eyesonme78 Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Hi guys.... I will be going to japan at the end of the month for my training ... i wonder can you guys give me some tips on where to shop for the toys? i will most likely be spending alot!! hahaha... Need some help and guidance in order to keep spending minimum and get the maximum number of toys that i want!! joking only.. okie.. let me know okie if possible.. thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miriya Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Sorry I do not have the information you are looking for but I can suggest that you look into the possibility of setting up a PO Box there so that you can order the limited VF-1s from yamatos site (idea came from wickedace). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowyunskinny Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I would recommend a book called Tokyo Underground it's got descriptions and maps of all the toyshops in the Japan area I picked it up and although I haven't been to Japan yet, I can't wait! It's like having a treasure map Amazon has it for $13.57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 You can try the Yodobashi Camera building, 6th floor if I'm not mistaken. They got complete set of gunpla and plamo. For some rare stuff, try walking Akihabara main street to the right after you exit the station, there are plenty of hobby shop there, just keep your eye open. There's Asobit shop and Kotobukiya shop near the station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwinges Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) You can try the Yodobashi Camera building, 6th floor if I'm not mistaken. They got complete set of gunpla and plamo. For some rare stuff, try walking Akihabara main street to the right after you exit the station, there are plenty of hobby shop there, just keep your eye open. There's Asobit shop and Kotobukiya shop near the station. I would avoid books unless they just came out. We were there last year (arrived on St Patty's day) and stayed for 16 days. THe lost planet books were utterly useless for restaurants and clubs. They change too often. Akihabara has changed a lot in the last year as well according to Dannychoo.com. Your best bet to find nearly everything is Yodabashi (THink the biggest electronics, games, toys store known to man). Yodabashi is on the South east side of the station across the street I believe. There are also a lot of other good spots (I hope they are all still there) I'll use the station as a starting pt. -As you walk out of the station (North east side I believe) you will head North about 1 block to hit the main street...Can't remember the name though (it might be chui-dori). Most of what you will find will be along here or withing 1 block to the north of that main street. Don't forget to grab the flyers from the maid girls to find their maid cafe later for lunch. Also in case my memory is wrong, I'm imagining the river on the east side of the station running north/south. -As your heading N out of the station there is a Gamers (game/anime/toys store with a cute little mascott from some anime on the store front). Across the street to the west is an Awsome block (I think this is the Kotobukiya shops.) In the middle of the block head up and You'll be beseiged by toys, gundam...hell everything. Don't forget to hit the little shops in the ground floor tunnels through the middle. These are kinda like a pawn shop for anime toys and figures. I found my best deals and 3 suitcases worth of gundam stuff here. This is also a great place to find trading figures...I even got the little minmay doll there for only $5. BTW the building is like 7 floors worth of toyshops. -On the far side of that awsome block is a little shop that has good deals on gundams and other mecha figsures. -Once your on the main street head east. On the south side are a lot of good shops...try them all...there is also a Macdonalds here if you need an emergency burger or coffee. -Don't forget to look in the lower levels of these buildings since they often hold nice shops, some are eroge manga shops. -Keep heading east until you no longer see stores of interest....like 6-10 blocks. Then go across the street and head back west. Once back to the station area head north a block and you'll find this Awsome toystore (ASOBIT)...as good as Yodabashi (they used to be on the main street but I lucked out last year and caught them just before their move to their current location for 50% off deals). They moved the entire place in 1 night. Freakin nuts. I think its part of the LOAX group but that isn't the name of the place. Once done hear start heading east again. -There is a mandrake there if you're looking for really old stuff but its small and rather difficult to find. And I thought the quality of the toys was rather sub par. I didn't see much for macross...at least not reasonably priced macross stuff. -Check in the arcades and you might find the Gundam simulator...really cool, if you go early in the morning there might not be an hour line for it. -Best bets for macross stuff seemed to be Yodabashi and the building across the street from Gamers. -There were also a lot of good shops in shuboya. We didn't find much for good anime stuff in Harajuku. -I think there is also a Mandrake in Shinjuku. -BTW if your heading to the Tokyo Anime Festival next week I strongly suggest you arrive EARLY. We got there an hour before it opened and upon leaving the train we were shocked by the 1000 yard long line (6- people wide) that grew about 10 people for every 3 steps we took. Eventually we had to run it rather than never reach the end. BTW most of the people in line will already have their tickets so as you get in the doors don't forget to switch lines to the purchase ticket line. If your there at this time I strongly advise you to go...it was very cool. -There is also a great shop that's kinda just north of the UENO station and west of UENO park (great cherry