I'll help a bit with answers, just from the very little I know... I collect figures and I spent a few days in Akiba (close to 20 days in Japan) back in early 2018. On figures, you'll find mainly two things: very popular mainstream series (like DBZ, One Piece, Naruto, the most popular Ghibli movies, etc) by the droves on the secondhand stores, or newer popular series from up to a year or a few seasons ago - the regular timeframe for figures to come out. This is valid for anime and games. You CAN find more obscure series and unusual figures if you look hard enough, but expect the vast vast majority of it to be the more mainstream stuff. If you have very specific stuff in mind, you gotta go deep into these stores... xD I can't remember the names exactly, but I went to at least 3 or 4 different stores of the type that has acrylic rental boxes... all very well organized. The system and prices between the shops are kinda the same, but that only means you can find a wide range of prices depending on seller and condition of figure, which varies quite a lot. There isn't a real standard there, those are rental boxes, so the seller sets the price. But you know, sellers have to pay for the box, so they will put good prices and sometimes overembelish boxes to attract buyers. xD Thing is, in Akiba those are really aimed at tourists, which these stores are often packed of, so the prices go up accordingly. People are rushing through these stores with only one day to get stuff... At least half the stuff I bought I saw in more than one place or box, and some of them I paid half of the price I saw elsewhere. Be aware of that. Mind you, depending on what country you are from, the anime you might think is super popular might not be in Japan, and the ones you never heard of or thought was obscure might be super popular there. Rare figures, the stuff that went into production and was immediately sold out upon release and every re-release... that will be way harder to find, and it will be priced accordingly. Event exclusives, figures that are highly sought out, and stuff like that are both hard to find and expensive as heck. I personally scoured figure shops in Akiba for almost 3 days, from secondhand stores to new figure stores. I had a very long lose list of things that I was looking for (mainly figures from anime of the early 2000s up to 2010), I found almost nothing of it and the ones I found were ridiculously expensive - but on the other hand I found lots of figures from titles I liked and wasn't looking for specifically... so, you know, fruitful one way or the other. xD You should not expect for figures to be super cheap because they are secondhand... they are cheaper, but not by all that much, save rare exceptions. And you should always be prepared and check the conditions of them... sometimes they'll be missing parts, be scuffed, come without a base plate and stuff like that. But staff will always ask you to see for yourself and give the ok. They don't sell outright broken stuff, fake crap, or figures that are in too bad a condition though as far as I've seen. Few specifics out of tip of tongue... I think I looked for a very famous Palmtop Tiger ToraDora figure... I did find it, but it was some 3x or more the price of release. I tried finding a blue metal Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell... that one I think I plain couldn't find. Friend of mine asked to look for Kei on bike from Akira... I found multiple versions and they were all too expensive, so no go. I looked for the 1st penguim set from Mawaru Penguindrum, couldn't find it specifically, but I did find a chibi Nendo of the Princess of the Crystal Himari form (IMAAGINE), and it wasn't super expensive, so I got that. Also looked for some of the original Touhou Yukkuri Shitte Itte ne plushies... no such luck. There's more, but I'd have to look back at photos to remember. :P Hope that helps.
What you said helps so much you don't even know. Do you think it's be hard to find evangelion figures? I'm planning to go to japan in 2021 and I'm quite nervous about figure shopping now because I might not find the eva 01 figure that I've been dreaming about.
Cakes with Faces yeah they totally are helpful & useful! I have a full list going based off of recommendations from ur videos on my phone for my Japan trip!
Having no benches drove me insane! In England I'd just end up sitting on the floor but in Japan it would have felt rude! No wonder most people in Japan seem healthy :/ My feet were so bad
Exactly! There are so many spaces along the side of the road in Akiba where there's perfect space for benches too... Especially when I end up walking 10 miles a day exploring everywhere!
The vegetarian curry looks so delicious. Chunks of potatoes, yes! I just love your blue skirt, too. I miss Akihabara....It has been years since I was there last.
I've always enjoyed going to Akiba over the years apart from when I went there back in April 2018. As I was walking through one of the busy side streets, a Japanese man came up to me and started chatting in perfect English about where I came from and what I was doing in Tokyo. Far from being an innocent encounter, I had an inkling that something was up with this man as he had a friend looking out for Western tourists in the crowd. After a while his mobile phone came out and he started showing me pictures of teenage girls that I could buy for a couple of hours to have some 'fun' with if you know what I'm saying! I was walking away as soon as I saw the pictures of the girls and I've always felt since that it's somewhat tarnished my image of the area but it won't stop me from going back to Akiba the next time I'm in Tokyo.
I think there are occasions when people prey on foreign tourists in other areas too, like Harajuku and definitely in Kabukicho. The good thing is that you could sense something was up - and the vast majority of people are honest and not trying to push their dodgy schemes on you! Hope you can still enjoy Akiba - there's far more good stuff than bad!
Making a list for the next visit. Had to spend a whole day statue hunting for friends in the rain. Nakano didn't work out too well for me compared to RadioKaiken. Kotobukiya was funner than I thought especially when I found the Danboard display Edit: So for the Monster Hunter boxes, they are blind boxes with 7 figures, and each figure comes with a translucent piece of one of the statues. So in essence you need to somehow acquire all 7 figures to make the translucent figure.
