Dangerous Prototypes Global Geek Tours

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Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan

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Akihabara is a giant neighborhood of electronics stores and winding mazes of stands in Tokyo, Japan. It's not as big as the SEG market in Shenzhen, but it's a lot easier to get to, and you don't need a $200 visa to get into the country.

Prices are actually quite high, you won't find a lot of deals. Interesting things, vast selection, and hands-on time? Yes! It doesn't come cheap though. Expect to pay the same or slightly more as at your local electronics store. Keep in mind that the Yen is a very strong currency, things are expensive compared to the US, China, and even some parts of Europe.

Shops

  • Akihabara Radio Center (the maze, located right outside the train station) - Too many shops here to list. This is a winding maze of small stands with electronic parts, tools, LED shops, etc.
  • Corner Store (Nichibei musen)- We buy VFD tubes here. They also have solar panels, motors of all sizes, more
  • Super Junk - Surface mount and through-hole electronic components.
  • Akiba LED, others - Reels of LEDs, LED strips, LED accessories. One of many LED stores in Akihabara.
  • Sengoku - All purpose electronic store with many types of flux, solder, soldering iron tips, breakout boards, test clips, etc.
  • Kyushu Jangara Ramen - The Akihabara location of this famous ramen shop is a great place to have lunch. We got the mix of chicken, pork, and beef stock.
  • Keisokuki Land - New and used test equipment.
  • Super Potato - 3 floors of retro gaming. Arcade on the top floor, lower floors have old cartridges and consoles.
  • Rocket Radio - Ham radios, antennas, etc.
  • Akizukidenshi - Bags of parts and kits. Surface mount resistors, chips, etc. Tayken's favorite shop.
  • Aitendo - LCD, TFT, OLED display store. Breakout boards for tiny display connectors. Some other odds and ends.
  • Nishikawa Parts - All types of screws, stand-offs, tools.

Seoul, South Korea

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Seoul isn’t known for its markets like Tokyo or Shenzhen – that’s right, markets, we discovered more than one – but with electronics giants like Samsung based here there’s a huge and thriving scene. It’s totally different than Akihabara in Tokyo, and we’ll be able compare it to the SEG market in a few weeks.

Yongsan

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Shopping mall complex with mostly consumer electronics, but some component stores in the basement of one building.

Map source (Inkscape SVG)

Cheonggyecheon

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A neighborhood of shops with materials, tools, and supplies for making. Everything from surface mount part reels to laser cutting shops. Seoul's hidden gem.

Updates

  1. Building 'A' is called Sae Eun Sang Ga, or Sae Eun (shopping) Arcade
  2. Building C has a website

Map source (Inkscape SVG)

Shenzhen, China

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In April 2012 we visit Apliu Street in Hong Kong, and SEG Electronics Market in Shenzhen, China.

Apliu Street, Hong Kong

If you fly into Hong Kong on your way to Shenzhen, the Apliu Street electronics market is a good warm up before heading into mainland China.

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