My Japan trip April 2018

A place where you can chat about anything that isn't to do with games!
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

neorichieb1971 wrote:What about stores that are not tourist attractions, or are they all well documented to Westerners?
You will be hard pressed to find these joints outside of Tokyo. Bookoff's scattered aroun town might yield you the odd ball cool but not super rare game, but anything that would wind up in a show case, in a Tokyo shop, is going to come w/ the overhead of running a shop in Tokyo.
For the record I don't mind buying cheap games that are just cheap. I'd be happy just buying puzzle bobble on the SFC for $10. Just because a game goes for $600 doesn't mean I want it because its $600. You say its like a museum, but as I see it people are looking at it as a gold mine for ebay hauls.
I don't think you get my point. Those days are over.... and have been for a while. Anyone using Akihabara as their source of ebay sales will lose money hand over fist. When I first started selling on Ebay (1999) I could go to Akiba, and almost randomly buy anything for a 16-bit or 32-bit system and sell it for a mark up on Ebay. Now, you can get the games cheaper on Ebay quite often for a couple of reasons. 1) Japanese sellers finally got over their xenophobia and realized money was better (eg, selling to westerners and getting the export price hike themselves. ) 2) Japan's tourism industry being about 3x what it was before, and the internet exposing Akihabara as a nerds paradise.
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Does anyone know where I can buy a F3 Taito motherboard in Tokyo?

Thanks,

Richard.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

Mak Japan: 10,000 yen as of this writing.
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

GaijinPunch wrote:Mak Japan: 10,000 yen as of this writing.
I did actually research between then and now and saw that Mak are selling it for 10000 yen. Hopefully its not too heavy. Thanks GP.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Ok guys,

I'm going with a spending budget of around Y300,000. I will likely spend Y200,000 on merchandise, mostly on games with a bit on blurays and a bit on anything I see Death note related since that is my thing. All accommodation is pre-paid and we have the JP rail pass pre-paid as well. My wife is taking at least Y150,000 as well. As a backup I can probably spend another Y150,000 on my credit card if absolutely necessary.

Using Nin nin's price list i've figured that I could easily afford what i'm looking for (if it were in stock). I found a "Friends" price list online although the translation doesn't make it clear what a "Purchase list" actually is. Is it a price list for trading in, or a purchase price list for actually purchasing items from the store?

http://gameshop.ocnk.net/page/47 - These prices seem quite fair if they are purchase prices (not trading in prices). If they are trading in prices I assume you pay an extra 30% on top.

My wanted list is as follows - (I will not necessarily get all of them).

Magical Quest 3 - Super famicom
Great Battle 5 - Super Famicom
Great Battle 4 - Super Famicom
Puzzle Bobble - Super Famicom
Macross Scramble Valkyrie - Super Famicom
Ganbare Goeman 4 - Super Famicom
Ghost Sweeper - Super Famicom
TwinBee Rainbow Bell - Super Famicom
Rockman X3 - Super Famicom
Muscle Bomber Body Explosion - Super Famicom
Go Go Ackman - Super Famicom
Super Genjin - Super Famicom
Akumajo Dracula XX - Super Famicom
F3 Motherboard - PCB
Kirby Crystal Shards - N64
Mario 64 Shindou - N64
Zelda - N64
Taito Chase HQ - Saturn
Rockman X4 - PS1
Strikers 1945 2 - PS1
Zanac x Zanac - PS1
Einhander - PS1
Motteke Tamago - Saturn

A Super Famicom System - Probably not boxed
A N64 system - Probably not boxed, with the aim of modding for HDMI


I'm considering Super Tempo - Saturn. I like big bright 2D colourful games. Worth it?
I like the idea of having a Puzzle bobble 4 player so might pick up a cheap N64 puzzle bobble.
I might pick up a GBA SP system boxed for the novelty of it.
ESP Galuda PS2 is a wanted item
Still oohing and arring about a GBA player for my cube.

If you think I have any dead weight here please let me know.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

http://gameshop.ocnk.net/page/47 - These prices seem quite fair if they are purchase prices (not trading in prices). If they are trading in prices I assume you pay an extra 30% on top.
A few things my dad told me:
- If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
- If it seems like a good deal, it's not Friend's price list

You're not going to find a god deal in Akihabara - period. If you're not going to venture to some other shops (many of which will require a car) you best bet is find a user here that lives in Japan, have them get them off of YJ and pay them a service fee (which might take them to over Ebay prices due to the hassle involved).
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Would I best served to take all my money to Osaka?