Nakano can go either way - because a lot of the stores are secondhand, you never know what's going to be in them! Radio Kaikan's great - when I first went I didn't even realise it had so many upper floors! :-)
nakano broadway is awesome. I bought most of my figures there (about 10-20% cheaper than akiba if you look long enough) when I went for the first time. You can't find the most recent ones though.
It's the best place for actually buying figures! Cheaper than DenDen Town too I think. I found some great bargains in Hobby Off recently too (prize figures with boxes for 380 yen!!) :-)
I love your channel :) I am vegetarian too and so want to visit Japan one day - your vlog is helping me to prepare for the trip of my dream - especially where to eat when you are vegetarian!! It looks like you travel very often to Japan :) Can you tell us please how much does it cost you, how do you manage to cover all the expenses, any tips for cheaper flights or hotels in Tokyo? And where do you usually stay? Which way is the best to get there, what airport in UK/Japan to choose and what airlines? Arigatou gozaimasu!! :)
Thanks! :-) It probably looks like I go more than I actually do, I just film a lot! :-) Flights: Wait for sales, save up airmiles (I got flights on airmiles by saving up Tesco points & from my credit card). For two people from the UK they'll be £900 - £1400 total depending when you go and what deals you can find. You can get slightly lower but they usually have long stopovers. Look on Skyscanner to find the cheapest, and sign up to airline's mailing lists to hear about sales. Indirect flights are usually cheaper than direct. Haneda is closer to the city than Narita but I'd go to whichever has the cheapest flights. Hotels: £60-£80 a night. Hostels/capsule hotels/airbnb will be cheaper (check reviews for airbnb though as they're not always reliable in Japan - lots got cancelled last year). I recommend staying in Shinjuku as you're in the middle of everything! :-) They're the biggest expenses. Once you're there, food and transport aren't that bad. Food's cheaper than the UK - and better quality! This should give you an idea for spending money: th-cam.com/video/0kkHrTQsi44/w-d-xo.html Hope that helps! :-)
Oh I love these videos :) I think that I might be in danger of being a collector as I physically winced when he damaged the 2nd box in opening it lol :)
When you mentioned the lack of seating about the place, it made me wonder: what do you think Japan would be like for disabled, particularly in a wheelchair?
People in wheelchairs will have certain disadvantages that can't be helped. However, service is very strong, and crime is very low. So to sort of explain that in practice: Old temples, castles, etc- some have been renovated with elevators, but for the most part, you're out of luck. Since space is at a premium, a lot of mom and pop style shops will not really be wheelchair accessible- everything is crammed into shelves with tight aisles- and there's often a 2nd or 3rd floor with no elevator. In terms of train systems and such, there will be access, and you can arrange with staff to help you actually board and exit the train. Similarly, the tourist or traditional places that can reasonably accommodate wheelchairs will provide good service. So as a bit of an analogy, a wheelchair can travel pretty well within the arteries, but will run into a bit more trouble at the capillary level. Historical stuff aside, at the national or city level they try to accommodate, but most shops and stuff can't really justify making things convenient just for that when they already have so little space. However, again, the basic courtesy of Japanese people, the cleanliness, and overall safety should mean it's still pleasant. You can expect earnest help, and to not have the handicap be taken advantage of.
There are a lot of steps - but there often lifts if you know where to find them. You'd probably need to look out for signs etc - eg in a station not all the routes will be accessible but at least one of them will be. I've seen platform attendants waiting with ramps to help people off the train. A lot of small shops and restaurants are quite cramped so that might be difficult sometimes - but yes, staff are very helpful and customer service is excellent.
I've watched a lot of your videos recently and think it's amazing that you get to travel to Japan so often and get enjoy all these incredible places! I just wonder how you are able to afford such an amazing lifestyle? Like what kind of jobs do you guys have?
Thanks for watching my videos, hope you've enjoyed them! I'm a designer, my job is Cakes with Faces (it's just me on my own!) :-) It probably looks like I go to Japan a lot more than I do, I go once a year at the most but I film a lot when I'm there, because I want to show you guys everything!! I save up everything I can to go, and try not to spend anything I don't have to in everyday life - I don't go out much and don't buy anything unless I 100% need it.
Love your videos! They have been so helpful and fun to watch. :) My husband and I are going to Tokyo mainly to hunt for figures and model kits, and we’re trying to decide how much of our trip to dedicate to Akihabara. How long do you think it would take to hit most of the major stores (assuming we’re ignoring the manga and gaming stuff)?
Thanks so much! :-) I'd recommend a day in Akihabara if you have time (you'll probably want a quick trip back at the end if you have time and cash left over!). The shops stay open pretty late. And a half day at Nakano Broadway if you can - it's cheaper than Akihabara. Check Yodobashi Camera for model kits too - there's one by Akihabara Station, it's an amazing (huge!) shop - you won't believe it!
Cakes with Faces I’m actually going to be in Tokyo but for only a few hours stuck in an airport 😭😭 for a layover each way between US and Vietnam in a couple weeks. Hoping there are some anime shops in the airports
@@kevinh4910 How frustrating! :-) You might find a couple of things - one shop had an Akihabara display I think. And you'll definitely find Japanese Kitkats and some snacks!
