Going to Japan...IBM museum & Akihabara

[GoyoNeuff]

Hello all there!

This Christmas we are going to Tokyo (& Kyoto) and I have two questions for you:

1. I read somewhere, I do not remember where and/or where, that there is an IBM museum. I have been trying to find it on the web, but not luck at all. Does anyone happen to know if there is one, and where is located?

2. We are going to pay a visit to Akihabara (electronics and probably the maid cafes). Is there any in particular to look for, besides the venerable S30?

Thank you all,

K.

PS: On a side note, Sabayon just released a few weeks back their new mini version...It is very good!

[ryengineer]

IBM's PC research and development facility is (or was) in Yamato, Japan which has become a part of Lenovo since it's acquisition of IBM PCD. It is accompanied by a museum with archives of all PC's IBM/Levono have released to date. All left in Japan for IBM is a small research lab with merely less than 200 employees. You would require a written authorization which you would need to obtain in advance to enter the IBM lab.

Nevertheless, lenovo would allow you visit it's museum, the address is:

1623-14 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi,
Kanagawa-ken, 242-8502
Japan
Telephone: 046 276 1111 (Switchboard).

[GoyoNeuff]

Thank you ryengineer,

Any other thoughts on question 2?

Cheers to all!

K.

[ryengineer]

Akihabara is quite expensive, infact Japan itself is. Look for everything, spend on only those stuff that appeals you. You'll find stores of almost all computer and electronic manufacturers there, IBM is one of them.

To be honest with you I went to Japan with a different mindset and concentrated on things like entertainment, watching Taiko, dining, attractions and bullet train etc. and bought only a cellphone from there which was not available in the US at that time. Given an opportunity again, I'll visit with other plans in mind.

Good luck with your trip and don't forget to take a map of the market and a camera for the journey.

[snife]

I'm in Tokyo at the moment, gotta agree about the electronics, I like browsing but the prices are more expensive than in the US (or in the UK too for that matter) so I rarely buy anything, although I do have my eye on a UMPC that I really dont need this time.

Go with ryengineer's suggestion to focus on entertainment (dont under any circumstances go to Tokyo Disney though - worst place ever!) and dining. There are nice restaurants everywhere although I personally prefer round about Shibuya where there are some really nice yakiniku restaurants; i'd also head out to Odaiba (for the futuristic boat ride) if you have the time.

[GoyoNeuff]

Thank you ryengineer and snife!

Yep, I have in mind to go and visit, enjoy all as much as possible, but also to pay a visit to Aki. Maybe I will try to get a nice Seiko, but we will see. Snife, which UMPC do you have in mind?

Cheers to all for the good comments!

K.

[mazzinia]

Actually there are some places where you can find interesting bargains, if you happen to be there at the right moment.

I need a map to mark them....

2 are quite close the Akihabara train station, a 3rd is a little far and dealing only in used ibm thinkpads and parts, a 4th is an "hidden" shop with only NEW thinkpads, lenovo parts, and other brands all sold with a certain amount of discounts.

Bottom line find me a map of the zone (or hope I can find one) and i'll mark on it all the places I remember with infos, etc

I've been in Tokyo for 6 months 'till January, and Akihabara was my "Disneyland" ...

Ps
Near Roppongi subway station there's a place where you can eat all the sushi you want for a fix price, etc
Just out going towards Roppongi Hills (on the Roppongi Hills' side), at most 150mt from the exit

(if you go on sat/sun there are some extra private "sales" in some points)

[blackomegax]

/OT

do you have any info on the sushi place? im going in may-ish.


also, look for this

if you havnt found it already and want real american style pizza.


/end OT

[mazzinia]

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/roppongi-map.html

on the left side you'll see the Toei Oedo Line (subway). the point it's passing under the Roppongi Dori is where the subway station is located.
Now.. you should be able to see a place named Almond, and moving to the border of the map the Azabu police station.

That sushi place is between those 2 on the main street (that side of the street). If you pass the police station and you go further, that's Roppongi Hills (there's a "big" round building, you cannot miss it)