The problem with that is i'm not going back to Tokyo. I know you mean well by me GP, I'm not going there just for a deal, I'm going to buy some things because I want them and they double up as a memento. If a mint condition Rockman X3 costs $150, it costs $150. It just means I won't be spending as much money elsewhere.

As suggested, I have my JP rail pass and don't mind going elsewhere in Japan to find cheaper goods if i'm going in that direction anyway. We have access to a car in Tokyo for the first 3 days. After that i'm on rail and foot.

I have watched videos on youtube of the shops, paused them many times for prices. Rockman X3 was Y14000. Thats £90 in my money. I don't know if you pay taxes on top (please tell). So yeah, it sounds like ebay prices :lol: . The only benefit is that I don't pay shipping or import taxes (I may have to if I get caught).
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
Sparky
Posts: 186
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:14 am
Location: California

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Sparky »

Not only does GaijinPunch mean well, they are speaking the truth. :!: I visited Japan in December 2017. The prices for video games in Tokyo were abysmal. Even new items such as the Super Famicom Mini were marked up by 1,000-2,000 yen in some stores. I found relatively lower prices while traveling in Hiroshima and Osaka. The best places to look were used general stores like Book Off and Hard Off. One problem with these places is the stock will not be consistent so you will have to work a little more to track the items you want. You should be able to find these stores using Google Maps on a computer or smartphone.

Good luck and have a great time on your trip! Make sure you visit Mikado and Hey! in Tokyo and Anata no Warehouse in Kawasaki (about 45 minutes from Tokyo Station) to play arcade games. :mrgreen:
"Make-up! Jewels! Dresses! I want it all! Sigh... And some new accessories would be nice..."
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

Japanese law states that the tax-inclusive price must be visible, so if you see a more expensive (yet visible) price somewhere in plain view, that's the tax-inclusive price. If it saves you shipping and duties, then maybe that makes it a better deal.

I can't really speak for Osaka. Nipponbashi has traditionally been a bit better than Akihabara, but I know it's no treasure trove.
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
User avatar
gbaplayer
Posts: 961
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: Germany

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by gbaplayer »

Are there any places outside the big cities where it is possible to find some real good deals on retro games? I´m also looking for shops that sell FM Towns/PC98 games.
Where can i find the shops that sell the items from surugaya.co.jp?
My PCB Collection (2): Cyvern, R-Type Leo
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

I know Friends is cash only. Are the others CC friendly?

By the way, not suggesting anyone is lying. There is a part of me that hopes your wrong because it means I can buy more bits. But I totally get it that I will have to suck up the pain when I get there.

There is something else I haven't told you. My wife for some reason will let me spend money on my holiday that she would never agree to on ebay. If I spent £1000 on ebay this week the divorce papers would arrive before any games did.

As part of my trip I will take pictures of prices if I can. I think retro shops in Japan are being protectionist of their wares. If they didn't increase the prices it would all be gone anyway. Apparently any Japanese games that leave Japan very rarely (if ever) return to the homeland.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Sparky wrote:I found relatively lower prices while traveling in Hiroshima and Osaka.
Do you have any addresses? Names of shops etc?


Thanks,
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
Skykid
Posts: 17646
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:16 pm
Location: Planet Dust Asia

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Skykid »

Richie, I can see you have your savings and your plan and I applaud you for going there to live like it's 1995. I hope you have a great holiday and come back with some cool gaming mementos.

I think the crux of it all is that, even compared to when you said you were going to Japan last year, the market has become increasingly stubborn about values. 2001 is a distant memory. My honest advice would be to blow money in whatever arcades are left, buy some random stuff you happen upon (because there's plenty of that) grab a few games on your list that are most important to you, and try and do some sightseeing.

Yahoo Japan is similarly nonsensical but it's better than street level and you can buy from there any time. Most important thing is to have fun! It may not be the Japan of old, but it's still Japan, and that means culture, history, beauty and an idiosyncratic urban landscape unlike any other.
Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die

neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Haha 1995.