Say if I was looking for a specific figure, would I be able to tell the shop assistant what specifically I'm looking for with a picture and will they be able to guide me to it? Or is it more of a literal hunting where they won't know a thing so good luck on getting info. I'm staying in Akihabara in June but I can't really walk around too much. I would love to get a specific figure I'm looking for!
I've always just gone hunting (usually there's no way of knowing if a shop will have a particular figure in stock) but you could try showing them a pic on your phone!
Bit of an off topic question, how much Japanese would I need to speak to get around well? I want to go on vacation, but didn't know how much I should speak the language or if they would find it offensive for a tourist to try too hard to speak the language. I especially wouldn't want to mispronounce something and say something offensive
My boyfriend speaks no Japanese and in Tokyo he was fine. If you're in the main tourist cities, I'm sure you're fine. I tried speaking some Japanese but since I'm not confident, they ended up speaking to me in english anyway! Just take photos of things you want to order/ask about and do gestures and it should be good. As long as you know how to say thank you, and maybe excuse me, then you should be OK. Some cafes don't speak english but they try their absolute hardest and you kinda get the gist of things. Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine - exactly! :-) It's amazing how much you can communicate with gestures. No one will find it rude if you stumble through some Japanese - just learn yes, no, this please, thank you (and sorry!! ). Most places have English menus and all the signs in the stations etc are in English as well as Japanese. I have exactly the same experience of most people speaking English back to me even if I speak Japanese.
i think u could learn stuff like directions (left, right, straight, where is this etc.) if u're lost. Also "can i take a picture" and toilet related questions :D couple shopping related questions... and the most important... sumimasen & arigatougozaimasu/shita.
Agree on all comments. Once you figure out where to look for the English, especially for trains, you'll feel so natural. Going to a new town might take a minute to get use to, but simple phrases are the best to go.
Ooh how exciting! There's so much - depends what you're interested in but for me: Akihabara and Harajuku (visit Togo Shrine by Takeshita Street, it's lovely!), Shinjuku at night and I really enjoyed the Digital Art Museum (TeamLabs Borderless) - really different and fun. (Book tickets on your phone before you go and avoid the weekend if you can). And try all the food you can! Especially if you see a bakery - everything's so good!
@@cakeswithfaces Ahhh, thank you so much! :) We're going to Harajuku tomorrow so we'll definitely check it out! We've only been here two days but I feel like we're eating everything in sight! Only problem is, we cant seem to find any chewable antacids similar to Rennie in the UK. Just powders and tablets unfortunately. Anyway, thank you for the advice, we really appreciate it and your videos! Cheers!
How do you film in some of these places? Do you ask permission first or do you stealth film? And how do you ask permission if you do? Is there a way to ask without knowing any Japanese?
I don't ask for permission but I never film when there's a no cameras sign or obviously if someone asks me not to. I try and be mindful - I know what it's like on my stall when people take pictures but don't buy anything. In arcades they usually don't mind you film each other playing, but not if you're filming generally or if other customers could be in it - obviously it puts people off and the last thing I want is to make people uncomfortable!
Zakas are more popular, but 48 groups are still doing fine. But, I can't help you with the cafe. I went to AntaDare a few times, but that was sponsored by an Internet TV service that ended, so the program ended too. And while that used the same room as the "theater cafe" section (another section is more traditional cafe), it didn't really feel like you actually in the cafe while you were in there for AnDare. If you're going, how about actually applying for the theater? Even if you lose all those applications, there are still fun idol shows in Akihabara every single day (Shibuya/Shinjuku most days as well). If that's to your interest, it can be a lot of fun. While many are like 3000+ yen, they're sometimes free, and there are often many options in the 1000 yen + 500-600 yen drink fee range.
It depends a lot on where you're from, but 1400 USD is good for maybe 8 days if you're going alone, just to Tokyo, and willing to "rough it" a bit (eg, use hostels). Wait for flight prices and when it's a big sale, pull the trigger. To get the cheap flight you'll prrooobably be about 4-9 months out. And so while you already enough for the 8 days, having the ticket bought will give you the impetus to penny pinch a little more to give you s bit more spending money.
@@redfish337 Let me clarify. $1,400 is all the money i have total. Not just the money I have saved up for Japan. After 10 years of trying to save up, Real Life keeps finding ways to force me to spend money on something else like an emergency or something. When I go to Japan I want to stay in a Hotel, not a Hostel. I've heard nightmare stories of people have their stuff stolen by other people staying at the same Hostel. The Capsule Hotels would be acceptable since they are cheap side. If I go to Japan I mainly want to stay in the Akihabara area because i want to splurge on anime stuff. But I would also like to go see Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya. and Roppongi. What is really going to kill me though is the round trip plane ticket which is going to cost upwards of $1500-$2000 alone.
@@hudsonball4702 Only you know your own situation. My assertion is simply that for most people, the idea of going to Japan is a bigger hurdle than actually going. 2020 is going to suck because of the Olympics. So, 2021. 750 days until cherry blossoms of 2021. Commit to it. Set aside a piggy bank just for Japan. Make it happen. That's my encouragement. Also, I highly doubt 1500-2000 is the sale price. Go when it's on sale.
