Going to Japan in 9 days, anyone have good junk shop locations?

[kirbykirb]

There was this thread on here that people posted pictures of the video game/electronic shops and where they were in Tokyo.

I'm going to be in Tokyo for a while, and I'm curious if anyone can shine some light on the area/address where some of these shops are.


Thanks :D

[jjessop]

There was this thread on here that people posted pictures of the video game/electronic shops and where they were in Tokyo.

I'm going to be in Tokyo for a while, and I'm curious if anyone can shine some light on the area/address where some of these shops are.


Thanks :D

Akihabara is the place to go but it's nothing like it was 7-10 years ago or more. In the last few years most of video game stuff has dried up, classic, new and even arcades have almost disappeared. The JR (not subway) is your best way to get there. You will still find game stores but it's only 20% of what it once was. The real secret is go into the back alleys and climb up the tiny stairs in the small buildings. Most of the cool stuff requires you get adventurous.

Shinjuku has some good electronics if you know where to look and you can find some interesting items if lucky around Ueno station.

I'm in Tokyo 6+ times a year and you will have a great time. If your lucky you might just catch a flea market in Shinjuku (chuo park) or in Harajuku going towards the old Olympic stadium complex.

Have fun!

Jerry

[ccovell]

Hard-Off is a good place to find good deals in, but there are few Hard-Offs in metropolitan Tokyo, and they're usually a bit far from train stations. Avoid Book-Off; they're not worth it. Mode-Off is also not for you.

Anyway, try this link, zoom out until you can see all of Tokyo. You also need to try the same search in different prefectures, like Saitama, Kanagawa, and Chiba, to see the rest of the nearby shops.

http://www.hardoff.co.jp/info_db.php?num=130007&cdpref=13&keyword=&gyotai01=on&gyotai02=&gyotai03=on&gyotai04=&gyotai05=&gyotai06=on&gyotai07=&gyotai08=on

[NE146]

Akihabara is the place to go but it's nothing like it was 7-10 years ago or more. In the last few years most of video game stuff has dried up, classic, new and even arcades have almost disappeared.

I used to pass through Akihabara at least twice a year since the very early 80's and watched it grow from primarily a stereos, clocks, and appliances type of place, to a electronic games kind of place (got all my handhelds there), to a video-game mecca.

However ever since I moved to the states I've haven't been there for at least the past decade and that's kind of disheartening news that you have.. what type of changes occurred, and what caused it to happen do you think?

[schnuth]

Most of the larger game/media shops in Tokyo will have "junk boxes" near the door of the store. This is stuff that is not checked or tested, and sold for very cheap. I picked up quite a few great and super cheap games the last time I was in Tokyo this way.

As for classic game stores be sure to check out Super Potato and Friends in Akihabara. Not the cheapest, but are well worth your time just to check them out. Especially Super Potato which has an amazing amount of awesomeness.

[Drixxel]

Avoid Book-Off; they're not worth it. Mode-Off is also not for you.

Ehh, I wouldn't be so hard on Book-Off, I've found some pretty good deals there and one cannot discount the benefit of there being so many locations. Most of the stuff you'll find will tend to be on the common side and the games selection may be fairly sparse but I got lucky and stumbled upon a number of Game Boy titles I was on the hunt for. I'd recommend popping in whenever you should run across one.

[Gameboy415]

Ehh, I wouldn't be so hard on Book-Off, I've found some pretty good deals there and one cannot discount the benefit of there being so many locations. Most of the stuff you'll find will tend to be on the common side and the games selection may be fairly sparse but I got lucky and stumbled upon a number of Game Boy titles I was on the hunt for. I'd recommend popping in whenever you should run across one.

Ditto!

I found dozens of great games at Book-Off stores in Osaka and Mie when I was living in Japan.

For example, I got a copy of "Moon: Remix RPG Adventure" for 2000yen!

[Kiddo]

I don't have any real suggestions for stores, but I would like to request you be on the lookout for Satellaview 8M Memory Packs, if possible. ^^;