I think what Skykid said is spot on. I will buy lots of things regardless of price. I'm going there feeling like a 2 week millionaire and thats what holidays are all about. Even if I come back bankrupt, I will only live once and i'm sure my games and toys and whatever else I buy will be worth something. Better than going on a 4k holiday only to find you have a memory of a beach in the sun.

I only have a very short time to shop for games in Aki anyway. The first 3 days only. After that I will say goodbye to it and never return on this trip. I am leaving Japan from Osaka.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
Sparky
Posts: 186
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:14 am
Location: California

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Sparky »

neorichieb1971 wrote:
Sparky wrote:I found relatively lower prices while traveling in Hiroshima and Osaka.
Do you have any addresses? Names of shops etc?


Thanks,
I do not have any specific names of shops or addresses. It was mostly an observation from comparing prices between Tokyo and those areas. I am also not claiming you will get deals there either. The cost will just be more sensible and in line with the current market value. I would look at Book Off and Hard Off for some of the more common games and hardware on your list. (Nintendo 64, Gameboy Advance, & Playstation 1) The further you leave the big cities the better these stores get. There is a Hard Off/Book Off in Kawaguchiko (near Mount Fuji) that had some fair prices. Again, the inventory can be a hit-or-miss at these shops so enter with tepid expectations and a desire to rummage.
"Make-up! Jewels! Dresses! I want it all! Sigh... And some new accessories would be nice..."
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

neorichieb1971 wrote:I know Friends is cash only. Are the others CC friendly?
Absolutely not. Take cash.
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
User avatar
Sparky
Posts: 186
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:14 am
Location: California

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Sparky »

GaijinPunch wrote:
neorichieb1971 wrote:I know Friends is cash only. Are the others CC friendly?
Absolutely not. Take cash.
You can use a credit/debit card at places like Super Potato, Book/Hard Off, Mandrake, and a couple of other shops but cash is definitely preferred. Suica/Pasmo electronic payment cards are also available for purchase with a small deposit fee that can be used in stores, vending machines, train ticket fares, and even on arcade cabinets in HEY! arcade. I liked having it around as a substitution to cash or a credit card.
"Make-up! Jewels! Dresses! I want it all! Sigh... And some new accessories would be nice..."
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

Has anyone tried Zest?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8442368 ... 312!8i6656


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtAxLStFRw


I don't know how big Saitama is, but thats where I am staying on day 1 and 2.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir//35.844 ... 3485,14.5z
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
quash
Posts: 1361
Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:25 am
Location: San Diego
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by quash »

Don't rule out Amazon JP. You can find some diamonds in the rough there, and you can have most things delivered to convenience stores or general delivery to the nearest post office. They take US credit cards though I'm not sure about other countries.

Past that, I agree with the sentiment that you're getting sloppy seconds in regards to classic games out here. Grab what you want before it becomes unobtainable, if it hasn't already.
User avatar
Steamflogger Boss
Posts: 3075
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2017 3:29 pm
Location: Eating the Rich

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Steamflogger Boss »

GaijinPunch wrote:I don't think you get my point. Those days are over.... and have been for a while. Anyone using Akihabara as their source of ebay sales will lose money hand over fist. When I first started selling on Ebay (1999) I could go to Akiba, and almost randomly buy anything for a 16-bit or 32-bit system and sell it for a mark up on Ebay. Now, you can get the games cheaper on Ebay quite often for a couple of reasons. 1) Japanese sellers finally got over their xenophobia and realized money was better (eg, selling to westerners and getting the export price hike themselves. ) 2) Japan's tourism industry being about 3x what it was before, and the internet exposing Akihabara as a nerds paradise.
Yep. Japan has been strip mined of games and consoles. Back in the earlier 2000s there were only a handful of Japanese sellers on eBay that I can remember. Now there are tons, including some absolute mega sellers with tens of thousands of items. And of course the prices are jacked up because why not, people are paying after all.

I'd still get myself in trouble though, looking for Laserdiscs (and players) plus other Japanese electronics like midi-synths. None of this to even resell mind you, I've got hoarding issues lol. Used to be an absolute hoot to go through piles of that stuff all at cheap prices.

Something that might be useful is you can use YAJ w/o a proxy (and w/o shipping cost back). Edit: I see someone else already mentioned this.