Depends on your preference but I always take wheelie suitcases. For me, I wouldn't be able to fit everything in a backpack! :-) There's enough space on the shinkansen for a suitcase by your knees, or if you're quick there are spaces at the end of the carriage for them. You can see it in this vid: th-cam.com/video/89_tv2LpitM/w-d-xo.html
@@cakeswithfaces Thank you! I was worried it might be a bit like Vietnam/Laos where it is easier to travel around with a backpack. And the video was super helpful.
@@happygoblin101 Thanks! There are a few posters on the subway about taking off your backpack so you don't hit people in the face with it (!) so a suitcase might be best! :-)
If you can get everything into a regular school size backpack + a large "personal item" then that's great. Though even then I'd suggest taking a super small wheelie one just so you don't actually have to haul everything on you, but let the ground do some of the work for you. The key point here, is lockers. If you can fit enough into a small 300-500 yen locker at a train station to make walking around comfortable, you greatly increase your mobility since you won't have to always dump your luggage immediately at your lodging when you get to a new place. Large "backpacker" style backpacks are not used in the big cities. I would not recommend them. Even if you can maneuver with them in the tiny stores and aisles, I think they're seen as a bit of a nuisance.
..hey how are you? any luck with the UFO catcher?..it sure looks windy out there..2nd hand figures are the one sold without their boxes right? i can never imagine selling my figures..:-)
Still not won any figures but we got some small plushies - and some Dars chocolate! :-) Yes the secondhand ones usually come without boxes - they're usually in perfect condition though so I'm happy to get a bargain!
@@cakeswithfaces ..yes the plushies are cute..the snail was one of a kind..old figures are..i guess priced a bit higher since they are almost hard to find..
All the cabinets are numbered. Sometimes they have slips of paper around, so you can write the number of the cabinets and hand it in at the counter. Otherwise, you go up to the counter and take the shop assistant to the cabinet, and they get the figures out for you. Then you pay as normal at the till. Hope that helps! :-)
There are lots of them in Akihabara, and also Nakano Broadway. Most of them have glass cabinets that people rent and sell their old figures. Even though they're secondhand, most of them are in absolutely perfect, as-new condition. You can also find secondhand figures in a shop called Hobby Off (branches all around Japan). You can see lots of them in my Akihabara tour video: th-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/w-d-xo.html
If figures have ever been made, there's always a chance you'll find them in the secondhand stores in Akihabara or Nakano Broadway. There really is a HUGE choice!
@@creepydreams1303 No need to apologise! :-) The selection varies - it's so much fun to go figure hunting and there's always a chance you'll find that one rare figure you've been looking for. :-)
The regular curry sauce isn't but they have a separate vegetarian menu, yay! It's only at 10% of stores (there's a list on my blog of the ones that have it)
Akihabara is my favourite place in Tokyo. Can't wait to go back. Love all your videos
It really is like nowhere else! :-)
I'll help a bit with answers, just from the very little I know... I collect figures and I spent a few days in Akiba (close to 20 days in Japan) back in early 2018.
On figures, you'll find mainly two things: very popular mainstream series (like DBZ, One Piece, Naruto, the most popular Ghibli movies, etc) by the droves on the secondhand stores, or newer popular series from up to a year or a few seasons ago - the regular timeframe for figures to come out.
This is valid for anime and games.
You CAN find more obscure series and unusual figures if you look hard enough, but expect the vast vast majority of it to be the more mainstream stuff. If you have very specific stuff in mind, you gotta go deep into these stores... xD I can't remember the names exactly, but I went to at least 3 or 4 different stores of the type that has acrylic rental boxes... all very well organized.
The system and prices between the shops are kinda the same, but that only means you can find a wide range of prices depending on seller and condition of figure, which varies quite a lot.
There isn't a real standard there, those are rental boxes, so the seller sets the price. But you know, sellers have to pay for the box, so they will put good prices and sometimes overembelish boxes to attract buyers. xD
Thing is, in Akiba those are really aimed at tourists, which these stores are often packed of, so the prices go up accordingly. People are rushing through these stores with only one day to get stuff...
At least half the stuff I bought I saw in more than one place or box, and some of them I paid half of the price I saw elsewhere. Be aware of that.
Mind you, depending on what country you are from, the anime you might think is super popular might not be in Japan, and the ones you never heard of or thought was obscure might be super popular there.
Rare figures, the stuff that went into production and was immediately sold out upon release and every re-release... that will be way harder to find, and it will be priced accordingly. Event exclusives, figures that are highly sought out, and stuff like that are both hard to find and expensive as heck.
I personally scoured figure shops in Akiba for almost 3 days, from secondhand stores to new figure stores. I had a very long lose list of things that I was looking for (mainly figures from anime of the early 2000s up to 2010), I found almost nothing of it and the ones I found were ridiculously expensive - but on the other hand I found lots of figures from titles I liked and wasn't looking for specifically... so, you know, fruitful one way or the other. xD
You should not expect for figures to be super cheap because they are secondhand... they are cheaper, but not by all that much, save rare exceptions. And you should always be prepared and check the conditions of them... sometimes they'll be missing parts, be scuffed, come without a base plate and stuff like that. But staff will always ask you to see for yourself and give the ok. They don't sell outright broken stuff, fake crap, or figures that are in too bad a condition though as far as I've seen.
