These tiny specialty shops can be found all over the place in Japan. Passing by, you can’t help wonder what it’s like to sit on an uncomfortable little stool in a workspace that can be as small as 2 square meters. There is an entire arcade full of these shops in Tokyo’s Akihabara. Go out the Akihabara Electric Town exit, and the arcade starts on the right hand side.

Find hotels in Akihabara here

Editor’s note: this post was originally published in February 2008 and has been updated.