Every once in a while, I pass through Tokyo, Japan on business travel. When the schedule permits, I make a trip over to Akihabara (AKA “Electric Town”), the center of electronic and computer gadgets in Tokyo. This place is amazing, offering everything from resistors to wide-screen televisions (and, yes, ham radio equipment). The only thing I can compare it to in the US is Fry’s Electronics….but it it more like a multi-vendor Fry’s that spans many blocks. They have small shops that are very specialized…..such as focusing only on transformers or coaxial cable. It is amazing what you can find there.
Last weekend, I was staying in Shinjuku and made a quick trip over to Akihabara. Assuming you know the basics of the JR train system, it is an easy ride from Shinjuku Station (or Tokyo Station) to Akihabara. (Akihabara has its own train stop.) For ham radio equipment, you have to aware that the Japanese version of the radio may be set up differently than the radio sold in your home country. For example, the 2M band in Japan goes from 144 to 146 MHz, so VHF radios sold there will usually be enabled for transmit in that range. Just as important, with the weak dollar there are not really any great bargains for ham gear in Tokyo. You can probably buy the right radio in the US for the same or less cost.
What I look for in Japan are radio accessories that are hard to find in the US. It seems that Japan is the land of gadgets, so there’s always some little antenna, adaptor or other gizmo that catches my eye. I guess I am saying that I go to Akihabara for the experience and the occasional gadget purchase. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday for an electrical engineer geek.
My big purchase for the weekend is a $5 screwdriver that has a continuity tester and a AC voltage sensor built into it…typical Akihabara gadget that I could not pass up. More information on Akihabara is shown here and here.