Few specifics out of tip of tongue... I think I looked for a very famous Palmtop Tiger ToraDora figure... I did find it, but it was some 3x or more the price of release. I tried finding a blue metal Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell... that one I think I plain couldn't find. Friend of mine asked to look for Kei on bike from Akira... I found multiple versions and they were all too expensive, so no go. I looked for the 1st penguim set from Mawaru Penguindrum, couldn't find it specifically, but I did find a chibi Nendo of the Princess of the Crystal Himari form (IMAAGINE), and it wasn't super expensive, so I got that. Also looked for some of the original Touhou Yukkuri Shitte Itte ne plushies... no such luck.
There's more, but I'd have to look back at photos to remember. :P
Hope that helps.
What you said helps so much you don't even know.
Do you think it's be hard to find evangelion figures? I'm planning to go to japan in 2021 and I'm quite nervous about figure shopping now because I might not find the eva 01 figure that I've been dreaming about.
How Bizarre to que to wish a character Happy Birthday, I enjoy watching your vlogs 👍🏻
I've seen the birthday message displays before but not people queuing up! :-) Thanks!
@@cakeswithfaces another great video.how often do you travel to Japan.
@@hanzohattori2492 Thanks! I save up and go whenever I can - not more than once a year as my holiday (I just film a lot!)
@@cakeswithfaces ah I see...and thanks for the reply amy. 👍
Your hair is magical.
Aww thank you!! *swish*
So glad I discovered your channel so clear and detailed, I’m going to akinhabara soon can’t wait to go to Tokyo many thanks and hugs from uk😋
Yay, you must be so excited! Thanks, I'm sure you'll love it!! :-)
Cakes with Faces thanks very excited, thanks for your reply and fabulous videos, have a great weekend 😀
You have the best videos! The way you speak & explain everything in detail is much appreciated!
Thanks so much! I try and make them fun but also useful! :-) Always want them to be better :-)
Cakes with Faces yeah they totally are helpful & useful! I have a full list going based off of recommendations from ur videos on my phone for my Japan trip!
Having no benches drove me insane! In England I'd just end up sitting on the floor but in Japan it would have felt rude! No wonder most people in Japan seem healthy :/ My feet were so bad
Exactly! There are so many spaces along the side of the road in Akiba where there's perfect space for benches too... Especially when I end up walking 10 miles a day exploring everywhere!
The vegetarian curry looks so delicious. Chunks of potatoes, yes! I just love your blue skirt, too. I miss Akihabara....It has been years since I was there last.
Thanks, I made the skirt! (and the same one in pink too) :-) Coco Curry's so good - can't wait to try the one in London and compare! :-)
I've always enjoyed going to Akiba over the years apart from when I went there back in April 2018. As I was walking through one of the busy side streets, a Japanese man came up to me and started chatting in perfect English about where I came from and what I was doing in Tokyo. Far from being an innocent encounter, I had an inkling that something was up with this man as he had a friend looking out for Western tourists in the crowd. After a while his mobile phone came out and he started showing me pictures of teenage girls that I could buy for a couple of hours to have some 'fun' with if you know what I'm saying! I was walking away as soon as I saw the pictures of the girls and I've always felt since that it's somewhat tarnished my image of the area but it won't stop me from going back to Akiba the next time I'm in Tokyo.
I think there are occasions when people prey on foreign tourists in other areas too, like Harajuku and definitely in Kabukicho. The good thing is that you could sense something was up - and the vast majority of people are honest and not trying to push their dodgy schemes on you! Hope you can still enjoy Akiba - there's far more good stuff than bad!
Didn’t get to go to akihabara but look a lot of fun thanks for the video. And birthday wishes to anime characters 🤣🤣 love japan ❤️ 👍🇬🇧🏴
Amazing isn't it! Not the first time I've seen one of those displays (not seen a queue for their birthday before though!!) :-)
Making a list for the next visit. Had to spend a whole day statue hunting for friends in the rain. Nakano didn't work out too well for me compared to RadioKaiken. Kotobukiya was funner than I thought especially when I found the Danboard display
Edit: So for the Monster Hunter boxes, they are blind boxes with 7 figures, and each figure comes with a translucent piece of one of the statues. So in essence you need to somehow acquire all 7 figures to make the translucent figure.
Nakano can go either way - because a lot of the stores are secondhand, you never know what's going to be in them! Radio Kaikan's great - when I first went I didn't even realise it had so many upper floors! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces And each shop is similar but so different. It's way I was able to spend so much time there
nakano broadway is awesome. I bought most of my figures there (about 10-20% cheaper than akiba if you look long enough) when I went for the first time. You can't find the most recent ones though.
