Put Istanbul’s grand bazaar in Tokyo and replace porcelain and carpets with computers and manga and you have Akihabara. Pick up electronic goods at warehouse prices in this labyrinth of stores crammed with everything from video games, cameras, DVDs, computers and anime. ‘Akiba’ is known as otaku (nerd) heaven and the streets are filled with bespectacled gents and girls in all manner of costume advertising the ubiquitous maid cafes.