Akihabara recommendations?

[fingersmaloy]

Hey, I'm going up to Tokyo for a few days around Christmas, thought I'd check out Akihabara for the first time. Any recommendations for good game stores? What places are cheap (if there are such places)? What places have lots of Saturn stuff? I've heard good things about Super Potato but then also heard that it's kind of a rip-off. Any sentiments to share on that?

Thanks!

[winds]

I can't remember the names of stores off hand but one of my favourite things to do is just go there and get lost in the game stores I found quite a few nice places just going to any and every game store I could find there. There was also one very nice building that had about 10 floors of games and figures that was in Ueno (?? i think that was the name) Which is the first or second stop on the subway line I believe. The building was right at the subway entrance as well so it shouldn't be hard to find. As for super-potato, it's cool to go in and look at all the cool things but definitely don't be buying anything from there unless you're desperate for something and can't find it anywhere else. They have lots of rare things but it's way over-priced. I remember seeing things in there priced at 4000yen while I found it at other places for 500yen.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

If you love games from nes/famicom to present, anime related stuff, and other collectables that are sorted in an easy to find layout, you may want to stop by Mandarake in Akihabara. Here's a map: http://www.mandarake.co.jp/en/shop/cmp.html

It's much bigger than it used to be and much easier to find. It has just about something for everybody there. It may be a little on the expensive side for some things but every thing there is quality and they are well stocked.

There's also an awesome gashpon store off the main road a few blocks from the station. If you go all the way to the back of it, you'll find a stairwell that will lead you to a few other figure/collectable shops that sell current anime goods from Tshirts to limited edition collectables. I forget it's name but it's pretty hard to miss if you just take a peek around each side alley along the main strip on the club sega side of the road.

You also can't go wrong with all the other shops off the main drag. My biggest suggestion is to try not to drop a lot of money at Animate. They sell all the newest stuff in one place but they also don't try to be competitive with prices. You can find similar stuff they sell scattered all accross the streets of Akihabara. Have fun!

[AmishSamurai]

I've heard people on the forum say that Super Potato overcharges, and you probably shouldn't go with the internationally-known places like that.

[gradualmeltdown]

Just wander around the entire area. Don't buy ANYTHING your first time through just look at everything and remember what a fair price for the things you like seems to be. Akihabara may not be cheap but if you are smart its not that bad. Do NOT skip Super Potato. Even if you buy nothing the raw amount of crap is worth the trip. IMO Super Potato is where you go to find what your Japanese gaming grail is. Then you hunt the rest of Japan for a better price!

Some of my favorite stores were right on the main street. Yamanoya Soft is on the main street and they may have the best gaming soundtrack selection I've seen. Well, maybe I've seen more but they had sane prices and TONS of stuff to browse.


If you search "akihabara game software store" or "tv games" using google maps you will get some idea of where the less mainstream shops are. Last time I was there I remember 2 or 3 retro shops right on Chuo-Dori "the main street". These were not the chain shops, and you could tell they turned over TONS of stuff. Things change fast there though, so they've likely moved!

[terrybogard]

find a store called "hard off" its around there and the prices are fair

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Just wander around the entire area. Don't buy ANYTHING your first time through just look at everything and remember what a fair price for the things you like seems to be.

THE BEST ADVICE for an Akihabara first timer! Follow this and you'll save a lot yen!

[Upsidedown Fuji]

find a store called "hard off" its around there and the prices are fair

Good advice but there aren't any Hard-Offs near or in Akihabara so that may be hard. Most Hard-Offs reside in the suberbs of Japan, just outside of the Tokyo metro area. They are awesome places for rare or cheap finds, but the best he can do is visit the Book-Off in Akihabara and neighboring wards of Tokyo. They are good for carrying older game software like PlayStation, Saturn, and other odds and ends. The Akihabara Book-Off isn't all that big but the inventory is always being shuffled around so he might find something of use there.

[RadarScope1]

I went in October. It's quite a cool place. We were there twice. We happened to go in the morning the first time. It was about 10 am, and the stores were opening and people were lined up outside. I couldn't tell if there was a big release that day, if it was just what happens every day. But make sure you go at night, if you go only once. It's totally lit up, pachinko noise on every corner, lots of people everywhere. Super Potato is very cool - don't miss it, like other said, even if you're not going to buy. It's amazing to look at everything there in one place. And, not everything is overpriced. I bought a couple of things that were probably a bit high but what the hell. There's a small arcade on the third floor. But be careful. It's a dangerous place...



Two other huge arcades there, too. One Taito spot and one Sega spot.

Also, for some cheap, quick, good, food check out Go-Go Curry. It's on the main drag with yellow circular picture of King Kong on the front. You can't miss it. Just don't get confused by the vending machine order system like we did. Remember - insert yen, push button! Easy.

[gradualmeltdown]

Lucky dog Radar, sounds like you had a blast. Taito Hey! is the shit arcade. Maybe my fav because of the shooters.

I was lucky enough to go to Akihabara back in 2003. It was really different back then. The retro games popular on this site were so much more available and very cheap. Sega Saturn, HuCards, Dreamcast, and anything not Sony or Nintendo was SOOO cheap. Games like Street Fighter Collection, Alpha 2, or Virtua Fighter 2 on Saturn were all under $5 complete! Even mainstream shops like Softmap and Gamers had deals and lots of retro merch.

I went to Japan for about the next 4 years. Last time I went in 2007 most of the shops were physically moved and so different. Much of the older retro stuff had finally filtered down to specialty gaming shops. It didn't seem like the fire sale I had experienced earlier. Exchange rates have changed too