Where to find cosplayers?

Hi Kevin!
It may be hard sometimes to find people in cosplays even on the streets near events because most cosplayers bring their costume in a suitcase and only dress up when they arrive inside the event.

However, you can definitely see peoiple dresses in unusual ways in some areas in Tokyo. For example, you mentioned Akihabara. If you stay untill after 6om in akihabara you will definitely see girls dressed as maids promoting the maid cafés. A few weeks ago, in front of the Taito Arcade building, there was a girl dressed in an Owl costume with a real owl on her arms promoting the Owl Café.

Also, if you go behind to the street behind the main street (behind the taito arcade or the sega arcade), its the same street as the Super potato store. At night you can see girls dressed as Ninja promoting the Ninja Cafe and many other costumes promoting the various cafes you can find in that area.

If you go to harajuku on the weekends, mostly sundays and on sunny days, walk around yoyogi park during the day, you'll probably see many interesting costumes, once I saw a person dressed as a human fox deity (a man on traditional clothes with very interesting sandals and wearing a fox mak). You'll also probably see many people dressed in a western 70's / 80's style dancing as well.

And during the afternoon untill sunset, if you walk around takeshita street and the streets nearby, chances are that you can see a girl dressed as lolita or even the famous guys dressed as a lolita as well.

Tht's all of the recommendations I have for you so far, I hope this helps! o/