I went to the free information center in Akihabara! I also saw what it was like the day before the COVID-19 state of emergency was declared.

It's January 7th, 2021, and a state of emergency is about to be declared, so I decided to visit the free information center in Akihabara that's currently the talk of the town.
By the way, I will also introduce what Akihabara was like on that day.

Akihabara's first free information center, Autumn Leaf

So it's a free information center.
The location is the former site of Kitchen Jiro Sotokanda store, which closed in September 2020.
It may still be fresh in our memory that it became a hot topic online around the end of December when the exterior was completed.

I went to see the former Kitchen Jiro Sotokanda store, the free information center. There are more vending machines and trash cans nearby, and it really does have a nice atmosphere! pic.twitter.com/rN64Z5gmzx

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) December 23, 2020

Bfor

After

By the way, the sign says "Autumn Leaf," but it doesn't seem to have any relation to the one at the back of Akazuka.

Inside was a smoking area, with just a few flyers on a small table and a poster on the back wall.
the poster isThere were many items from Eternal affiliated stores..

If you want to know more about Eternal, check out the two pages below.

[Updated 2022] Akihabara Maid Cafes and Con Cafes: Over 200

I wasn't forced into the store, so if you feel like smoking in the area, it might be worth stopping in.

January 7, 2021: The state of Akihabara just before the state of emergency was declared!

By the way, I'd like to show you what Akihabara was like the day before the state of emergency was declared.

Here's what happened on the day the state of emergency was declared:

State of Emergency Declared! Akihabara on January 8, 2021: Shortened business hours continue

Chuo Street

Junk Street

The number of people walking around Akihabara seemed the same as on a normal weekday.

Today in Akihabara, signs are falling over due to the strong winds. pic.twitter.com/KzvdoLSjJ0

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) January 7, 2021

The wind was strong that day, and the banners and signs were flapping down.

Radio Kaikan was closed during the last state of emergency, but what will happen this time?

At Nikuno Mansei Akihabara Main Branch, the window seats on the 5th floor were separated by one seat to ensure social distancing.
This store was also closed for a long time when the last state of emergency was declared, so I'm curious to see how they will respond in the future.

Komoro Soba Akihabara store on Chuo Dori will close on January 11, 2021.
The nearest store is the Shoheibashi store.

There are many places where new tenants have not yet been decided, which makes you feel the economic situation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Here is a list of Akihabara store closures in 2020:

[First Half of 2020] Summary of Akihabara store closures [Closings, relocations, mergers, etc.]

[Second half of 2020] Summary of Akihabara store closures [Closings, relocations, and mergers]

A lot of stores closed in 2020, and it doesn't look like this year is off to a good start either.