Trip to Japan...

[Dimitri]

As I mentioned in another recent thread, I'm going to be spending two weeks in Japan at the end of May...hell, I'm taking my finals a week early just so I can go, then come back and have two days to recover from jetlag before starting 8AM classes again... My father is speaking at a conference, and since he knows I've long wanted to visit the country, I made him drag me along with him. I'll be spending one week in Tokyo, and one week in another place called Orai. While I plan to do a lot of sightseeing (including some of the tourist-y stuff) I also want to get some shopping in. So of course I went searching on the internet (http://www.bonusstages.com/bonusstage60.html) and read all about junk shops and Akiba (or rip-off tourist-trap land as some people (http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/forumdisplay.php?f=25) call it) and Sega World and such. If you're interested in reading some of this stuff, here's a few links:

http://www.segagagadomain.com/junk/retrogaming.htm
http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/special/aki/aki.html
http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/special/kyoto/kyoto.html
(plus the Akihabarology features on NTSC-uk (http://www.ntsc-uk.com), which seems to be borked at the moment...)

Some of Yakumo's specials (tours of a Japanese retro-game shop and an arcade) in Retro Core (http://www.segagagadomain.com/retrocore.htm) were also making me drool with anticipation...

So of course, I'm taking lots of cash, a long list plus several short ones (I've already got several people asking me to get stuff for them, so don't ask...please...^^;) and after all this research, I figured I'd follow it up with asking people who'd probably know best a question:

If you've been game shopping in Japan, where would you recommend a first-timer go? I'm thinking places around Tokyo, friendly to someone who doesn't speak any Japanese...I'm sure I could find cool places on my own, but I'd like to hear some recommendations, especially concerning things Megadrive and Playstation.

Also, since I'm posting anyway, how about record shops? I don't have nearly enough Japanese vinyl...:D

Of course, I'm taking a camera, so expect a nice big report upon my return...including photos of the spoils of my exchanging currency for goods and services.

And before someone points this out, I'm aware that I'm going to have to ship most everything home if I buy more than a suitcase full... ;)

[MegaDrive20XX]

http://www.segagagadomain.com/junk/retrogaming.htm <--- I personally wet myself just now because of that link...especially that last picture at the bottom. Wonderful delights, I hope your trip is a successful one!

[stimmyjimmel]

considering i'm one of the bastards telling him to buy me stuff it would be nice if you gave him a hand.... because i really want stuff. (i think i'm going to make him send me a box of candy just by itself)

[Sothy]

I double dog dare you to walk around with an Enola Gay hat on around Tokyo.

[AFGiant]

Damn man, I'm envious. My cousin went to Japan a year or two ago, and he brought me a Tokyo hat and a folder full of Engrish advertisements. He's not a gamer though so I don't know what to tell you. Sorry. Have a lot of fun though!

[GaijinPunch]

I'm working on a Flash Map of Akihabara (http://dynamic5.gamespy.com/~japangaming/akimap.php). Nag me enough and I might get some more work on it before you're gone. :)

While Akihabara has some high prices, it is about the only place to find such a collection anywhere. There are smaller shops peppered throughout the city, but some of them have equally as high, or higher prices. It's very hit and miss. Hope you have a lot of time on your hands.

[I Am Humanoid]

So of course, I'm taking lots of cash...

Pick up a nice sword for yourself

as soon as you get off the plane!

Keep your cash in seperate little stashes

or play it safe and get a check card.