So I'm on my monthly trip down to Torrance's Asahiya to pick up my subscriptions to Newtype and Animage. Last year when their books were significantly cheaper, I would buy quite a lot of stuff from them. Bookoff is also in the area, so that was another plus. This year though, I'm pretty much caught up with everything I want to (in terms of comics). Plus, Kinokuniya is closer and now cheaper with their newest prices so that's where I usually get my stuff, along with online shops. I do try to make an effort and buy at least a book when I go down to Asahiya just to give them some business. It took a while to find something, but after wandering around the store for several minutes, I found this guide book.

I've actually heard of this as it caused some buzz among the otaku community when it was first released. I didn't think of getting it because it I didn't think it was important enough to put in my monthly book orders. But it would be something I'd buy impulsively, hence today.

The cover has illustrations on the rather large obi/dust jacket, but underneath, it looks just like any other guide book (see picture) to be less conspicuous. The book features sites that an otaku would most likely want to go in Tokyo. It has a very comprehensive and full-color guide of game, manga, video, toy shops, cosplay stores, maid cafes, and such in Akihabara (largest chapter), Shinjuku, Ikeburo, and along the Soubu and Yamanote subway lines. It's pretty scary how many establishments they highlight. In the later chapters, there's also a few descriptions of places for a single guy to eat and reasonably priced hotels to stay at after a convention. And as any guide book, it has maps of the city. It also has a few ads for Negima, Uta~Kata, and He is My Master.

I seriously doubt I'll take this to Japan when I go nor actually even go to the places they mention because it looks too over-the-top for me. But it's an interesting read, albeit ridiculous at times. Your "guide" around the places is the character on the right, the character on the left is just a dream.