A Glimpse Into Japan's Retro Mega Stores (56K DEATH!)

[hashiriya1]

Here's a glimpse of some of the shops I go to. Not all of them, but a small bite.
Most of these shops are open 24 hours just in case you need a Famicom copy of Super Mario Brothers at 3AM on a Tuesday.

For obvious reasons, including my ebay auctions, I had to censor some of the prices.

Enjoy the pictures.




What they usually look like on the outside.





The bottom shelf, with copies of DEAD OR ALIVE
































FAMICOM TV!!!


























Deck the halls of SFC carts...la la la








































PC Engine, Super CD games











Sega Saturn












































Disk System Games










Yes, that Donkey Kong Gameboy Advance SP is 120,000 yen. (about $1,250)


















Most of these stores never sell Super Famicoms (or Famicoms, N64s, GameCubes) without AV or Power cables.
They sell them separately to maximize profits.




















SFC cart grab bags and FC Twin systems











I heard these are "rare". (Psychic Assassin Taromaru)



















Final Fantasy Wonderswans

































The MARK OF THE WOLVES PS2 NEO GEO Stick. This isn't easy to find.


















US Versions of games are often easily available in Japan. If you can't afford the Japanese version, opt for the Import.
Unlike the US, game imports are CHEAPER than domestic ones. Case and point, these copies of GTAIV









The walls are made of Famicom games....














I love these things, Capcom Fighter pads for the SFC









And here's how they get you when you want to buy an SFC, FC, N64 or GameCube

[girlracer]

thats really cool

[gradualmeltdown]

yeah its just not fair!! I was always touring playing music when in Japan so I only got to go into Osaka and Tokyo. While completely awesome the pricing there wasn't the best, but my pocket isn't the smallest either

Looks like those stores have more selection and good finds than places like "Retro TV Game Revival" or "Super Potato" and in piles. In my experience the best gaming finds in Japan came from places that resold retro games and hardware only because they began piling up. Medialand, Bookoff, and Hardoff have the deals!

and yes, they have store names like Hardoff and "Retro TV Game Revial"

[hashiriya1]

yeah its just not fair!! I was always touring playing music when in Japan so I only got to go into Osaka and Tokyo. While completely awesome the pricing there wasn't the best, but my pocket isn't the smallest either

Looks like those stores have more selection and good finds than places like "Retro TV Game Revival" or "Super Potato" and in piles. In my experience the best gaming finds in Japan came from places that resold retro games and hardware only because they began piling up. Medialand, Bookoff, and Hardoff have the deals!

and yes, they have store names like Hardoff and "Retro TV Game Revial"

Super Potato is a complete RIP OFF. I only go there if I need something that is near impossible to find.
HARD OFF has inconsistent pricing, and is usually more expensive than these super stores.
ONCE in a great while, you'll find a good deal at HARD OFF. The same goes for BOOK OFF.

A rule of thumb is...if the game shop is in a big city, you'll pay big prices. These shops are out in the countryside,
you know, where the buses don't run. They are usually worth the drive for me.

[Whatupdoc?]

Have you ever run into them not having something?

[hashiriya1]

Have you ever run into them not having something?

Only one thing, the Code Veronica Dreamcast.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I'll just go sit in the corner and cry now.

Seriously though, you are living the dream; I hope to live in the land of the rising sun eventually!

[Dreamstation]

That store is a pure elegance. Me going there = a empty bank account afterwards

[ToKeN]

that look's like heaven!

[lisalover1]

You are a lucky, lucky man. I'm trying to learn Japanese so I can someday go to Japan and visit some of these legendary shops.