As a lifelong nerd, I was always going to go back to Akihabara once in Tokyo. I first went in 2013, and, back then, it was mostly a blur of flashy neon signs, anime characters everywhere, and the deafening noise of coins clinking through slot machines in sauna-temperature pachinko parlors. I loved it, but I didn’t have a strong connection to it. This time, it was different.
A few years ago, I watched Steins;Gate, and it quickly became one of my favorite anime of all time. The show is about time travel but set in the normal world—more specifically, Akihabara. You’ll see Okabe Rintaro and his friends visit Radio Kaikan, a big commercial building and landmark in the district. There’s a playground they frequent, the building in which they have their “Future Gadget Lab,” and a long pedestrian bridge in front of Akihabara station. They’re all ordinary places, but they’re also the places in which the show’s unique cast of characters said hello, made plans, despaired, found hope, and said goodbye. And…they exist. They’re even just a few minutes walk apart.
One of my favorite Youtubers is also passionate about Steins;Gate. He visited the show’s locations not too long ago. Luckily, I found an 11-year-old map from a fellow time traveler on Reddit, and with the unique icons overlaying on the map on my phone, I could easily navigate from one place to the next. I had the time of my life. My partner looked on incredulously as I took pictures of and in front of my favorite spots. I made faces mimicking some scenes for the camera. I even recorded a short video here and there, citing catch phrases from the show.
It seems silly, this idea of an anime pilgrimage, yet every year, millions of people venture to “the place where it happened.” The places are all different, and so is the “it.” What does it matter which particular event impressed you? There’s something special about seeing it in person.
I can still feel the vibe of those places. I’ll always cherish the pictures. And who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll be back once more. But no matter what happens, now I can say: I was there—and whether I’ll stay a lifelong nerd or not, no one can take that away from my story.
