Ikebukuro is the new Akihabara
…at least,that is, in otaku-terms. The latest mecca for Manga/Anmie-geeks seem to be Ikebukuro. The special thing about it though, is that it has grown in popularity as sort of an opposite to Akihabara, in that it tailors mostly to girl fans. There’s especially one street, labelled “Otome Road” （乙女ロード） which means something like “Virgin Street” （on the west side of the station, close to the Sunshine Bldg area) which is the main place to go in Ikebukuro with lots of manga-shops and costume stores.
See map below (Otome Road is marked in pink):
Further, it seems that the latest “hot” thing in this area of town is women-only gay-themed restaurant/bars. Some of these places have only women staff, dressed up as men and they only allow women as guests. Then they talk dirty to the guests to cater to any inner lesbian fantasies they might harbor. Yes, I found it sort of strange when I saw a show about such places on TV, but it is the latest rage within the female otaku community.
Huh. I’d never noticed (but then I live aaaall the way out in Hachioji.) I’ll have to pay closer attention the next time I’m in the area.
Me neither actually. That particular part of Tokyo is not one I visit often, so it took a documentary on TV for me to realize!
Well were going tomarrow!!! And we will tell yall if it is like that!!!
Still waiting to hear if it is or not……