About Akihabara
Right after World War II, Akihabara earned the nickname Electric Town: this was where Tokyo bought televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and stereos. In the 1980s, when appliances lost their appeal, the shops changed their window displays and started selling computers, attracting a crowd that soon brought anime, manga and video games along with it.
Today the neighborhood is the best-known address of otaku culture, with shops for collectibles, games, fan magazines and electronics. Near the station, cosplayers hand out flyers for maid cafés, which are numerous in the area. Even people who don't follow anime tend to have fun just looking at what is for sale, shelf after shelf.
