Tokyo Explorer

Eclectic, bizarre, freakish, heaven on earth! Whatever you feel as you walk away from Kotobukiya in Akihabara, Tokyo, rest assured that feeling has been felt before, and will be felt again tomorrow by another customer.
Founded in 1953, in Tachikawa, Tokyo, if there were one recommended stop on the briefest of trips to the Akihabara area, it would quite simply have to be here – Kotobukiya – the single most ‘out there’ shop selection wise in the whole of Akihabara, although it is primarily marketed as a premier collector toy outlet and is more than impressive along such lines.

Access is best achieved from the Electric Town Exit of JR Akihabara Station. Turn right as you leave the station, walk a good 50 or so metres and Kotobukiya will loom green and clean on the left. Nestled in amongst all he neon signs advertising stores specializing in electrical items, the store first comes across as something of an oasis in a sea of noise, but appearances can be deceiving.

As home to cigarette lighters in the shape of crab claws, miniature girly type idols, teddy bear like things to hug, odd drinks to chug, odder things to wear, and a massive range of mini-stickers poking fun at many of the world’s major companies (PEPSI becoming PE*IS just one fine red, while and blue example), Kotobukiya can easily, and then some, satisfy the weirdest / most discerning of tastes.

Of course, if still peckish for touristy oddities and whacko souvenirs for the folks back home, why not aim at the mobile phone straps in all shapes and sizes – many tiny versions of everyday Japanese food items; from the slice of pork seen atop ramen noodles, to the deep fried shrimp so common in tempura dishes. If Kotobukiya still fails to satisfy, you have issues, and are far too normal! Enjoy!

NB – for fans of the Kotobukiya mentality stateside – head to www.kotous.com/ to see what all the fuss is about. Those with Japanese language skills can head over to www.kotobukiya.co.jp/