Part 1 - Returning to Japan : Why I stayed in Akihabara

It feels.. strange to be writing on a blog again.

The last time I was actively blogging was before COVID19. 

I honestly can’t even remember what year it was anymore, but it feels like a lifetime ago. Somewhere between work, life, and everything in between, writing slowly became something I kept putting off.

Coming back after such a long break feels a bit awkward.😅

You know, when you stop doing something you once loved for so long, you naturally wonder if you still know how to do it.

But here I am.. Writing again.

And I hope this time, I’m here to stay.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve received quite a number of messages asking about my recent trip to Japan.

If you’ve been reading my old blog, you’ll probably remember that Japan was one of the places I wrote about the most.. I’ve shared itineraries, recommendations, hidden cafes, and probably far too many photos from my trips.

So yes..

We’re talking about Japan again. :)

This time, because many of you asked.

Some of the questions I receive most often are :

“Where did you stay?”

“Can you recommend places to visit in Tokyo?”

“How do I use Japan’s public transport?”

“Which area is the best to stay in?”

and.. many more. 

Since life has been keeping me ridiculously busy lately, I don’t have enough time to reply to every message individually. So instead of answering one by one, I thought..

Why not bring the blog back to life?

That way, everything will be here whenever you need it. Just think these posts as a collection of notes from someone who has made enough mistakes in Japan so that hopefully, you won’t have to.

(You’re welcome.)

Before we get into the recommendations, here’s one thing you should know.

This wasn’t my first time visiting Japan.

In fact, Japan has become the country I’ve travelled to the most and it's feels like my second home.

People often ask me why I keep choosing Japan when there are so many other places in the world to explore.

Honestly..

I don’t think I’ve ever found the perfect answer.

Japan is one of the few places where everything seems to work exactly as it should. Everything feels incredibly clean and organised.. The trains arrive on time, people respect one another’s space, and even in the middle of a city as busy as Tokyo, you can still stumble upon a quiet neighbourhood that feels untouched by the crowds. 

And for me, Japan has this strange ability to make you miss it the moment your plane takes off.

Well.. whatever the reason is, it remains my favourite country to visit. :)

Tokyo at 5:00am :)

One of my favourite things about waking up early in Japan, you get to see places like this before everyone else does. :')

Now, let’s answer the question I received the most.

Where did I stay during my latest trip?

For this visit, I chose to stay in Akihabara, Tokyo.

It was a different choice compared to my previous trips.

If you’ve read my older travel posts, you’ll know I usually avoid busy city centres. I love quiet neighbourhoods, peaceful mornings, and local residential areas where life moves a little slower.

But this trip was different.

I wanted to step outside my comfort zone.

Instead of hiding in a peaceful suburb, I chose to stay right in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.

And honestly, I’m so glad I did.

This time, I wanted to experience Tokyo differently.

Because the purpose of this trip wasn’t to complete a long checklist of tourist attractions.

I came because I missed Japan so much. 

And that’s reason is enough. :)

If you’ve never been to Akihabara, here’s a little 

introduction.

Akihabara, often nicknamed Electric Town, is one of Tokyo’s most iconic districts. Originally famous for its electronics stores after World War II, the area has evolved into the world’s most recognised destination for anime, manga, gaming, collectibles, and Japanese pop culture.

you’ll find everything here

Tower after tower filled with anime merchandise.

Entire buildings dedicated to retro video games.

Electronics stores stacked from basement to rooftop.

Arcades buzzing with people trying to win plush toys they’ll probably never win.

And yes.. 

Enough Pokemon, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Gundam merchandise to make your wallet cry.

Even if you’re not an anime fan, walking around Akihabara is an experience on its own. 

There’s really nowhere else quite like it.

My hotel was located right in the middle of Electric Town, and I honestly couldn’t have picked a better location for this trip.

If you’re someone who enjoys anime, gaming, cameras, technology, or you're just wants to stay somewhere with excellent train connections, I think Akihabara is a great choice.

Everything feels alive here.

Akihabara after dark never really slow down. That's part of its charm.

The big LED screens.

The bright neon lights.

The sounds of arcade machines.

The train passing every few minutes.

The endless flow of people crossing the streets.

It almost feels like you’ve walked straight into a movie :')

As for this trip, I stayed in Akihabara for the entire holiday.

No changing hotels.

No dragging luggage across different parts of Tokyo.

Just one place to return to every evening.

Sometimes, slowing down and staying in one location lets you experience a city much more deeply than constantly chasing the next destination.

And that’s exactly what I wanted from this trip. 

Honestly, I enjoyed every moment of staying here.

Even though I usually avoid crowded places, Akihabara completely changed my perspective.

I never expected to enjoy staying in one of Tokyo’s busiest districts this much,

but by the end of the trip, I genuinely loved it :)

Anyway, I’ll stop here before this post turns into a novel. 😂

In Part 2, I’ll share more about the places I explored around Akihabara and Tokyo, 

along with a few recommendations that I think you’ll enjoy if you’re planning a trip here.

There’s still so much more to share.

See you in the next post!