Part 2: Akihabara Took Me Back to My Childhood

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Before I start recommending places around Akihabara, 

I think there’s one story I'd like to share first.

A lot of people assume you have to be a hardcore anime fan to enjoy Akihabara.. 

Honestly, I’m not.

I do watch anime, but I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan who knows every character or collects every figure that comes out.

I just happened to grow up with it.

I have 3 older brothers, so I never really had a choice. πŸ˜‚

Anime was just part of our childhood.

I still remember, back then my house had one very strict rule.

Monday to Friday was for studying.

No TV.

No cartoons.

No excuses.

That was the rule. πŸ˜‚

But my brothers and I would quietly sneak into the living room every afternoon after school just to catch Naruto. We knew exactly what time it started, and we always managed to be there. 

And weekends were reserved for Dragon Ball. hahah

Back then, we didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t something we planned. 

It was just.. our routine.

And just a random things we did after school πŸ˜‚

Looking back now, those afternoons became some of the memories I treasure the most.

Of course, my brothers and I argued all the time.

We argued over the TV remote. Over snacks. Over absolutely everything.

But somehow, those moments are the ones I miss the most today :')

I guess that’s why every time I hear Naruto’s soundtrack or catch an episode of Dragon Ball, 

I’m instantly reminded of my childhood. and I miss all my brothers too :')

It’s strange how something as simple as a cartoon can bring back an entire memories of your childhood.


Standing in the middle of Akihabara made me feel exactly the same.

Everywhere I looked, there were familiar faces from the shows I grew up watching.

Naruto.

Dragon Ball.

One Piece.

Pokemon.

Detective Conan.

Characters that instantly took me back to my childhood.

It almost felt like walking through a small museum filled with pieces of my own memories :')


Speaking of anime, here’s something interesting..

Japan is the world’s largest producer of anime, creating the vast majority of the anime watched around the globe. The industry has been around for decades and has become one of Japan’s biggest cultural exports, influencing everything from films and television to fashion, tourism, and even local economies.

Places like Akihabara aren’t just shopping districts anymore.. they’ve become destinations for anime fans from all over the world.














Not every anime figure here is family friendly. Some of them look quite lewd.


Whether you’re a serious collector or not, it’s almost impossible not to be impressed by the scale of it all.

Now, let’s talk about something every traveller can probably relate to.

No matter where you travel, there’s always that one person who suddenly remembers you the moment you arrive overseas.

The one who suddenly texts you and asks “Can you help me buy something?”

And.. The item they want is always incredibly specific.

Apparently, my trip to Japan was no exception.πŸ˜₯

One of my relatives sent me a photo of an anime figure and said,

“Can you find this for me?”

No shop name.

No shop location.

No helpful instructions.

Just..  A picture. lol

And with that, my mission officially began.


Fyi, finding one specific anime figure in Akihabara is a lot harder than it sounds tho.

I spent an entire day exploring Akihabara just to find one anime figure.

One.

Single.

Figure.

If you’ve never been to Akihabara before, let me give you a little warning.

Most of the shops here aren’t just 1 or 2 floors. Some buildings have 6, 7, or even 8 floors, and almost every floor sells something completely different.






So there I was…

Going up one building.

Coming back down.

Crossing the street.

Walking into another building.

And repeating the exact same thing over and over again.

By the end of the day, I think I’d climbed enough stairs to count as my workout for the week.


Along the way, I came across all sorts of interesting things.

Rare anime figures.

Vintage game collections.

Limited edition merchandise.

Retro arcades.

And..

there were a few floors that caught me completely off guard. Like..


I swear I was just looking for an anime figure. Not this. 😰

Apparently, some stores also have adult sections dedicated to mature manga and collectibles.

I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

Japan really knows how to test your ability to lower your gaze. hahah

Nahhh I found this too! πŸ˜‚
In Malaysia, people display these figures in glass cabinets and 
one figurre can easily cost RM700-RM900.
but over here? they're selling them by the roadside like they're selling goreng pisang. 
Kau ada?

Why does this look familiar? Shikin is this your Ex boyfriend?


After hours of walking around Akihabara, my feet were begging me to stop. And my back wasn’t doing much better either.

But giving up wasn’t an option. haha

And then..

Finally.

I found it.

The exact anime figure my relative had sent me.

Luckily, I got there just in time because it was the last one they had in stock.

Safe to say, I walked out of that shop feeling very very veryyyyyy relieved.

I don’t know who was happier at that moment.

Me or my feet. lol


Mission accomplished.


The moment I told my relative I’d managed to get it, he was absolutely thrilled. 
And honestly, seeing how happy he was, made all those hours of walking worth it.

Although next time..  Maybe send me something that’s easier to find lahh oiii! 

(I'm tired of walking and almost dying because of you.πŸ˜‘)


p/s : If you’re an anime fan, I genuinely think Akihabara deserves a place on your Tokyo itinerary.

You don’t have to buy anything.

wandering through the streets, browsing the shops, and coming across characters you grew up with is already an experience worth having.

If you ever find yourself in Tokyo, make some time for Akihabara. 

Walk around without rushing, step into a few random stores, and just enjoy the experience. 

I think that’s the best way to appreciate this place :)

Alright, that’s all for this post.

There’s still so much I want to share from this trip, so I’ll save those stories for the next post.

Until then, thanks for reading :)

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