Where to buy in Japan?

[Fortress_Maximus]

I am in Japan now... anyone got recommendations for places to visit?

I've already been in Shibuya (ie Mandarake), Ginza and some of the main Tokyo stores. Looking for recommendations ASAP. THanks!

[Fortress_Maximus]

Anyone?

[Valk009]

You may want to try the shopping arcade called "Broadway Nakano". Use the underground to get there, nearest station is Nakano, which is one or two station west from Shinjuku! Here you will find Mandarake and many other small shops, apparently Tuesday or Wednesday is a good day to go as you will get a discount, if I remember correctly!

Another place is Akihabara, lots of shops selling games, computer stuff, porn and anime...you will find something of your liking

Besides these two places, where most shops are concentrated, the others are scattered all around the places!

[yellowlightman]

I'd check out around Roppongi, weekend evenings, sometime after 10pm...

[magicsp00n]

You may want to try the shopping arcade called "Broadway Nakano". Use the underground to get there, nearest station is Nakano, which is one or two station west from Shinjuku! Here you will find Mandarake and many other small shops, apparently Tuesday or Wednesday is a good day to go as you will get a discount, if I remember correctly!

Another place is Akihabara, lots of shops selling games, computer stuff, porn and anime...you will find something of your liking 

Besides these two places, where most shops are concentrated, the others are scattered all around the places!

344639[/snapback]

I totally agree with these suggestions. You can spend a couple of days just at Nakano Broadway (the good stuff starts on the second floor) and at Akehabara. The Hobby Lobby, Gamers, ABC, etc, etc, etc... lots of good, good stuff there.

[Fortress_Maximus]

Thanks for the suggestions, could you guys list addresses too? Thanks!

[magicsp00n]

For the places we mentioned, the two areas are very easy to get to.

For the Nakano Mandarake, take the JR train to the Nakano station. Go through the north exit, there will be a long arcade of shops. (You'll see a McDonald's) Go through this to another shopping area called Nakano Broadway. The first floor is very boring, and when I went I thought I was in the wrong area. Go up the stairs, and starting on the second floor you will be amazed by wholesome toy, game, video, and comic goodness. Here:

http://www.mandarake.co.jp/english/shop/nkn.html

As for Akehabara, take the JR train to the Akehabara station, and exit out the Electric Town side. You'll see the sign for Gamers on the right side of the street. The Hobby Lobby will be on the second floor on the left side of the street. Really, just wander around the neighborhood. Your toy shopping wishes will be entirely satisfied.

[big F]

No need to add anything here all the good places are listed. There are other places in Akiharbra and also a few small places in Shinjuku, but I only remember how I walk to them from where I stay in Shinjuku. Akiharbra is a must there are loads of thgings to look at. There is a Mandrake there too, also a couple of shops on the main street same side as the station that sell Macross and also other anime stuff. Just walk down past the Pink coloured Arcade cant remember what its called Its just after it on the same side.

Everytime I go there I find something or somewhere new to spend my money.

PINK ARCADE.

I have other pictures if you want me to post them on a web page.

Edited November 15, 2005 by big F

[Fortress_Maximus]

Yes kindly post more pics! And if you can give addresses too, it'll help! I will be traveling at night... so it'll be challenging. THANKS!

[big F]

O.K what I will do is post a webpage on my work server with all thew Aki pictures I have .

Then any one reading this please please please have a look and if you can put names to shops etc that would be great as I dont read much Kanji and only usually go by directions like next to the coffeshop opposite the Yoshinoya or things like that.

So Ideally Im looking for some one who lives in Japan to help out a bit.

[big F]

HERE IT IS MY AKI PHOTO PAGE

My AKI PAGE

Edited November 16, 2005 by big F

[Fortress_Maximus]

Cool! I just went there last night by train. Finding the Mandarake there was a royal bitch! No street signs so I had to find it the old fashioned way, painfully! In truth it really close to the landmark TAITO but on the othersides alleyway on the 5th and 6th floor.

And btw, there were tons of great stuff in Akihabara... not much Macross but I did see an Elit Seeker, 1/48 Roy, Hikaru and LV (none of which were for sale). Damn.

[Save]

Hey Fortress_Maximus welcome to Tokyo. If you are going to be here for a bit we should meet up. I'll PM you with my contact info.

SaveRobotech

[Shacky]

Cool! I just went there last night by train. Finding the Mandarake there was a royal bitch! No street signs so I had to find it the old fashioned way, painfully! In truth it really close to the landmark TAITO but on the othersides alleyway on the 5th and 6th floor.

And btw, there were tons of great stuff in Akihabara... not much Macross but I did see an Elit Seeker, 1/48 Roy, Hikaru and LV (none of which were for sale). Damn.

