20th – 25th March 2023
Akihabara District
Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
Super fun, super colourful, full of geekery, gadgets and retro dreams. Akihabara is a vibrant district that since the 1930s has had the nickname ‘Electric Town’, owing to its future oriented shops full of all kinds of technology. There are the large well known establishments with multiple levels, such as ‘Super Potato’, a treasure trove of past decades, with retro consoles and games spread across 3 floors, with a small arcade at the top.
Super Potato, Akihabara
They have Famicom, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn and many more, as well as gaming merchandise. One of our favourite shops was Trader (1 Chome-4-9 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan) a second hand shop, where we bought some bargain, perfect condition, second hand Nintendo Switch Lites.
Super Potato, Akihabara
The way the games were displayed was very handy for us tourists – they were labelled as to what languages the games could be played in! There are camera shops, anime shops, arcades and a giant Don Quijote – a huge department store with everything you could possibly find.
Pokémon Centres
Pokémon Centre Tokyo DX
髙島屋S.C.東館, 5F, 2 Chome-11-2 Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
Having grown up as a Pokémon fan, (that’s with the original 150!), I knew if I went to Tokyo I really wanted to visit a Pokémon Centre! Huge murals of Pokémon, life size models of Pokémon, many many plushies of Pokémon, old and new. All sorts of merchandise, games, clothing and homewares can be bought here.
At the Pokémon Centre Tokyo DX there is also a Pokémon Café connected, which one should book in advance if hoping to get a table. I wasn’t sure if they were offering vegan options at the time and we didn’t have time, but I would love to go there some time – think giant walking Pikachus and seasonal Pokémon theme food! This huge Pokémon Centre is said to have all original 150 Pokémon plushies, though some of the ones I was looking for were sold out, though the staff were incredibly helpful and sweet, helping to find the original Japanese names for the English versions I knew to see if they had them in the stock room! I did catch myself a Weepinbell and Blastoise though. It was delightful and reconnected me with my childhood.
Pokémon Centre Shibuya
ポケモンセンターシブヤ, Japan, 〒150-8377 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawacho, 15−1 渋谷PARCO 6F
When we were in the area, I couldn’t resist visiting this Pokémon Centre too, they had some different merchandise and incredible models, including a huge model of Mewtwo in stasis, that was bigger than me.
Nintendo Shop
Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawacho, 15−1 渋谷PARCO 6F
We came across the Nintendo Shop by chance in Shibuya Parco Shopping Mall, after visiting the incredible vegan Izakaya – Izakaya Masaka, in the basement of this shopping centre and noticing the Pokémon Centre (see above!).
My childhood was filled with Nintendo, since we first got a SNES, and then Gameboys, playing Mario games, Legend of Zelda and having a great time. The Nintendo shop was loads of fun, it was a good job we only had hang luggage or I would have come back with a lot more. There were giant mushroom pillows, Zelda glassware, Zelda towels, clothing, stationary, plushies of all kinds of Nintendo characters. Lots of fun, loads of great gifts and unique items you won’t find in many places.
Takeshita Street, Harajuku
1 chome Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
On a rainy Friday we had a trip to the famous Takeshita Street, a pedestrianised street known for its colour, shops and known previously as a neighbourhood where teenagers who dressed in a fun, bright, artsy and various theatrical styles would congregate. I have heard that as the increase in tourists grew, the less possible it is for local fashionistas to hang out. It was incredibly busy, it was hard to get down the street, there were lots of incredible shops with theatrical clothes, and cute items.
Shinjuku
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−23−18 RF 東新宿ビル クロス
Shibuya has a lot going on, incredible nightlife, restaurants and shops. Amongst these, I couldn’t not mention my favourite billboard, just outside the station! A giant animated 3D cat can be seen, 3 stories tall, it meows, watches people on the street. Put together by Cross Shinjuku Vision. Make sure to go and find the kitty if you’re in the area!
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The Greedy Herbivore 