Visiting Japan next month..

Hello everyone

Im off to Tokyo for a few days next month and I really cant wait. Obviously I'll try my hardest to get around everywhere and see/do as much as i possibly can.

However, Im staying in Shinjuku and was wondering if there is any interesting Game stores/Arcades/Cool things in that specific area?

Thanks very much,

Joe.

Also, does anybody know where the Nintendo, Sega, SNK and Sony headquaters/stores are?

 

I'm off to Japan next month as well!

Ahem, anyway Shinjuku is a pretty cool place to be, I used to stay in the Yoyogi Koen YH about 10 mins away the last couple of times I have been there on my own.

Shinjuku has a bunch of game stores, although as you can imagine Akihabara and maybe Nakano are better overall. You even have a Liberty store around there which is probably your best bet for games. There are also some Game Centers, mainly ones that specialize in Fighters at a high level. But nothing unique that I can think of, off hand. Just trot around the entertainment area near the station, you will trip over Yodobashi Camera and Traders before long. Kabuki Cho is mostly best avoided, but there are some grimy game centers round there.

Overall Shinjuku is a good place to eat and drink in the evening, of course there are game centers and shops, but if you are going in the day time you should hit somewhere better, like Akiba or Nakano.

As for visiting headquaters, I don't know what you are looking for. Sony only has a showroom. Ninty is in Kyoto and I rate you would have to blag your ass off to get inside!

But as for SNK, now that is worth a visit. However it is in Osaka, but if you are going that way you should certainly pop in. They have an amazing shop!

I don't know if it is up your alley, but I am going to check out the SE showcase -
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/showcase/
Might be a giggle, I am hoping they have some of the out of print jewelry.

Anyway here is the Sony ginza showroom -
http://www.sony.jp/showroom/
I might be heading there to see the Playstation sig gear.

EDIT -
Guide to getting out of the hilariously confusing Shinjuku station.
http://www.tokyoessentials.com/shinjuku.html
Head out the station South or East. I find it easier to get my bearings to head out the station from the main South exit. I then turn right and walk along the main road till you go past your first game shop! Then turn right down the small alley and you will be in the nice "gaming" bit of Shinjuku.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html
Another good site with what to look out for. I do find it really easy to get disorientated in Shinjuku, especially in the station and multiple, easy to mix-up department stores.

 

The Sony showroom really doesnt have a lot in terms of Playstation right now. I was just there 4 days ago: they had 1 black PS3 under glass and a bunch of psps hooked up to TVs (nothing you could actually try out). The new gadgets/cameras are kinda neat though, so its worth a stop. Right now it seems like Blue Ray is the big thing theyre trying to promote.