Akihabara, Yanaka, Electric Town

We started the day at another of those long narrow shopping streets, this time in Akihabara. This one wasn't roofed over, and it was like a long market with shops and stalls selling farm produce, meats, fish, octopus and other seafood, veggies, and fruits. There were the usual snackfood stalls. And lunch stalls with tables, counter space, chairs and stools where locals partake of rice and raw fish, squid, molluscs and such. It all looked interesting to try and probably taste good, but I had to give it a miss as I was recovering from the runs. Probably due to something uncooked or half-cooked that I had eaten in last few days.

Somehow, the market street became a row of shops under a train viaduct which was pretty cool. It wasn't like they were homeless shanties one sees in other developing countries. These were proper structures and you wouldn't know you were under the train tracks if not for the noise of the trains (which wasn't ear-shattering either). Click on the photo below to enlarge it and see if you can spot the fire hydrant. It's the tall thing with the round sign in the centre of the photo.



Lunch time found us outside a local shop for stand-up dining. How very lucky for us. This was something I had seen before on telly and a "must-try" when in Japan. The menu was a checkerboard of photographs of the dishes and prices.

Went inside and whoops! we had to place our orders in a machine, like a drink vending machine except that you get a little ticket with the item printed on it. A very helpful (so what's new?) staff member came and gave us the whole lowdown, from the chart outside the shop to the machine and even punched the correct buttons as there were no photos on the machine. The food was good, tastey and quite substantial for the price. It was fun.



A quick train ride and a short walk brought us to Yanaka Ginza Street which looked like nothing had changed since the Edo days; if you ignore the overhead electric cables. And they sold stuff that wasn't the usual touristy souveniers or such.





I had to take some shots of this 3-wheeler. It's not "fixed" and "stiff", you know, the relationship between the front and rear wheels. Heyyy, I didn't know they had 'the Carver' here in Japan, 'cause it really seemed so very like one. But then, why not? as isn't Japan the world's largest motorcycle producer. Most likely to be in the thick of Carver technology.



Check out the last two photos above; especially the shop (it's a restaurant) door. Had me wondering about the stepping stones obstructing the door.

The mini door curtain I discovered was called a 'noren'. Someone told me it ensures that one bows on entering the premises. I'm not sure if that's its true function.

A quick train ride - 2 or 3 stations - brought us to Electric Town, a "must visit" site when in Tokyo. Crowds of people everywhere as soon as you step out of the station. Leaflets, paper fans and tissue paper packs are handed to you wherever you turn. We collected a hoard of fans and tissue paper packs as they were useful items. Many tourists and locals requested for more fans, and were given them in the 10's.



There were lots of very pretty and cute young women selling shops and services and the men who were interested were whisked away by other equally atractive females. Here's one giving us the "V" sign.

There was this little miss (below) being interviewed and we didn't get what it was she was doing or selling or advertising. But she was a brave lassie. We watched her as we rode the escalator up in one of the many buildings selling tv's digital cameras, mp3 players, airconditioners, hi-fi home theatres, and all other stuff electronic. And mobile phones, of course.




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