electronics). The real Akihabara, like the rest of Tokyo, is behind the facades and hidden away.

Tags: akibanana, akihabara, anime, otaku
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS