A list of stores in Akihabara where you can buy pen tablets [Pen tablets, Graphic tablets, Wacom]

With the popularity of anime, manga, and app games in recent years, illustrations of various genres are being posted on social media sites such as Twitter and pixiv on a daily basis.
Some people may be inspired by these wonderful illustrations and want to start illustrating, or may just be interested in illustration.
As digital illustration becomes more mainstream, a pen tablet is a must-have tool for anyone wanting to get started with illustration!
So, this time we've put together a list of recommended shops selling pen tablets around Akihabara.

What is a pen tablet? What are a pen tablet and a liquid tablet?

A pen tablet is a type of tablet that you connect to a PC to draw pictures on.
It allows you to draw smoother lines more intuitively than with a mouse, so it's the first tool you should have if you want to draw on a computer.
Pen tablets can be broadly divided into two types: pen tablets (pen tablets) and liquid tablets (liquid tablets).

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With a drawing tablet, you draw on a tablet (board) in your hand while looking at the PC monitor, so it takes some getting used to, but they can be purchased cheaply for less than 1 yen, so they are recommended for people who are on a tight budget.
A drawing tablet allows you to draw directly on the tablet screen, giving you a feeling similar to drawing on paper, making it easy to use even for beginners!
However, compared to a pen tablet, they are more expensive, and even the cheapest ones with small screens cost nearly 3 yen.
When purchasing, it is a good idea to consider the specs you are looking for and your budget.
By the way, Wacom, a popular manufacturer of pen tablets, is the No. 1 in the pen tablet industry.Market shareIt is used by approximately 9% of users in Japan.

Stores selling pen tablets in Akihabara

Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba - A wide selection of pen tablets and demo machines

A large electronics retail store located in front of the station.
There is a pen tablet corner on the second floor.

Of all the stores in Akihabara, it has the largest selection of products and the largest number of pen tablet demo machines.

Most of them are Wacom pen tablets.

Among the demo machines was Wacom's "Cintiq Pro 32," which allows you to draw on an impressively large screen.
It seems like it would be really easy to paint on if you used it like a canvas on an easel.

The tablet I recommend here is Wacom's "Cintiq 16".
The drawing area is 16 inches, roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper, making it the perfect size for beginners to drawing with a pen tablet.

The pen pressure detection is precise with 8192 levels, and there is no noticeable delay in response time when drawing.

I tried drawing a little bit, and I was impressed with the wide range of expression that can be achieved by freely adjusting the lines to suit your needs.
It's quite expensive, so I don't think you can easily get your hands on one, but I recommend it if you're looking for a stable drawing experience.

[amazonjs asin="B07MCNRBDY" locale="JP" title="Wacom DTK1660K0D LCD Pen Tablet Wacom Cintiq 16"]

Tsukumo PC Main Store II - A wide variety of pen tablet manufacturers

A PC shop located one street away from Chuo Dori.
Everyone knows Tsukumo.

There is a sales area for pen tablets near the PC floor on the first floor.

Although the selection is not as large as Yodobashi Camera, it is notable for carrying pen tablet manufacturers such as XP-PEN and Xencelabs in addition to Wacom.
By the way, XP-PEN is the second most popular manufacturer in Japan after Wacom.
Xencelabs is a young manufacturer that was recently established, and former Wacom staff are said to be involved in its development.

The recommended XP-PEN tablet is the "Deco 01 V2."
With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the drawing area is wide and easy to draw on.
This tablet is relatively cheaper than Wacom products, which are quite expensive, so it offers good value for money.

[amazonjs asin="B07Z9B85GN" locale="JP" title="XP-PEN Deco Series Pen Tablet with 8 Express Keys, Downloadable Paint Software, XP-PEN Illustration Contest Commemorative Set Deco01 V2"]

Bic Camera AKIBA - A decent selection

A PC shop and electronics retailer located along Chuo-dori Street, marked by a red color.
The key point is that it's "big" and not "big," just like the super-dimensional fighter Vic Viper.

Compared to large stores like Yodobashi Akiba, the selection was limited, and most of the sales floor was just mediocre, with only Wacom products.

By the way, pen tablets are also sold at Sofmap's PC and Digital Store, which is part of the same Bic Camera group and is marked by a blue sign.

The prices were not much different from Bic Camera, but Bic Camera had a larger selection and more demo machines.
If the product you want is out of stock at Yodobashi or other stores, you might want to try looking at Bic Camera or Sofmap.

GENO QCPASS (Akihabara Purchase Center) - Buy tablets cheaply!

A PC supplies shop on Junk Street.

There is only one Chinese pen tablet manufacturer called Parblo, and the product selection is limited.
However, there are some tablets that can be purchased relatively cheaply in Akihabara stores, such as the 11.6-inch Coast12 Pro for 21998 yen (tax included).
Although its performance is inferior to that of Wacom's pen tablets in terms of drawing feel and response speed, the Coast12 Pro is recommended for beginners who want to start drawing illustrations using a liquid crystal tablet.

Dospara Akihabara Main Store - Dospara's brand of pen tablets for creators

A PC shop on Junk Street.

A notable feature of the store is that it carries the "raytrektab 8-inch model RT08WT" from raytrek, Dospara's brand for creators.
Apparently, famous creators such as animator Masayoshi Tanaka and anime director Seigo Yamashita use this pen tablet.

The set includes a serial number for the illustration tool CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEBUT and a Wacom stylus, making it a great value set that includes all the tools you need to draw.

Shocking price! You can buy it now for 29990 yen (tax included)!

Wacom pen tablets are gaining popularity in Akihabara stores

We have compiled a list of pen tablet retailers in Akihabara, and you can see how many stores carry Wacom pen tablets.
Akihabara is also full of stores selling manga, illustration books, doujinshi, etc., so I think it's the perfect environment for creating illustrations.
First, improve your drawing skills, and one day you could become a famous professional illustrator!