Overview
Go directly to the center of Japanese trends, both fashion and anime.
You cannot help but notice the contrast between the young and the old in Tokyo. Though not all the those who are members of the older generation are illiterate to the new world of pop culture, and it is true that not every person under the age of 30 is immersed in anime and manga, but the involvement is clear as you walk the streets.
Begin this tour with your guide using public transportation, in itself a novelty for those not used to the discipline of this country. You will begin at one of 3 of Tokyo's centers of youth fashion and pop culture by arriving in Shibuya. This is the main center for youth fashion and culture, whose streets are the birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends.
It is home to the celebrated 5 way "scramble crossing". It is comparable to a happening, where the area is packed with shoppers, students, young couples and commuters. When the lights turn red at this busy junction, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. Traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides, like marbles spilling out of a box.
Next is Harajuku and the famous Takeshita, also called Cat Street. Whether you are a goth, punk or anything in between, there is a shop in Harajuku that will cater to whatever you are looking for. And even if this is not your thing, it is an entertaining walk and you will be inconspicuous only in the fact that no one cares what you look like here.
Third on the list is Akihabara, made famous for its many electronics shops. This is also known as Electric Town, it has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku culture. Otaku is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly the anime and manga fandom. Now many of the shops that are devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in this district, and as you walk through the area, you will easily target those that will be your favorites.
End the afternoon with a cup of coffee or tea in one of Tokyo's famous maid cafes where the waitresses dress up and act like maids. They expect you to want a photograph with them and will comply as part of the tour.
- This tour is a walking tour and using public transportation to move from district to district.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 01:30 PM, duration: 4 hours
