akihabara : Akihabara Live: Inside a Japanese Second Hand Electronics Store

Posted on Tue Oct 28, 05:03 by Niels, Travel Manager, Nederland
Home Page: http://www.shiranai.com
For me the biggest changes in Akiba were the closure of Yamagiwa and the buy-up of Softmap by Bic and the following creation of that monstrosity of a store on Chuo-dori.

I think Yodobashi was well enough out of the way to leave most of Akiba untouched.

Softmap used to be great for used media (Do you remember Softmap U-shop at the end of the small street, and U-shop 2? They had great deals on stuff.), grey market parts for your equipment and other not 100% official stuff.

Now they are just loud, nothing special but powerful, due to their Bic Camera connection.

This, and the facelift of JR Akiba to something modern instead of the run-down wreck it was, has done more to change Akiba from what it was then Yodobashi in the background has.

However, the main reason for stores like that closing in Akiba is the advance of internet shopping. You can buy most of that stuff on-line and cheaper then in those small shops.

Posted on Thu Oct 30, 03:30 by DrakeColdwinter, Web programmer, Quebec
Home Page: http://www.coldwinter.org
When I went to Akiba in 2004 I had the sensation of finding good deals in every corner and shop. Then I went back in march 2008, I had the sensation of having only brand stores and no big deals anywhere, still I got some good deals, but I feel I need to search them carefully.