345354[/snapback]

I happen to be in Japan this week as well, leaving today. I wanted to go to Akihabara, but I just couldn't find the time to head up there from Akihabara (too much work to do). I did pick up a 1/48 Roy and Strike/Super packs at Toys-R-Us for regular prices (13,000 yen and 5,000 yen respectively).

I was in Akihabara in July and they had some good prices on 1/48 Max and Millia Supers, but I was still buying my 1/60 at that time. 3 or 4 stores had them, but only one store took credit cards. The rest were ATM or cash only.

BTW, the CM figures are available at Toy-R-Us for 549 yen. That's less than $5 each.

Thanks to this thread, I'll know where to go when I come back in January.

[Fortress_Maximus]

Coolness! Another MWers currently in Japan!

Yup, I was wondering why a thread as useful as this wasn't already created.

Mods... perhaps we can pin this thread for other people who plan on visiting Japan? Thanks!

[nemesis120]

And btw, there were tons of great stuff in Akihabara... not much Macross but I did see an Elit Seeker, 1/48 Roy, Hikaru and LV (none of which were for sale). Damn.

345354[/snapback]

I've found a ton of good stuff in Akihabara. I got 3x Takatoku VF-1Js for less than 3000 yen each (all were in box and everything!). And I saw a ton of stuff, although a lot of it seemed pricey. And, for those of you who don't know, addresses in Japan don't really exist and most places don't accept credit cards

I'd also second the idea for a thread for Japan visitors to have a MW do there.

[Fortress_Maximus]

Mods, please make it so. Thanks!

[big F]

Yup mods make it a sticky thread.

[kanata67]

hey Fortress_Maximus, don't forget to look up monkey nugget in japan. He's a great guy... and if you were to throw stuff in your luggage my shipping would be less

[robokochan]

hey Fortress_Maximus,

If you are going to come to Osaka drop me aPM and we can meet up.

Rob MN

[Fortress_Maximus]

hey Fortress_Maximus, don't forget to look up monkey nugget in japan. He's a great guy... and if you were to throw stuff in your luggage my shipping would be less

346295[/snapback]

Thanks for the heads up.

Oddly I cannot find Monkey-N to pm him, what is his current username?

Edited November 22, 2005 by Fortress_Maximus

[valkyrie312]

Samurai_M

Hope this helps!

[nemesis120]

hey Fortress_Maximus,

If you are going to come to Osaka drop me  aPM and we can meet up.

Rob MN

346340[/snapback]

Hey Rob,

Could you post a list (or an area) in Osaka that would be a good place to shop for Macross stuff?

I (should) finally visit Osaka in January

[Shacky]

O.K what I will do is post a webpage on my work server with all thew Aki pictures I have .

Then any one reading this please please please have a look and if you can put names to shops etc that would be great as I dont read much Kanji and only usually go by directions like next to the coffeshop opposite the Yoshinoya or things like that.

So Ideally Im looking for some one who lives in Japan to help out a bit.

345274[/snapback]

Big F, I finally made it back to Japan and have some native Japanese speakers that can translate store names for me. Problem is, I don't know which stores you need translation for? I'll be making a stop in Akihabara on my way back to the airport to get some last minute Macross goodies. I'm hoping to pickup a 1/48 GBP at least.

[Save]

Big F, I finally made it back to Japan and have some native Japanese speakers that can translate store names for me. Problem is, I don't know which stores you need translation for?  I'll be making a stop in Akihabara on my way back to the airport to get some last minute Macross goodies. I'm hoping to pickup a 1/48 GBP at least.

372845[/snapback]

Shacky,

Where are you staying in Japan. I'm in Tokyo, let me know when you are coming to Akihabara I can take you to a shop that sells the GBP cheaper than anywhere else. Send me a PM if you want to meet up.

Edited February 23, 2006 by SaveRobotech

[robokochan]

Places to shop in Osaka: Most of these are located in Den-Den Town

Mandrake - 2 Locations: Umeda & Namba

Softmap

Joshin Kid's Land

Hobby Lobby

Yellow Submarine

Kotobukiya

Capsule Mega Shop

Volks

K-Books (hee hee do a search you will know what I mean...)

Plus if you do come down on a Friday...I may be able to hook you up with a trip to the wholeseller district.

Also for those interested I have put up alot of pictures of my area HERE

Edited February 23, 2006 by samurai_m

[big F]

Rob you are a God. When Im in Japan I will try may hardest to get to Osaka. I Can trick my friends into going there as theres a lot of cultural things to do there. Once there I can take them shopping Macross style.

Save Robotech I will be in Japan in April so Maybe see you there.

Also the web page with my pictures on is at My Aki page

Feel free to give any names of shops you see there and If you want any directions based on the pictures etc. I.E next to the big shop in picture .... is a small road ... etc.

Any good info will be added to the page for others to hopefully follow.

May be we should look into a dedicated Macross in Japan buying page on the website or in somewhere similar, where pictures and directions can be posted etc.

