Pop Culture in Tokyo: A Walking Tour with Context

(14 reviews)

Tokyo audio tour: Pop Culture in Tokyo: A Walking Tour with Context

This is a 0.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Tokyo

Japan

$19.99

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About the Tour

In a megalopolis such as Tokyo, a city whose greater region has a population of over 37 million people, each neighborhood has a distinct character. But none are as intense as Akihabara, the city’s tech, gaming and anime capital. On this walking tour with Context tour guide and journalist Manami Okazaki, you’ll discover the myriad of shops and entertainment complexes that make up this fascinating
suburb.

Starting in front of Kenele Stand Akihabara Station, you’ll visit several locations that are representative of entire subcultures like Hello Kitty and military-themed manga. Manami will tell you all about the latest in cutting-edge tech trends, and the fantastical worlds portrayed in anime. You’ll also take a deep dive into the ways Japanese youth interact with technology.

Manami will point out stores selling figurines like Mandarake CoCoo which specializes in vintage and contemporary collectables, and Tamashii Nations Store where you’ll find sci-fi and robotic figurines. From the Namco Gaming Center to cosplay stores like COSPA and Hobby Square, this tour will put all these fascinating cultures in context and give you a glimpse of what it is like to be entertained in one of the world’s largest and densest cities.

As you make your way to Cafe MoCHA, a cat café where the tour ends, you’ll get a chance to:

Play a Rhythm game, a genre of video game that is focused on music-based activities such as dancing and playing instruments, like taiko no tatsujin and find out more about this particular gaming sub-genre
Step into K-Books, a store dedicated to virtual YouTubers and idols, on the 3rd floor of Radio Kaikan
Take in the economy of intimacy at Maidreamin, a popular maid café known for its playful companionship, and hear how it differs from sex work
Explore the difference between Otaku and Oshikatsu subcultures – the former being defined as geeks with intense passions for specific interests and the latter as being idol culture
Delve into the world of Doll Culture, which includes customizable and realistic cosplay dolls

By the end of this 75-minute tour, you’ll have a deeper appreciation of one of the most futuristic districts in Japan, and appreciate the latest in technology and pop culture trends.

Tour Producer

Context Travel

92 tours

Context was founded in Rome in 2003 by Paul Bennett and Lani Bevacqua an expat couple eager to curate experiences for travelers, not tourists. Since then Context has taken over 200,000 people to 60+ destinations around the world – accompanied by thousands of leading experts. What started as a dream to create cross-cultural connections is now a worldwide network and community of thoughtful, engaged travelers and experts.

Join a live private or small group tour in destinations around the world at contexttravel.com.

Preview Location

Location 16

Maidreamin Akihabara Electric Town

Once across the street, stop in front of Maidreamin.

There are maids from cafes all over Akihabara standing on the side of the road trying to hustle potential customers to their shops. Maid cafes are a phenomenon that has a significant presence in Tokyo. Nowadays many touri... Read More

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Major Landmarks

Japan
1-chōme-15-16 Sotokanda
Japan

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
1 Chome Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0028, Japan
Total distance

2km
Final location
Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 4-chōme−4−３秋葉原Silビル 2階
Distance back to start location

311.23m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the Atre 1 Exit of Akihabara JR train station. If you are coming by train, make sure you are on the JR line and take the exit to Atre 1. The first two stops are to the right of the exit once you leave the ticket gates.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you want a change in tone, drop by the Kanda Myojin Shrine around 10 minutes walk away from Akihabara station. Founded in 730. It is a resplendent oasis next to Akihabara. Due to its proximity to the electronics district, a lot of the talismans are anime themed.

Best time of day

Shops open from around 11 or noon, so this tour is best taken in the afternoon to dusk.

Precautions

During summer make sure you take a bottle of water and if possible a sun umbrella.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”