There is usually some event happening in Akihbara (AKA, Akiba) on Sundays. Not to mention pedestrian hours in the afternoon which makes it easier to walk around in the popular tourist spot with the roads sealed off from traffic.

That's why I decided to reserve Sundays for walks in Akiba. While I was there, I thought I'd tour the spots featured in the Akiba Maid War, a gang wars Anime which I watched because of the hype. Turned out pretty good if you like old gang drama with the cliche but moving scenes.

Temps hit 33C today. Sun definitely felt hot. Thanks to pedestrian paradise hours, the pavements weren’t so crowded.

Blue Lock was having a fantasy themed collab with Atre.

Anyone who has been to Akiba will recognise the Electric City Exit at the station but the Atre shopping centre didn't exist yet in 1999.

Checked out the Onoden live cam spot too to see whether it was real time or not and indeed it was. Passed by a few other guys that were doing the same and waved, lol.

It also happens to be another one of the spots featured in Akiba Maid War when hobby store Volks was still housed in the red building. The building's demolishing began last year in 2025 and was fairly much gone now.

Another familiar spot. I doubt there's a single tourist who hasn't crossed the road from here.

Thought they had taken down the Apothecary Diaries ads but guess it just needed renewing.

Goodsmile had a popup store going in their usual spot including Nekopara, Dark Auction and Tokyo Revengers but wasn’t interesting in any of the works.

There was the Noujiru Yokocho Festival going on at Bellesalle which was a regular event apparently.

Look who turned up.

All that extra space to walk instead of the bustling pavements.

Archway still hasn’t changed much but I think I should be facing the opposite side where Tsukumo is visible.

These Japanese game themed Huzzles look great. They had more Pokeball varieties the last visit. Only the regular Pokeball puzzle left today.

I bought the Zelda Hylian Shield but it turned out to be more of an ornament than a puzzle because it barely has any parts to it at all; just a shield and the stand.

They're also cheaper on Amazon JP by over 1000 JPY.

Been a fan of Falcom's Trail series since Sky but I think it's stagnating a bit because of how long the story's been running for and re-using the exact same locations.

There was a corner dedicated to the merch and a display with all the characters of Falcom’s Kiseki series. What a huge cast!

Always saw this giant Sakura Miku in the walking tour videos of Akiba I watched at home. Thought it had gone but turns out it’s only out during the day. Can’t see someone bringing it back overseas.

Heard a lot of great things about Space Battleship Yamato (AKA Space Blazers) so I ended up watching the remake. Really enjoyed it. Haven't started the latest entry 3199 yet because it hasn't finished. Pretty confusing how they screen a few episodes at the cinemas first before a disc release.

Part 6 (episodes 19 - 22) will feature the modern day Skytree it seems. Will be interesting how modern day Tokyo fits into it.

I was hoping to find a gacha machine with store or station signs that light up but haven’t had any luck.

Saw a video where someone got train line ones at Gachapon Kaikan so thought I'd pop by to see if there were any there. The owner is basically just using gacha machines to attract attention for the rental shelf displays inside… Not a bad idea.

Again, no luck in the end.

First time dropping into this Tokyo Figures display corner. A lot of “pretty women” figures but there was a 1/4 scale "Street Style" Miku by Mai Yoneyama.

Whole Evangelion gang in Radio Eva casual wear too at 1/7 scale.

I liked the detail on the food on this 1/7 Grand Order, Saber Alternative Bunny Girl figure. Still prefer the original Saber in her blue knight armour yielding Excalibur of course for her honourable, dependable character.

Been meaning to visit the Hanabusa Shrine when I learned about it. It's not one you would easily come across while just strolling around like most in Japan because it's hidden away, wedged between buildings.

I’m not quite sure what the story is behind the cheap alcohol (kind Kikuri from Bocchi drinks) being offered here but I’ve been seeing it posted a lot on social media.

Apparently it's common to offer alcohol to the gods.

Even the Madarake area is lined with maids now.

Never watched the Card Captor Sakura series but I think it was one of the earliest Anime shows to make it on terrestrial British TV.

Special mini pop-up corner for the Gridman Universe girls at Volks hobby store. Place is fairly much my favourite place for scale figures because they have a lot of rare figures stocked in store whereas Amiami just has them on display mostly.

Caught another ad for the Steins;gate orchestral concert featuring Faris.

Turns out something else was going in the Crossfield area. Chinese games taking up more and more of the Japanese mobile gaming market. In this case, Punishing: Grey Raven. There were two cosplayers present and there wasn’t a no photos sign but, guess I’ll leave them out.

Didn't see any photos prohibited signs so that was good.

Lovely sunset from Mansei Bridge, another Akiba Maid War spot.

Quieter on this end of tourist spot Akiba.

No maids complaining about photos and lighting was giving quite the vibes.

Turns out the crystal lamp and mini vinyl keyrings weren’t hard to get after all so I could have just left it until after my tour…

Animate had a floor dedicated to SE merch and they were part of it.

Looks like McD still doing those transformer toys. At least in Japan anyway...

Tonight’s ads on the other side of the station.

Feels like Akiba is where all the mischievous youths hang out during the evening then all the loud drivers in their flashy cars at night. Geek heaven slowly deteriorating.