It's the best place for actually buying figures! Cheaper than DenDen Town too I think. I found some great bargains in Hobby Off recently too (prize figures with boxes for 380 yen!!) :-)
I love your Japan vlogs! I’m going in November and I’m so excited to see all these places. I also love your colorful hair 👌
Thanks so much! Still time for lots of Japlanning! You might catch the autumn colours in November :-)
I love your channel :) I am vegetarian too and so want to visit Japan one day - your vlog is helping me to prepare for the trip of my dream - especially where to eat when you are vegetarian!! It looks like you travel very often to Japan :) Can you tell us please how much does it cost you, how do you manage to cover all the expenses, any tips for cheaper flights or hotels in Tokyo? And where do you usually stay? Which way is the best to get there, what airport in UK/Japan to choose and what airlines? Arigatou gozaimasu!! :)
Thanks! :-) It probably looks like I go more than I actually do, I just film a lot! :-)
Flights: Wait for sales, save up airmiles (I got flights on airmiles by saving up Tesco points & from my credit card). For two people from the UK they'll be £900 - £1400 total depending when you go and what deals you can find. You can get slightly lower but they usually have long stopovers. Look on Skyscanner to find the cheapest, and sign up to airline's mailing lists to hear about sales. Indirect flights are usually cheaper than direct. Haneda is closer to the city than Narita but I'd go to whichever has the cheapest flights.
Hotels: £60-£80 a night. Hostels/capsule hotels/airbnb will be cheaper (check reviews for airbnb though as they're not always reliable in Japan - lots got cancelled last year). I recommend staying in Shinjuku as you're in the middle of everything! :-)
They're the biggest expenses. Once you're there, food and transport aren't that bad. Food's cheaper than the UK - and better quality! This should give you an idea for spending money: th-cam.com/video/0kkHrTQsi44/w-d-xo.html
Hope that helps! :-)
Oh I love these videos :) I think that I might be in danger of being a collector as I physically winced when he damaged the 2nd box in opening it lol :)
Better not tell you I sometimes throw the boxes out to fit everything in my suitcase...! 🙊
Awesome! I think I got a home run curry there with everything in it. Can’t wait to go next week 😬
Sounds excellent! Enjoy! When I was there recently they had the winter menu with soup curry, yum!
Awesome. Will be in Tokyo in two weeks.
Ooh not long to go!! Have an amazing time!!
Absolutely love the videos! I might buy a pin soon too!
Yay thank you! :-)
When you mentioned the lack of seating about the place, it made me wonder: what do you think Japan would be like for disabled, particularly in a wheelchair?
People in wheelchairs will have certain disadvantages that can't be helped.
However, service is very strong, and crime is very low.
So to sort of explain that in practice:
Old temples, castles, etc- some have been renovated with elevators, but for the most part, you're out of luck.
Since space is at a premium, a lot of mom and pop style shops will not really be wheelchair accessible- everything is crammed into shelves with tight aisles- and there's often a 2nd or 3rd floor with no elevator.
In terms of train systems and such, there will be access, and you can arrange with staff to help you actually board and exit the train. Similarly, the tourist or traditional places that can reasonably accommodate wheelchairs will provide good service.
So as a bit of an analogy, a wheelchair can travel pretty well within the arteries, but will run into a bit more trouble at the capillary level. Historical stuff aside, at the national or city level they try to accommodate, but most shops and stuff can't really justify making things convenient just for that when they already have so little space.
However, again, the basic courtesy of Japanese people, the cleanliness, and overall safety should mean it's still pleasant. You can expect earnest help, and to not have the handicap be taken advantage of.
There are a lot of steps - but there often lifts if you know where to find them. You'd probably need to look out for signs etc - eg in a station not all the routes will be accessible but at least one of them will be. I've seen platform attendants waiting with ramps to help people off the train. A lot of small shops and restaurants are quite cramped so that might be difficult sometimes - but yes, staff are very helpful and customer service is excellent.
I've watched a lot of your videos recently and think it's amazing that you get to travel to Japan so often and get enjoy all these incredible places! I just wonder how you are able to afford such an amazing lifestyle? Like what kind of jobs do you guys have?
Thanks for watching my videos, hope you've enjoyed them! I'm a designer, my job is Cakes with Faces (it's just me on my own!) :-) It probably looks like I go to Japan a lot more than I do, I go once a year at the most but I film a lot when I'm there, because I want to show you guys everything!! I save up everything I can to go, and try not to spend anything I don't have to in everyday life - I don't go out much and don't buy anything unless I 100% need it.
Love your videos! They have been so helpful and fun to watch. :) My husband and I are going to Tokyo mainly to hunt for figures and model kits, and we’re trying to decide how much of our trip to dedicate to Akihabara. How long do you think it would take to hit most of the major stores (assuming we’re ignoring the manga and gaming stuff)?
Thanks so much! :-) I'd recommend a day in Akihabara if you have time (you'll probably want a quick trip back at the end if you have time and cash left over!). The shops stay open pretty late. And a half day at Nakano Broadway if you can - it's cheaper than Akihabara. Check Yodobashi Camera for model kits too - there's one by Akihabara Station, it's an amazing (huge!) shop - you won't believe it!
You've just got a new subscriber ♥ 🇯🇵 ☺
Yay, thank you! Welcome to my channel & enjoy the videos!! :-)
Omg It Looks Delicious
Guessing you mean the Coco Curry, not the figures... or the Anganath...! 😂 Yes, Coco Curry is the BEST! :-)
I feel like Den Den town was cheaper but I also might have got lucky because I found a ton of second hand figures I wanted as cheap as 300 yen.
