Guide to Akihabara

Hi all, I recently put up a guide to retro shopping in Akiba on my blog at DCgaga but am wondering if I missed anything. Do you have any favourite retro haunts I have failed to cover or do you think that is pretty much it these days?

http://dreamcastgaga.blogspot.jp/2013/06/guide-to-retro-shopping-in-akihabara.html

 

Don't have suggestions, but would just like to say that this is awesome and will come in handy while I'm there- retro shopping is something I will not miss!

 

You missed Friends and Sofmap's retro trash shop.

 

Thanks, I have heard of Friends, think I went there a few years ago but didn't think much to it. Will have to check it out again. As for Sofmap, didn't they close their retro section? Now, the oldest console goods they sell is PS2. Do you know of another store(I am talking about the old main store on chuo-dori)?

 

Nor did I. At the time (at least 5 years ago) it was the same stock as Trader 2, Super Potato, etc., but at worse prices (and oddly enough, further from the station). Gotta love Japanese mentality.

 

I didn't see any retro stuff in Sofmap Akiba, but their store in DenDen Town definitely had some Dreamcast stuff (got a Dreamcast Keyboard there, 300 yen!).

This is a great guide, and is practically a mirror of where I went on my two Akiba days.

I spent the most money in Super Potato though, they just happened to have the specific bits I was after, and the attendant knew a little English which helped too!

I got my Saturn TwinSticks in DenDen Town, at Game Tanteidan, just 1500 yen!

 

Yeah, I really need to check out DenDen Town one of these days. Shame these shops are slowly dying as machines disappear and digital downloading eats into the retro market.

 

It's with everything. Game shops, record shops (like real vinyl ones), other music shops, etc. While Shibuya still has quite a few record shops (most of them small mom & pop) I remember the glory days when DJing actually took skill, time, and a lot of money (or eating Ramen) and there were 5 Cisco's on one corner, plus 3-4 other shops carrying new only vinyl, plus two huge used shops. Now it's basically down to Technique and Disk Union... ironically, most of my friends in the US would kill for those in the same place.

 

They have a ghetto retro store on the main strip in a building on the 2F above where Trader 3 used to be or near there.

 

Yeah, that store has pretty much got rid of the retro stuff.

 

Amazing article!

 

When I visited that Liberty the last time (about three month ago), there was not much of retro stuff left. Regarding retro stuff this shop is literally dead and runs on its last breath, therefore I don't waste anymore time to go there. The good stuff is gone anyway, left back is some junk only.. at resonable prices tho if you like to buy some cheapies on the way.

On the contrary of few members here, I think that retro friends is alwyas a short visit worth. It's small, but has some good stuff here and there. And it sure is alwyas cheaper on the same items compared to f.e. potato.

And if we speaking of high prices, that Retro Game Camps is one overprices bastard since day one. Althogh I could make some few bargains there from time to time, when they had some special sales. But overall, way overpriced.

These days for me it's all about Mandarake (if you like to buy super pristine quality stuff at best price possible), Trader Honkan (very good and lots of stuff @ good prices), Retro friends (had always few suprises ready in the past) and Potato (if you can't find it anywhere else, because he undoublty has the biggest bunch even mostly overpriced retro games in town).

In the end, every shop has its little pros and cons. So first go check out all of them, make some notes and go back to buy the stuff at best prices afterwards is the best advice I can give. But sometimes available time may be a missing factor here, so you can't go wrong with mandarake and trader honkan first, if you can't find your needfull things there, check out potato at the end.

 

btw. also the potato (A) is one block moved down on your map. And Trader Honkan (D) seems to be a little bit shift to the upper side^^
Not that one wouldn't be able find these shop anyway because of this :loyal:

 

Might be worth mentioning that Super Potato is a chain, dealing in retro games and trading cards.

The other retro games Super Potato in Tokyo is in Ikebukuro, about halfway between Ikebukuro and Higashi-Ikebukuro stations. It's only one floor, but it's jam-packed to overflowing. This one also has some throw-out boxes in front of the store. I got a boxed original Playstation controller (non analogue) for 30 yen. (Yes! Only ONE zero there!)

 

hmmm,,, feels like I'm the odd one out spending most of time checking out maid cafes and other odd ball shops...

 

Yeah, i noticed with the map it is slightly off. Will have to sort that out. Funny story is I was shopping in Trader earlier in the week and got talking to a Western looking high school kid who was wearing a J-school uniform. Anyway, I thought it was interesting that someone who was so young would be interested in Dreamcast. He told me that he had found the shop after checking out my blog, small world!

Same day I picked up this in Akiba Book Off for an amazing, 2,355 yen (15 pounds)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BM95r4aCIAE_NUW.jpg:medium


Liberty can be good if you check out all of the branches, especially the one near Book Off, but I agree, they seem to moving away from retro to those daft idol card things. Will check out friends! Thanks for the tip.

 

If you look through this forum over the years you will find loads of maps made by members here, akiba changes a fair bit every year but the main stores stay the same. Your map misses off plenty but half the fun is searching akiba by yourself. but i would still add arcade shops like MAK Japan and g-front to the map. Depends on how much you plan on keeping it up to date.....my own personal map of Japan has a few hundred pins on it now...

 

Do you think a entire day is too much for visiting Akihabara? My main interest is retrogames (SEGA related), but I'm not into buying too much stuff, just lurking around.

Ah and I'd love to see your map.

 

Depends what your plans are. If you just intend to purchase some games and know where you are going then you can be finished within a couple of hours. However, if you have the time why not take your time to visit the arcades, the toy stores and all the other crazy stores in Akiba?

 

Fun tip:

When you go there, go via the Hibiya metro line, rather than the JR line.

When you come up the escalator from the metro station, the gigantic sign for Yodobashi Camera saying "Welcome to Akiba Japan" appears over the horizon. For me, this phenomenon was akin to a religious experience.