Going to Japan. Any game shopping suggestions? [Archive]

schnuth

04-27-2007, 02:06 PM

So in a couple weeks my wife and I will be going to Japan for a week's vacation. Seeing as I have never been before I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for places to look for games? We'll be staying in Tokyo for the duration of our trip.

I fully intend to spend some quality time in Akihabara. Doing a little research I discovered the Super Potato store (http://www.superpotato.com/) which looks to be extremely awesome. The 1Up Retronauts did a vidcast (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3156997) from this store, so I definitely want to check it out. Are there any other places to look out for in Akiba without just stumbling on them at random? How about other places to look for games? One book I picked up hints at possible gaming stores in Nakano Broadway in Shinjuku as well.

As for bringing stuff back on the airplane, what would be the best way to go? Pack fragile type stuff in your carry on? I haven't been on a commercial plane since I was 14, so any insight would be appreciated.

The one thing I really want to pick up while in Japan in a Famicom Disk System. Can the disks be damaged by the airlines x-ray equipment? I'd hate to buy lots of cool games only to find out later they had been hosed. :(

I don't know how many of you have done this sort of thing before, but I'd appreciate any sort of insights. Thanks in advance!

Aaron

y-bot

04-27-2007, 03:28 PM

Hi Aaron! Traders in Akihabara is also good. You really need to go to Nakano Broadway just to see a place unlike anywhere in the world. I've spent countless hours there and I know a couple of business owners there. Actually the two times I've been to Tokyo I stayed in an apartment above Nakano Broadway so let me know if you need to know anything about that area. Mandarake in Shibuya is good, better than the one in Nakano Broadway for me anyway. My friends have a store called Suteki (www.suteki.me.uk) that has lots of handheld games. I forget the name of the district it's in but it's in Tokyo. I ship all my stuff back so I don't have to deal with customs. I wish I was there right now.

y-bot

Niku-Sama

04-27-2007, 04:13 PM

this is a good thread, i am headed to tokyo in june so list lots of places please! i should have 2 weeks as it seems for now

will2097

04-27-2007, 06:29 PM

Softmap #5 I think (maybe, possibly) was where I found some real gems. Mostly old 3DO stuff - but that was what I was looking for!

http://kotaku.com/gaming/feature/kotaku-feature-how-to-lose-yourself-in-akihabara-186075.php

Akihabara is brilliant mind.

DefaultGen

04-28-2007, 12:04 AM

.....

BocoDragon

04-28-2007, 12:09 AM

I wonder how much a normal Famicom costs there? They've got to be common as dirt right? Because every Famicom I see for sale in the west is like $200+, which just seems like a gouge....

EDIT: Ah... one of the Kotaku links above says $35.... That's more what I'd expect!

XxHennersXx

04-28-2007, 12:43 AM

I wonder how much a normal Famicom costs there? They've got to be common as dirt right? Because every Famicom I see for sale in the west is like $200+, which just seems like a gouge....

EDIT: Ah... one of the Kotaku links above says $35.... That's more what I'd expect!

you can get an AV Famicom from Japangamestock.com for 80 with shipping.

BocoDragon

04-28-2007, 12:57 AM

you can get an AV Famicom from Japangamestock.com for 80 with shipping.

It's got to be the original Gold n Maroon Fami my friend! I'm not buying it to play necessarily ;)

But thanks for the tip anyway, because the AV Famicom is still pretty cool and worth considering.

Three-P

04-28-2007, 02:32 AM

All I know is that I've heard horror stories about the Cho-Aniki series. And I probably would rather eat the business end of a 12-gauge than play Miracle Girls.*

*-In all fairness to Miracle Girls, I did see a gameplay video on YouTube, and thought, "This is what ALL videogames would be like if Joe Lieberman got his way."

schnuth

04-28-2007, 03:23 AM

I wonder how much a normal Famicom costs there? They've got to be common as dirt right? Because every Famicom I see for sale in the west is like $200+, which just seems like a gouge....

EDIT: Ah... one of the Kotaku links above says $35.... That's more what I'd expect!

I have every intention of bringing one back, and a disk system too since I've always wanted one. Going on the Super Potato site you can get a pretty good idea of what prices there are for stuff. I bought luggage keeping in mind all the goodies I plan on carting back.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, keep them coming! :cheers:

Aaron