blossom viewing and partying). I didn't buy anything there but it was still a cool shop. North of it are a mess of little shops that sell everything you can imagine. -Also don't expect great prices. Most of what I bought only a dollar or so cheaper than the prices we get from Bigbadtoystore or what we used to get from valkyrie exchange. I was really hoping the pricing would be better. HLJ sold most of what I purchased for about the same price. Prices will vary from store to store, for instance I bought a Gunbuster 2 non figure for like 4600 yen but most stores were selling it for 5600 yen. I shopped around for it but I spent a good 15 or more hours in Akihabara looking closely at everything. Last thing...wear very comfortable shoes. Hope this helps. Have a fun trip. Edited March 16, 2008 by jwinges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I second the recommendation for Tokyo Underground. Also, at Narita, check the JR office. Last time I was there they had an English map of Akihabara pointing out all sorts of different shops (vintage clothing, electronics, manga, video games, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Save Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) There is always me. I work there Mon-Fri spend most of my weekends there 90% of the time. I can take you anywhere you want to go. Send me a PM. Most books are outdated with in a month of printing. By the time you get here Madarake will have already moved to their new bigger location. Edited March 16, 2008 by SaveRobotech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gubaba Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I was disappointed in Akihabara...Nagano is the place to be. Just take the Chuo line from Shinjuku Station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 That would be Nakano, not Nagano, Gubaba. Two totally different places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gubaba Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Dammit! I meant Nakano...but I've been thinking about Five Star Stories today and mixed myself up... Anyway, yeah...Nagano is...well...a little further than Nakano. And I don't think it has Mandarake. Or the strange little hamburger shop near it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruskiiVFaussie Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Dammit! I meant Nakano...but I've been thinking about Five Star Stories today and mixed myself up... Anyway, yeah...Nagano is...well...a little further than Nakano. And I don't think it has Mandarake. Or the strange little hamburger shop near it. When you buy there does it come with a free Frogurht??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Save Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I was disappointed in Akihabara...Nagano is the place to be. Just take the Chuo line from Shinjuku Station. Well Nakano is great and more convenient since everything is in one building but if you know somebody who knows every shop in Akihabara the two offer about the same. Most people just got to Yodabashi and only the shops next to the station that are big company shops so yeah if you don't know where to good shops are Akiba would seem like a wast of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruskiiVFaussie Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 How big is the building in Nakano? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyesonme78 Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Thanks guys.. so much infor!! thks saverobotech, i'll be staying in shinjuku washington for my training.. and most prob be free at night to go out shopping.. maybe i can PM u again when i reach there. And from Shinjuku i think there will be a train service to akihabara right? From there i will most prob jote down what to look out for, based from what i see in this tread.. i was thinking of getting mospeada cyclone by megahouse.. any one by any chance see any over there? cause locally, they are selling at extremely expensive price due to licensing issue( which the shops claimed) and thus i think going to japan and getting them over there maybe a good choice. If possible i may get the japanese contacts and start getting stuff for myself.. I will be targetting gunpla + mospeada cyclones+Alphas maybe see if i can find good ones.. to match with toynami's beta.. hopefully. i wonder how much are they worth over at tokyo? well saverobotech, u will be getting a pm from me within these few days!! hahaha thks..people but dun stop here.. seems i dun have enough infor yet!! cheers to all MW'ers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gubaba Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 How big is the building in Nakano? It's basically a two-story mall, with a few stores for manga, a few stores for toys and models, a movie poster store, a couple of gashapon stores, a couple of idol stores, and (of course) around every other corner, there's porn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shacky Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Here are a few other tips to go along with your shopping: There is a special "discount package" for foreigners on the Narita Express. You show them your passport and they give you a ticket for the NEX and 1500 yen on a Suica card for 3500 yen total. The Suica is a rail pass with a sensor so you just wave it over the turnstile and it deducts the fee automatically. So the normal prices for NEX to Shinjuku is 3100 yen. For 400 yen more, you get 1500 yen free to travel the JR Line around the greater Tokyo area. Here is a link to the site so you can see the details: Suica & NEX Also realize the dollar has dropped considerably. HLJ sells the MH Ride Armors for 5800 yen. That's now $58. 