Good find! I got some great bargains at Book Off recently for about that much too! :-)
Damn...... this is my dream to visit this place even for one day
Hope you can make it there one day! (You’ll definitely love it)
Cakes with Faces I’m actually going to be in Tokyo but for only a few hours stuck in an airport 😭😭 for a layover each way between US and Vietnam in a couple weeks. Hoping there are some anime shops in the airports
@@kevinh4910 How frustrating! :-) You might find a couple of things - one shop had an Akihabara display I think. And you'll definitely find Japanese Kitkats and some snacks!
Say if I was looking for a specific figure, would I be able to tell the shop assistant what specifically I'm looking for with a picture and will they be able to guide me to it? Or is it more of a literal hunting where they won't know a thing so good luck on getting info. I'm staying in Akihabara in June but I can't really walk around too much. I would love to get a specific figure I'm looking for!
I've always just gone hunting (usually there's no way of knowing if a shop will have a particular figure in stock) but you could try showing them a pic on your phone!
Bit of an off topic question, how much Japanese would I need to speak to get around well? I want to go on vacation, but didn't know how much I should speak the language or if they would find it offensive for a tourist to try too hard to speak the language. I especially wouldn't want to mispronounce something and say something offensive
My boyfriend speaks no Japanese and in Tokyo he was fine. If you're in the main tourist cities, I'm sure you're fine. I tried speaking some Japanese but since I'm not confident, they ended up speaking to me in english anyway! Just take photos of things you want to order/ask about and do gestures and it should be good. As long as you know how to say thank you, and maybe excuse me, then you should be OK. Some cafes don't speak english but they try their absolute hardest and you kinda get the gist of things. Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine - exactly! :-) It's amazing how much you can communicate with gestures. No one will find it rude if you stumble through some Japanese - just learn yes, no, this please, thank you (and sorry!! ). Most places have English menus and all the signs in the stations etc are in English as well as Japanese. I have exactly the same experience of most people speaking English back to me even if I speak Japanese.
i think u could learn stuff like directions (left, right, straight, where is this etc.) if u're lost. Also "can i take a picture" and toilet related questions :D couple shopping related questions... and the most important... sumimasen & arigatougozaimasu/shita.
Agree on all comments. Once you figure out where to look for the English, especially for trains, you'll feel so natural. Going to a new town might take a minute to get use to, but simple phrases are the best to go.
My fiance and I love your videos! We're in Tokyo at the moment, complete culture shock, what would you say are the must sees? Thanks!
Ooh how exciting! There's so much - depends what you're interested in but for me: Akihabara and Harajuku (visit Togo Shrine by Takeshita Street, it's lovely!), Shinjuku at night and I really enjoyed the Digital Art Museum (TeamLabs Borderless) - really different and fun. (Book tickets on your phone before you go and avoid the weekend if you can). And try all the food you can! Especially if you see a bakery - everything's so good!
@@cakeswithfaces Ahhh, thank you so much! :)
We're going to Harajuku tomorrow so we'll definitely check it out!
We've only been here two days but I feel like we're eating everything in sight! Only problem is, we cant seem to find any chewable antacids similar to Rennie in the UK. Just powders and tablets unfortunately.
Anyway, thank you for the advice, we really appreciate it and your videos!
Cheers!
@@benjaminalder-rose5748 Be careful not to eat toooo much then!! Have fun in Harajuku!!
How do you film in some of these places? Do you ask permission first or do you stealth film? And how do you ask permission if you do? Is there a way to ask without knowing any Japanese?
I don't ask for permission but I never film when there's a no cameras sign or obviously if someone asks me not to. I try and be mindful - I know what it's like on my stall when people take pictures but don't buy anything. In arcades they usually don't mind you film each other playing, but not if you're filming generally or if other customers could be in it - obviously it puts people off and the last thing I want is to make people uncomfortable!
Can you do a video on the AKB48 cafe, is it even still there? Im guessing their not so popular anymore.
Zakas are more popular, but 48 groups are still doing fine. But, I can't help you with the cafe. I went to AntaDare a few times, but that was sponsored by an Internet TV service that ended, so the program ended too. And while that used the same room as the "theater cafe" section (another section is more traditional cafe), it didn't really feel like you actually in the cafe while you were in there for AnDare.
If you're going, how about actually applying for the theater? Even if you lose all those applications, there are still fun idol shows in Akihabara every single day (Shibuya/Shinjuku most days as well). If that's to your interest, it can be a lot of fun. While many are like 3000+ yen, they're sometimes free, and there are often many options in the 1000 yen + 500-600 yen drink fee range.
Yes I believe it's still there, right by Akihabara Station, next to the Gundam Cafe!
You should visit Amiami Store. Asked amiami.com online.
I want to go to Akihabara so badly it hurts! Too bad I'll never have the money to go unless i win the lottery or publisher's clearing house.
Hope you can make it one day! Save up hard - it'll be worth it!
@@cakeswithfaces I've been trying to save up money for 10 years. $1,400 is all i have to show for it. RL just keeps getting in my way every time.
It depends a lot on where you're from, but 1400 USD is good for maybe 8 days if you're going alone, just to Tokyo, and willing to "rough it" a bit (eg, use hostels). Wait for flight prices and when it's a big sale, pull the trigger. To get the cheap flight you'll prrooobably be about 4-9 months out. And so while you already enough for the 8 days, having the ticket bought will give you the impetus to penny pinch a little more to give you s bit more spending money.
