Today was almost as tiring as yesterday because I had to lug my 2.5kg laptop around. An EEE PC would really come in handy when I’m traveling.
It’s the fourth day of our little adventure in Tokyo and we took a trip to neighbouring Saitama prefecture to visit Konata’s favourite Gamers and Animate branches. Long story short: Saitama isn’t a very exciting place.
JR Ueno Station
The location is JR Oomiya Station West Exit (大宮駅西å£), about five (long) stops away from JR Ueno via the Utsunomiya Line (宇都宮線) or the Takasaki Line (高崎線). The journey takes around 30 minutes and cost 450 yen on an express train. You can also pay 1280 yen for a one-stop ride on the Shinkansen.
JR Oomiya Station
Immediately outside the exit, face left and you will find this:
Head towards the McDonalds and into the streets behind it to find the old location of Animate’s Oomiya Branch.
The branch has since moved to a bigger location about 10 metres away.
In fact, it even has a second storefront just next door selling character goods. (There’s also a Melon Books above it.)
And a few hundred metres away from Animate lies Gamers. It’s kind of hard to describe its location. In fact, I had to ask a guy in Sofmap for it. Then I asked for the directions to Animate from a Gamers employee. It seems that they do hire real otaku in such places.
The East Exit of the station also happens to be one of the setting locations for School Days, specifically Sakakino-chou (榊野町).
Well that’s about it. We didn’t wander too far from the station because it was already getting dark (at 4pm). We split up and I ended up wandering around some familiar places in Ikebukuro to take pictures and busk in nostalgia.
And by popular demand, here’s a soapland:
And here’s Odex:
Most of the other pictures suck, so I’m not going to bother posting them here. Go look at today’s gallery for more.
By the way, today’s doujinshi haul is as follows:
- Yousei Mangasha – Kaiketsu Ma-ryan (okay)
- Arestica – Sweet Folk Music
- Essentia – Giga Drill Break
- CRIMsON – CRIMsON plus (awesome)
- Rei’s Room & Spread-Pink – Double Again (decent)
- Amekazesyokudou – Clannad (nice cover)
- Arestica – Baby talk (nice)
- Matsumoto Drill Ladoratory – Tamakin (interesting…)
One more day till Comiket.
haven’t got the chance to visit saitama on my last Japan visit.
so it’s only 5 stops from Ueno, not far from my ryokan at that time.
Going to visit that place on my next japanese travel :D
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lol at the Odex symbol
Omg help me buy a copy of Ito Noizi X Naru Nanao’s doujin! =D
What the hell is Odex doing there?
I didn’t know they have branches in Japan.
My Kanji is basically nil but the words about the “odex”-lookalike symbol seems to be saying something about one of the country’s(japan’s) sightseeing destinations… I think Darkmirage would have it easier explaining it :>
It’s just a coincidence.
is that arcueid? very nice one too.
Coincidence? I think not. This is concrete proof that Odex is trying to take over the world.
That logo is similar to Odex, but that is certainly not Odex’s.
I think the odex sign has one more less line down the middle ^^”
woah nice stuffs you got there DM. ODEX! T_T
Japan looks fun =S
I don’t think the symbol is Odex’s. Like exalt dragon has stated, it looks different.
Looks like u have a locally made powerstrip in your 1st pic. I thought Japan uses sth like 100V? You used some kind of step down transformer or something?
hey hi, terry here from singapore..
i’m currently in japan too.. at khaosan asakusa annex.. near asakusa station…
you all are going to comiket for the full 3 days? well.. i’m going for the 31th one.. care to meet up ? lol..
lol @ odex look-alike. haven’t been to saitama myself. but love the pictures and comparison with lucky star. thanks for posting them!
You don’t need any transformers because most modern personal devices come with chargers that work from 100V to 240V.
Mmm, I spot a Sasara doujin. A Tamaki doujin is fine as well.
Wow I never realised Lucky Star was based in Saitama you learn something everyday.
Neat.
I’ma share some of these in my blog with due credit.
Also… curious if you approve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hmJf0bK-Fc
Holycrap I want those Tomoyo doujins ><
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me too…
how lucky you are!!
haha i study in saitama but wth did i not realizing that after walking past that building countless times….thanks
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