[Akiba Base] Shooting Cafe is fun even for airsoft beginners

Have you heard of AKIBA★BASE, a cafe in Akihabara where you can experience a full-scale shooting game?
When people hear the words "shooting games" or "guns," they may imagine them as being difficult to handle, and many people may be put off by them.
So, as someone who doesn't know much about guns, I decided to go to AKIBA★BASE to see if even beginners could enjoy it!

How to get to AKIBA★BASE

It's a relatively easy route from Akihabara Station to AKIBA★BASE.
First, exit through the Electric Town ticket gate and head towards Chuo Street.
When you reach Chuo-dori, turn right and walk for about 5 minutes.
It's in this building with a hamburger restaurant, Carl's Jr., on the first floor!

By the way, the Don Quijote Akihabara branch, which houses the AKB48 Theater, is a short distance away in the direction of Suehirocho Station, so it may be easier to find if you use that as a landmark.
There is also a large sign in front of the building, so you can use that as a landmark.

The store is on the third floor of the building, so please use the elevator to enter.
The address and opening hours are as follows:

Guns everywhere inside the store!! Inside AKIBA★BASE

I went in at lunchtime, and the interior of the restaurant seemed spacious and bright thanks to the large windows.
The exposed concrete also gives it a rugged feel and atmosphere.

And perhaps the biggest feature of the Shooting Cafe is the guns displayed throughout the store.

They're all so cool.
The guns on display range from well-known guns that even a beginner like me knows to ones I've never seen before.
It seems like you'll never get bored even if you just look at this for a long time.
Even I, who don't know much about guns, was excited, so I'm sure it would be a treat for anyone who loves guns.

Here's what makes AKIBA★BASE's menu so great!!!

The food menu includes pasta, potatoes, fried chicken, and other dishes that all look wild and delicious, but since I was in the mood for curry this time, I ordered the Kimikazu Curry.

The scent is amazing!!

The delicious smell of curry spices whets the appetite.
Of course the taste is good too!!
The curry dishes change every week, and this time it was chicken curry.
It has an authentic flavor with a strong spice, but the spiciness is mild, making it a curry that anyone can enjoy.

And the most noteworthy thing about the menu at AKIBA★BASE is,Drink menuis!!
There is a bar counter at the back of the store where an experienced bartender will prepare your drink.

There are plenty of drinks lined up on the bar counter, and the drink menu isThere are over 60 types of whiskey aloneThat's it.
It might be fun to find your favorite drink and compare them.
Due to various circumstances, I was unable to drink alcohol this time, so I ordered the Shirley Temple, the restaurant's recommended non-alcoholic cocktail.

Isn't it so stylish?!

They put a lot of effort into their drink menu, so I can only say that it's as expected.
The glasses they use and the star-shaped drink coasters from AKIBA★BASE are also cool.
The taste had a lemony scent and some fruity notes.
I later found out that the pink color comes from a syrup made from pomegranate juice.
I learned something new.

A safe shooting experience even for beginners

Now that we've had a moment to relax after eating our meal, it's time for the shooting experience.
The drinks and food were delicious, of course, but it's no exaggeration to say that I came here just for the shooting experience!
First, fill out the necessary information on the application form on the table.

Even though it is an air gun, it can be very dangerous if handled incorrectly, so be sure to read the precautions for use written on the back carefully and follow the instructions of the store staff.
Choose what you want to shoot from the gun menu on the table, fill it out, and you're ready to go.

The ease of use of each gun is indicated with a star, making it easy to understand even for beginners.
Also, there is a premium gun menu,There is an additional charge of 500 yenThere is also a menu where you can touch rare items.

This time, I chose the "Beginner Course," which is recommended for beginners, and from the gun menu, I was allowed to use the AK-47, which is arguably the most popular gun.

First, the store clerk will teach you how to load the gun, how to hold it, and how to aim.
There's a lot you don't know about operating a gun, so this is extremely helpful for beginners.
The staff explained everything to me step by step, which made it easy to understand.

Now, fire towards the target!
You can freely change the placement of the targets, so adjust the distance and placement to suit your needs.

The AK-47 I rented this time can be switched between rapid fire and single shots, so I fired a few single shots and then switched to rapid fire once I got used to it.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!!!!!

What is this? It's so much fun!!
The metallic sound when you hit the iron target is incredibly satisfying.
There was also a paper target with a human-shaped target drawn on it, so I tried hitting it a few times.

　Poor technique!!!!

I aimed for the red part in the center of the stomach, but didn't hit it even once.
It was difficult, but it was fun, so I got a paper target as a souvenir.

Why AKIBA★BASE is so enjoyable even for beginners

This time I went to the shooting cafe "AKIBA★BASE" in Akihabara, and to sum up, I had a great time.
The reason why I, a beginner who knows almost nothing about air guns, enjoyed it was...

①The staff will explain things to you in detail, so you can feel at ease.

Air guns can cause injury if handled incorrectly, but the store staff gave me a thorough explanation of how to use them, so I was able to use them with peace of mind.
Even if you're interested in airsoft games but are a little unsure, we recommend this store because the staff will be happy to help you out.

②The quality of the menu is high

The drink menu was much more authentic than your average bar or izakaya.
Even if you don't care about shooting games, it seems like you can still have fun just going out for drinks.
The food menu was also delicious, and it was clear that they put as much effort into their food as they do into their drinks.
In other words, it's great to eat and drink!

③The atmosphere inside the store is fun

All of the guns on display are cool, and the airsoft goods placed here and there create an atmosphere that is fun to look at.
Also, although we weren't able to use it this time due to time constraints, there was a VR shooting game machine set up, which I'm sure would be fun as well.

So even beginners could enjoy it.
If you're interested after reading this article, I highly recommend you go and check it out, whether you're a beginner or an experienced hiker.
A fun shooting experience awaits you!