@@redfish337 Let me clarify. $1,400 is all the money i have total. Not just the money I have saved up for Japan. After 10 years of trying to save up, Real Life keeps finding ways to force me to spend money on something else like an emergency or something. When I go to Japan I want to stay in a Hotel, not a Hostel. I've heard nightmare stories of people have their stuff stolen by other people staying at the same Hostel. The Capsule Hotels would be acceptable since they are cheap side. If I go to Japan I mainly want to stay in the Akihabara area because i want to splurge on anime stuff. But I would also like to go see Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya. and Roppongi. What is really going to kill me though is the round trip plane ticket which is going to cost upwards of $1500-$2000 alone.
@@hudsonball4702 Only you know your own situation. My assertion is simply that for most people, the idea of going to Japan is a bigger hurdle than actually going. 2020 is going to suck because of the Olympics. So, 2021. 750 days until cherry blossoms of 2021. Commit to it. Set aside a piggy bank just for Japan. Make it happen. That's my encouragement.
Also, I highly doubt 1500-2000 is the sale price. Go when it's on sale.
Maki is also my favourite.
Maki is love
Maki is live
*finger guns*
Yep yep yep! I wish there were more figures of her looking kinda serious more like her character! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces ye all her figures are in "idol mode" that's true. I suppose the nendoroids are fine for that.
@@FieryKanata I never know what to do with all the spare parts - you end up with a tin of faces and arms!! 😅😅
@@cakeswithfaces I just hide all the boxes with the parts under my bed, just in case I want to switch them :p
So at Coco's is it a vending machine style order, or a sit down and grab the servers attention kind of deal?
Just like a normal restaurant - the servers come over and take your order. There are lots of vending machine restaurants in Japan though! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces Awesome, thank you! Been to Japan many times but have never had a curry! Will try it out in June :)
@@neonplain You won't look back! :-)
Quick question, I am planning on going to Japan in May and I will be travelling to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Do I take a wheelie luggage or a backpack?
Depends on your preference but I always take wheelie suitcases. For me, I wouldn't be able to fit everything in a backpack! :-) There's enough space on the shinkansen for a suitcase by your knees, or if you're quick there are spaces at the end of the carriage for them. You can see it in this vid: th-cam.com/video/89_tv2LpitM/w-d-xo.html
@@cakeswithfaces Thank you! I was worried it might be a bit like Vietnam/Laos where it is easier to travel around with a backpack. And the video was super helpful.
@@happygoblin101 Thanks! There are a few posters on the subway about taking off your backpack so you don't hit people in the face with it (!) so a suitcase might be best! :-)
If you can get everything into a regular school size backpack + a large "personal item" then that's great. Though even then I'd suggest taking a super small wheelie one just so you don't actually have to haul everything on you, but let the ground do some of the work for you. The key point here, is lockers. If you can fit enough into a small 300-500 yen locker at a train station to make walking around comfortable, you greatly increase your mobility since you won't have to always dump your luggage immediately at your lodging when you get to a new place.
Large "backpacker" style backpacks are not used in the big cities. I would not recommend them. Even if you can maneuver with them in the tiny stores and aisles, I think they're seen as a bit of a nuisance.
@@redfish337 Thank you !!!
..hey how are you? any luck with the UFO catcher?..it sure looks windy out there..2nd hand figures are the one sold without their boxes right? i can never imagine selling my figures..:-)
Still not won any figures but we got some small plushies - and some Dars chocolate! :-) Yes the secondhand ones usually come without boxes - they're usually in perfect condition though so I'm happy to get a bargain!
@@cakeswithfaces ..yes the plushies are cute..the snail was one of a kind..old figures are..i guess priced a bit higher since they are almost hard to find..
@@winterkarasu7560 I guess it can go either way - either they become rare or everyone has them and no one cares any more! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces ..i guess you're right about that..😁
How to shop anime figures in second hand store?
All the cabinets are numbered. Sometimes they have slips of paper around, so you can write the number of the cabinets and hand it in at the counter. Otherwise, you go up to the counter and take the shop assistant to the cabinet, and they get the figures out for you. Then you pay as normal at the till. Hope that helps! :-)
Thank you that’s helpful
What are the second hand shop for figures?
There are lots of them in Akihabara, and also Nakano Broadway. Most of them have glass cabinets that people rent and sell their old figures. Even though they're secondhand, most of them are in absolutely perfect, as-new condition. You can also find secondhand figures in a shop called Hobby Off (branches all around Japan). You can see lots of them in my Akihabara tour video: th-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much, it helps a lot because I'm planning to go to Japan this summer.
are there Nezuko figures in akiba?
If figures have ever been made, there's always a chance you'll find them in the secondhand stores in Akihabara or Nakano Broadway. There really is a HUGE choice!
sorry just trying to confirm
@@creepydreams1303 No need to apologise! :-) The selection varies - it's so much fun to go figure hunting and there's always a chance you'll find that one rare figure you've been looking for. :-)
How old do you have to be to go to Japan
Kids of any age can go to Japan if they're with an adult, there's no age limit! :-)
Ooh. Are you vegetarian? Because the curry sauce isn't.
The regular curry sauce isn't but they have a separate vegetarian menu, yay! It's only at 10% of stores (there's a list on my blog of the ones that have it)
boring
🙁 Sorry you didn’t like it!