100 yen = $1. I've found several online stores that sell it for almost the same price, but much less shipping. Also, I looked for all over Yokohama for the MH just a week after they came out. They were out everywhere including Yodabashi. Based on some other threads in here, Akiba has raised their prices to 11000 yen. I didn't make it to Akiba on this trip as my business needs were very demanding. Don't let that stop you from going to Yodabashi. Yodabashi discounts nearly everything by 10% and these are new items. Last time I was in Akiba, I learned to ask if the toy was new or used. Many toys look new, but were previously owned. Akiba still has a lot of great stores to search through. I really like the gashapon as I can pick the ones I want instead of leaving it up to chance with the gashapon machines. They make great desktop toys. Have fun shopping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danth Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) Nakano Broadway is definitely the place to go in my opinion, if you're at all looking for old stuff (like vintage Macross goodness). I spent hours at that place. There are like 10 Mandarake stores upstairs. At the bottom floor you can get some pretty good Udon and Tempura, too. My friends and I got totally lost walking around Nakano (after we left the Broadway), and it was so cool how the lamps in the freaking alleys were decorated with origami. A far cry from the disgusting alleys in my town. And I found a comic shop in, again, a freaking alley that had an old Animedia magazine I was looking for with Mospeada on the cover. I thought I was dreaming. Edited March 16, 2008 by danth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-ZeroOne Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Underground-To...4873&sr=8-1 Believe me, this was written by people who have gone out, seen the elephant, and bought back a urine sample. [1] [1] Yes, it was a big bucket. Edit: oops, I see its already been recommended - still, the elephant analogy still applies... Edited March 16, 2008 by F-ZeroOne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I thought that the Broadway building was about 4 or 5 floors. Nakano Sun Mall was two floors from what I remember. I never fail to visit Nakano, especially since a friend of mine and her husband run one of the small stores in the Broadway building. The Mandrake stores there are very cool. I remember when there was only one store the first time I went to Tokyo in 1991. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerwalk25 Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I haven't checked out Super 7's book yet but I bought this book on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880656884/1n9867a-20 It may not have a lot of info on toy shops in Akiba but they do have accurate maps on where to go like Nakano Broadway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-ZeroOne Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I haven't checked out Super 7's book yet but I bought this book on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880656884/1n9867a-20 It may not have a lot of info on toy shops in Akiba but they do have accurate maps on where to go like Nakano Broadway. Thats not a bad book but its more like a snapshot of Japanese pop culture at a moment in time; but yes, the maps could be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ly000001 Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Hi guys.... I will be going to japan at the end of the month for my training ... i wonder can you guys give me some tips on where to shop for the toys? i will most likely be spending alot!! hahaha... Need some help and guidance in order to keep spending minimum and get the maximum number of toys that i want!! joking only.. okie.. let me know okie if possible.. thanks... Do you already know about this map? I don't know how recent it is, but it might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfx Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Have fun, eyesonme. Bring lots of cash. And i'll take saverobotech up on his offer if I were you One of my main gripes about travelling to Japan was my phone's roaming won't work in Japan because it doensn't have a GSM network. But i heard they have fixed that about a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Save Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Nakano Broadway is 4 story shopping mall, 5 stories if you count the bottom basement supermarket. Broadway can be confusing for first time visitors, one main reason is when you enter on the first floor you run into an escalator that takes to directly to the 3rd floor instead of the second floor. You also cant see the secodn floor so you think you are on the second floor when you are actually on the first floor. To keep from getting confused I recommend to find the first floor stairs instead of using the escalators. 1st Floor is mostly comprised of apareal, gimmick, shops. There is a small amusement arcade and two or three toy shops on the east side of the 1st floor. These tow shops are worth checking out you never know what you might find. 2nd floor Mandarake Robot (G1 & new Transformers, Vintage Macross, Kaiji, Resin Kits, Vintage Popy type stuff. Other Mandarake shops are Gatchapon, Figure, Regular Doujinshi, Girl Doujinshi, Video Game, CD and Video. There is even a Madarake shop that sells US toys full of Star Wars, Superhero, new and old. There are also many private owned cube shops selling all kinds of anime related goods. 3rd floor Mandarake main toy is a mix of all kinds of toys you will find Yamato 1/48 and SOC type stuff there. Mandarake game card, Manga, and Art Book / Magazine (old B-club, Animedia, Newtype and Character designer books are found here). Make sure to walk the whole floor there are shops spread everywhere. Don’t stop walking the halls just because you don’t see anything, keep walking until you are back at your starting point. Many shops both new and vintage are spread apart keep looking. 