Meanwhile, back in Japan…  Akihabara’s Electric City is an amazing place.  It is home to thousands of shops selling electronic gadgets, video games, anime and manga stuff, and more.

When I first day in Tokyo, I went along with my colleague to Akihabara because he went there for souvenir shopping- there are tax and duty free shops near the main rail station for the area that are full of nifty things to bring home at reasonable prices.

If you’re not sure that you’re in Akihabara, just look around.  Even the soda vending machines are decked out in Otaku themes.

This vehicle was playing Japanese pop music very loudly as it passed by on the main street.  This is very typically Akihabara.

One of the reasons that we went to Akihabara on that first day was that I had expressed curiosity about the local version of Denny’s.

Based on the menu, I would say that Japanese Denny’s is Denny’s in name only.  However, their french toast was deliciously superior to anything I’ve had in the States.  Your mileage may vary.

Another great thing that I enjoyed in Akihabara is a cat cafe called Neko Jalala.  The cafe is a short walk from the main Akihabara rail station, and it’s pretty easy to spot despite the nondescript brown wooden sliding door.

Once you step inside the first door, you remove your shoes and put them in a cubby.  Next, you pay an entrance fee.  I paid for thirty minutes inside.  This little fuzzball was my favorite of the cats inside.

There were about fifteen cats inside.  A binder was presented to me which detailed the names, ages, and personalities of each of the felines, along with a few photographs for easy identification.

I also paid a small fee for a cup of cat treats.  This gentleman has a cup of treats in his hand, hence all the attention.

As you can see, the cats all come out for treats.  They are most insistent.

This kitty was one of two that spent time using me as a feeder.

The other one was all stripey!  Since this is also an actual cafe, you can have a tasty cold beverage while you’re inside.  I selected apple juice, but their coffee drinks also looked delicious.

During my afternoon visit, many of the cats were sleeping or just sitting around attentively.  Very few were active.

The sleeping hideaways were tucked in every nook and cranny.

This cat is the only one that seemed to be in a playful mood.

The little plush cat-car is fantastic.

This grumpy looking fellow was napping while I was in the cafe.

Skritch skritch skritch!

This tiny little girl was the sweetest cat.

Just before I left, she deigned to allow me to pet her a tiny bit.

Have you ever been to Akihabara?  Have you ever visited a Cat Cafe?