ImportBoy wrote:Don't forget about Hard-Off / Book-Off stores. Not sure where they are in Tokyo though but I found some great finds in both of those further north.
Yeah I saw a site with pictures of one of those shops, and it looked like heaven for a game collector. Tons of cheap systems and games. Unfortunately, we won't be anywhere near one as far as I know.
Go everywhere. I second grittykitty. There are several shops on the main road that are on the opposite side of the street as Sega Club. Both of them have great second floors. The one that feels like
Gamers sucks IMO , Softmap has cut back on their retro gear when I was there in the summer but I think they opened a new Mega store right in the middle of the main road. Super Potato will be the place to go when you absolutely couldn't find something at these other locations. Not that Super Potato isn't awesome, just more expensive.
also worth noting that you should consider time - if you've never been you're going to spend ALL DAY looking at everything, and you might as well! the shops open at 10am, not sure when they close because i've never stayed late, but probably 8pm or so. even if you're looking for only games for one or two consoles, you will probably spend AT LEAST 3 or 4 hours. the earlier the better, less tourists, more sweaty nerds. don't forget to look in the bargain bins AND the glass case! i've found some great deals on cart only games in the glass cases... and i highly recommend the indian curry restaurant towards the end of the strip where the electronics shops are (on the left side of the street if you're going "up")
i love nerding out about retro shopping in japan
My wife and I are planning to take a trip to Japan in spring 09. You bet your ass that I am going to spend at least one entire afternoon hitting some game stores. I'll keep this thread in mind for some ideas....
D.D.D. wrote:TRADER, Medialand, SofMap, and Super Potato all places that are good - and all on the main street (except Potato, on the backstreet behind the main drag).
If you really want to go to the better place for used games, go to Den Den Town in Osaka. Akihabara used to be better but then all the anime and maid cafe crap rolled in (pardon me if that's your cup of tea) and rent got hiked up so the majority of the used stores moved elsewhere (but I don't know where they all went in Tokyo).
Any specific Qs, hit me up.
We were having a debate on another thread, and since you live in Japan, maybe you can help us out. My friend lived in China for several years and she said that it was cheaper and easier to find consules and games in China rather than Japan. I know they have alot of pirated stuff, but she said they had alot of legit stuff as well. Plus she said it was cheaper to travel and rent a room. What is you experience?
Have you ever compared prices in China and Japan on retro games and consules?
Nope... Can't say I've been to China but the heresay is that stuff isn't well taken care of there. At least that's what my local gamer friends think but then again you've got the zenophobia to factor as well.
But, if you're searching for pirate stuff, China is a sure bet (my neighbor just got back from Shanghai with 2 suitcases of booty).
D.D.D. wrote:TRADER, Medialand, SofMap, and Super Potato all places that are good - and all on the main street (except Potato, on the backstreet behind the main drag).
If you really want to go to the better place for used games, go to Den Den Town in Osaka. Akihabara used to be better but then all the anime and maid cafe crap rolled in (pardon me if that's your cup of tea) and rent got hiked up so the majority of the used stores moved elsewhere (but I don't know where they all went in Tokyo).
Any specific Qs, hit me up.
I'll definitely look out for all four of those shops. Do you know if Medialand is a chain? I think my friend mentioned there being one near his house in Hiroshima. Also, what kind of prices can I expect to see on the stuff I want?
Anime and maid cafes are what I'm trying to avoid, so if I can isolate the shops I want to visit, I should be good to avoid those things.
Medialand very well could be a chain but there's only the one in Akihabs. Once you make a right out of the electric town exit on the main strip, it's about a 3 minute walk with a small entrance (a little easy to miss).
Pricing can be a bit high on some of the rarer stuff but I've always found pretty good deals there. And besides, I don't buy stuff in bad shape as I want it to last me a long, long time.
Yup it sure is. The #10 at the top (north I guess) is Medialand and the brown dotted line is the main strip. Eventually if you go far enough "east", you'll get to MOS burger... Damn fine burgers.
ImportBoy wrote:Don't forget about Hard-Off / Book-Off stores. Not sure where they are in Tokyo though but I found some great finds in both of those further north.
I second this advice. Great stores.
Ditto. There's a hard-off down the street from my apt. Very fair pricing and you get regular steals there if you frequent it.
RadarScope1 wrote:My wife and I are planning to take a trip to Japan in spring 09. You bet your ass that I am going to spend at least one entire afternoon hitting some game stores. I'll keep this thread in mind for some ideas....
Since you'll be going in spring, try to make it for the end or so of March 'cause that's the typical cherry blossom viewing time. And if you head west on the Chuo line in Tokyo, go to Koganei park... F'n beautiful.
And if you head west on the Chuo line in Tokyo, go to Koganei park... F'n beautiful.