I'm Japanese, I often go to Akihabara and I have a few things to say

I've visited Akihabara for many times as it's near where I live in.<br>I get lost why foreigners think Akihabara is like a weird place. <br>I can't find any point of going there except shopping for Japanese snacks and toys. No wonder many people who visit Akihabara look disappointed.<br>I think many foreigners visited Akihabara because of the stereotype that Japan is an anime & manga country. Honestly speaking I'm a Japanese and didn't even know Akiba was a hub for anime & manga nerd culture until I was in high school. I was often disappointed by my non-Japanese friends who visited Akihabara. I don't get why they even try to get a picture with a cosplayer in front of some random office building, which is in the middle of nowhere. I was shocked when I learned that this place called "Akihabara" is a place that many people in foreign countries know and want to visit. <br>I don't understand why this city is called weird. Of course many nerd anime enthusiasts live in Akihabara. But it's nothing more than areas for shopping in the city. It's exactly same as H&M or Forever21 stores in town. I don't think anyone categorize the whole city as goth place just because they happen to be in the city. I like anime but I don't think any Japanese consider Akihabara as a special place, I rather think it's a very normal city. <br>Ok, that's all.