Edited February 23, 2006 by big F

[Save]

Big F,

Yeah when I was in Osaka in Sept. I liked it way better than Tokyo. I hope to go back soon.

Cool see you in April. Are you coming here in vacation, or work? When are you coming in April?

I'm working on a shopping map or MW members and Anime collectors right now. I will get the names of the stores and should have something ready to upload early next week.

[robokochan]

Good luck with that SaveRobotech...

I tired once before but the dang shops kept closing and new ones popping up all the time. I finally gave up.

I swear to you, my area has changed completely at least 3 times since I have been here..... alot of good shops closed...and crappy ones opened.

Rob

[big F]

Big F,

Yeah when I was in Osaka in Sept. I liked it way better than Tokyo. I hope to go back soon.

Cool see you in April. Are you coming here in vacation, or work? When are you coming in April?

I'm working on a shopping map or MW members and Anime collectors right now. I will get the names of the stores and should have something ready to upload early next week.

373226[/snapback]

I will be in Japan at the end of April the 17th - 26th. All pleasure my trips are Although Im always looking for that special thing to sell to the people back home for a masive mark up. Last year it was Nismo Keys for Nissan owners. This year mmmm not sure yet.

Good idea with the map just hope you can get it up to date, and nobody closes down the good shops and replaces them with tat shops.

[Shacky]

Shacky,

Where are you staying in Japan. I'm in Tokyo, let me know when you are coming to Akihabara I can take you to a shop that sells the GBP cheaper than anywhere else. Send me a PM if you want to meet up.

372954[/snapback]

A big thank you to SaveRobotech for taking me and my coworker around Akihabara! I wish we had more time as it would have been nice to sit and chat with you a little more. My 1/48 GBP and 1J have made it safely back to the states.

The last time I was in Akihbara, I went to Hobby Figure (1 of 3, the other two using a Japanese text which I only assume is Hobby Figure) and found one that took MC as I did not have the full amount of cash on me. Upon going back with SaveRobotech, this same store had marked up the 1/48 Max from 14000 to 25000 yen. I should have probably bought it when I saw it.

Also thanks to SaveRobotech for helping me find the store with the cheapest price on the 1/48 GBP. I would have not found that store you took us to on my own and would probably have spent more time running around looking and may have even missed it.

I plan to go back around April/May for more work. I'll try to plan some free time in there, but the best time is usually the day we rush home. I'll let you know when I'm in the area again and maybe we'll have time to get some ramen (another favorite of mine ).

[kanata67]

I'll let you know when I'm in the area again and maybe we'll have time to get some ramen (another favorite of mine ).

374036[/snapback]

udon is where it's at... not ramen. When you've eaten ramen dry out of the package for a month straight while living out of a car you will know why it's worth the extra quarter for the good noodles

[Shacky]

I'll let you know when I'm in the area again and maybe we'll have time to get some ramen (another favorite of mine ).

374036[/snapback]

udon is where it's at... not ramen. When you've eaten ramen dry out of the package for a month straight while living out of a car you will know why it's worth the extra quarter for the good noodles

374335[/snapback]

Ah dry ramen, just add water! Yup, I used to eat Top Ramen and Cup-O-Noodles all the time in college. I avoid them as much as possible nowadays. If you've never had true Japanese ramen, you are missing out on a real noodle experience. Fresh ramen has a soy sauce base, pork base, or miso base soup that has been stewing all morning. The noodles are fresh and cooked just right (firm and not soggy). They throw in extra ingredients like pork slices, seaweed, half a boiled egg, etc. Of course there's a price difference as well. It's easy to spend $8 - $10 a bowl for ramen.

Also, within the San Francisco area, I've found 3 good ramen places just like Japan, though I think Japan still has the best ramen.

ITADAKIMASU!

[big F]

I think Japan still has the best ramen.

374561[/snapback]

Sure does.

Everywhere else I have tried to get authentic food has not been authentic, with exception of various Japanese food stores like the ones in London.

One Authentic place was o.k right up to the point where they did not serve with chopsticks. WHAT !!! Im suposed to eat with a Knife and Fork. Chopsticks are so much more efficient than the good ol Knife and Fork, except when eating soup.

Edited February 28, 2006 by big F

[falcon14141]

Places to shop in Osaka:  Most of these are located in Den-Den Town

Mandrake - 2 Locations:  Umeda & Namba

Softmap

Joshin Kid's Land

Hobby Lobby

Yellow Submarine

Kotobukiya

Capsule Mega Shop

Volks

K-Books (hee hee do a search you will know what I mean...)

Plus if you do come down on a Friday...I may be able to hook you up with a trip to the wholeseller district.

Also for those interested I have put up alot of pictures of my area HERE

373020[/snapback]

.... I feel depressed.... watching your pictures brings back some great memories. ... Too bad I had to leave Japan ... and I miss Den Den Town sooooo much ...