Akihabara - Disappointing

This is supposed to be an electronic gadget lover’s paradise.

Perhaps in the past, but to Mike, not anymore. All the main multi-level stores seemed to cater to the ordinary foreign consumer with “tax-free” goods, but I think Frys has a better selection. We did not venutre down any of the alleys, where the offerings might have been more. Mike was expecting to see amateur radio stuff, tablets galore, cell phones, computers, and accessories.

Yes, some of the stores had these, but they were outnumbered by hundreds of earbud and headphones, rice cookers, and refrigerators. Then there were the prices. Amazon is your friend! Amazon has a wider selection, better prices, and will deliver to your door. Yes, Amazon is very big in Japan, too!

Several unexpected things: Sightings of Samsung goods is extremely rare. Cell phone stores also rare. Only tablets I saw with Stylii were Wacom and Apple. Not a single Japanese tablet with real stylus capability. Granted, Mike knows there are Japanese manufacturers of tablets and cell phones, but it was interesting to see them so rare. Samsung phones were available but limited to carrier offerings, like in the US. No unlocked SIM-free Samsung phones sold in the stores. Yes, we are aware that Samsung is a Korean company. 

Mike will say his goodbye to Akihabara, until he gets a tip as to where the real electronic gadget market is in Japan!