4th floor Mandarake Cell, Cosplay, and book (Artmic, This is Animation, B-Club specials) are found here. There is a cool poster shop, and private owned cell shop located there as well. That's pretty much it in a nut shell. I'm always happy to take visitors around, PM me for my contact info here in Tokyo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_foul_fowl Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 There's a thread for Japan in the "Where to Buy" sub-forums too : http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=16861 (PS. thread should really be pinned! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Funny that you should mention that, SaveRobotech. The last time I was in the Broadway Building, the escalator threw me off. My friend's shop, Disc Five, was on the second floor and I couldn't find it because I was on the third floor, thinking it was the second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Funny that you should mention that, SaveRobotech. The last time I was in the Broadway Building, the escalator threw me off. My friend's shop, Disc Five, was on the second floor and I couldn't find it because I was on the third floor, thinking it was the second. Dude, you know Shigeko and Kunio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I sure do, Roger! That's pretty awesome that you know them! They're both wonderful people! I know Shigeko a lot better than I do her husband. I met her through a mutual friend of ours on my first visit to Tokyo. On my second trip to Tokyo in 1998 which I actually took on my own, she took me out several times during my stay. She even met me at the hotel that I was staying at on the day I arrived and took me out to dinner with her and Kunio. The restaurant that they took me to was in the Broadway Buliding, but I don't think it's there anymore, especially with how fast businesses come and go in Tokyo. The only trip to Japan that I've been on that I didn't see Shigeko was three years ago. She was on vacation at the time, and I didn't see her until the last day of my trip. We did manage to have coffee together along with another friend of hers, whose name I forget, I'm embarrassed to say. As always, I didn't leave her store empty-handed. Every visit to her store, she always has me leaving with a handful of free promotional material. One of which was an awesome Zeta Gundam movie bag. When I was last in Japan two years ago, Shigeko took my friends and me to the Studio Ghibli Museum and on a day trip out to Hakone. I love Shigeko and her wonderful hospitality, which is always greatly appreciated! I should actually be seeing her in about two weeks when I go back to Japan at the end of this month. My two friends and I that are going are chipping in to buy her a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label to thank her for all that she's done for us over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 There is always me. I work there Mon-Fri spend most of my weekends there 90% of the time. I can take you anywhere you want to go. Send me a PM. Most books are outdated with in a month of printing. By the time you get here Madarake will have already moved to their new bigger location. Madarake is moving?! I wondered why all their stuff was in brown bags on the top shelves last week. I just assumed that all those girl dolls had been the victim of crazy censorship and had been placed out of reach of minors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltane70 Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Yeah, Mandrake is opening its new flagship store in Shizuoka, I think it is. Although they could also be also moving to a new location in Tokyo as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Yeah, Mandrake is opening its new flagship store in Shizuoka, I think it is. Although they could also be also moving to a new location in Tokyo as well. But the Akihabara store isn't the flagship store. Where's that going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruskiiVFaussie Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 It's basically a two-story mall, with a few stores for manga, a few stores for toys and models, a movie poster store, a couple of gashapon stores, a couple of idol stores, and (of course) around every other corner, there's porn. yay poRn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 (edited) yay poRn! Don't encourage Actually, i've noticed in the last few years how much "porn" is creeping into Akiba, for example. I used to go to some stores that were full of robots and such. Then all of a sudden, half the store is given over to dolls of girls doing questionable things dressed in all manner of leather items. There's a pretty sick store in Akiba near a Yellow Submarine where grown men go to buy all manner of photos, soft-core videos and standees of girls just south of 13. I reeeeeeally hate that stuff. Edited March 17, 2008 by Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I sure do, Roger! That's pretty awesome that you know them! They're both wonderful people! Heh, small world. Shigeko helped us get all of our guests for the Asian Fantasy Film Expo shows we did a few years ago, and every time I'm in Japan I drop in on her and Kunio. Whether she can make it herself or not (those two work hellish hours), she always makes it a point to let all of our old AFFE guests know I'm in town and we get trashed together. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruskiiVFaussie Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 (edited) Don't encourage Actually, i've noticed in the last few years how much "porn" is creeping into Akiba, for example. I used to go to some stores that were full of robots and such. Then all of a sudden, half the store is given over to dolls of girls doing questionable things dressed in all manner of leather items. There's a pretty sick store in Akiba near a Yellow Submarine where grown men go to buy all manner of photos, soft-core videos and standees of girls just south of 13. I reeeeeeally hate that stuff. Yeah understand that, i was in jest and trying to be sarcastic, the loli stuff is pathetic. Edited March 18, 2008 by ruskiiVFaussie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.