Akihabara or "Electric Town" is where Tokyo shoppers go to buy the newest gadgets and gizmos.
It's known as a haven for geeks who comb the stores for obscure electrical parts, computer gear, spy cameras or even robots. It attracted notoriety in June when a man went on a stabbing rampage here, killing seven Sunday lunchtime shoppers and injuring 10 others.
Words and pictures by Chris Hogg