Rural Japan is great, get out there if you can OP. :)
User avatar
quash
Posts: 1361
Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:25 am
Location: San Diego
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by quash »

Don't think rural Japan means completely out of the way, either. You can go to basically any part of Yokohama outside of downtown and find similar gems to what you'd see in Nowhere Prefecture.
User avatar
Steamflogger Boss
Posts: 3075
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2017 3:29 pm
Location: Eating the Rich

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Steamflogger Boss »

Oh I meant for the gorgeous countryside.
User avatar
quash
Posts: 1361
Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:25 am
Location: San Diego
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by quash »

Well, same applies there, too. If you have a rental car, I can't recommend Hakone Turnpike enough.
User avatar
Steamflogger Boss
Posts: 3075
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2017 3:29 pm
Location: Eating the Rich

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by Steamflogger Boss »

Fair enough. :)
User avatar
NTSC-J
Posts: 2457
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:46 am
Location: Tokyo

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by NTSC-J »

neorichieb1971 wrote:Has anyone tried Zest?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtAxLStFRw

I don't know how big Saitama is, but thats where I am staying on day 1 and 2.
Saitama's a big place, so I wouldn't bother with Zest unless you're already in that area. I haven't been, but those are unspectacular prices. Just as an example, they have FFV GBA for 4,000 yen, but it's 2,400 on Amazon JP and I saw it yesterday at Book Off for about 2,000.

Speaking of Book Off, I was at two yesterday, and they both had Einhander, which I noticed was on your list. The first store had it for 1,500 and the other had it for 950, so both good deals and it shows the variation in prices with those stores.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

NTSC-J wrote:
neorichieb1971 wrote:Has anyone tried Zest?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtAxLStFRw

I don't know how big Saitama is, but thats where I am staying on day 1 and 2.
Saitama's a big place, so I wouldn't bother with Zest unless you're already in that area. I haven't been, but those are unspectacular prices. Just as an example, they have FFV GBA for 4,000 yen, but it's 2,400 on Amazon JP and I saw it yesterday at Book Off for about 2,000.

Speaking of Book Off, I was at two yesterday, and they both had Einhander, which I noticed was on your list. The first store had it for 1,500 and the other had it for 950, so both good deals and it shows the variation in prices with those stores.
They had Zelda OOT complete for Y1000. Don't know how that compares to other places. The TMNT SFC cart on its own was Y22800. Thats £30 on ebay from a UK seller :lol:

I'm going to get all the games on my list. It just depends on availability in Japan vs the availability online. If I go through the whole of Akihabara (and the rest of Japan) and find the games cheaper online I will just bid on the ebay auctions and any I win will just be waiting at home when I get there. I will try to do a video blog of my findings. I put this thread here so I could record it for others that are going to potentially visit Japan.

If every game I want is Y1500 yen or less I will be over the moon and buying more suit cases. That may seem unlikely to some, but if I find trinket stuff in bargain basement bins I might just pick up a load for the hell of it.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
NTSC-J
Posts: 2457
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:46 am
Location: Tokyo

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by NTSC-J »

neorichieb1971 wrote:They had Zelda OOT complete for Y1000. Don't know how that compares to other places.
That's a decent price. There's a complete one on Amazon JP for 500, but most are in the 1000 range.

As I and others have already said, you'll likely find good prices for cheaper stuff, and when it comes to differences of a few dollars, the convenience of having the game right there in front of you trumps having to deal with an online transaction.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

I am in japan now. Driving towards mount fuji. Its beautiful here. Tokyo from the highway looks so clean and uniform. Most buildings are white or grey, brown. The family i am living with have an amazing home. Will update later with bookoff and zest finds.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
User avatar
GaijinPunch
Posts: 15646
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:22 pm
Location: San Fransicso

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by GaijinPunch »

neorichieb1971 wrote:I am in japan now. Driving towards mount fuji. Its beautiful here. Tokyo from the highway looks so clean and uniform. Most buildings are white or grey, brown. The family i am living with have an amazing home. Will update later with bookoff and zest finds.
If the weather is anything like it was at the end of March you're in for a treat. Got there for 10 days of hanami, and sans the day I arrived (which was 4PM anyway so who gives a fuck) it was sunny and 17 or higher. Every. Fucking. Day. That's never happened before in sakura season. Maybe any season come to think of it.
RegalSin wrote:New PowerPuff Girls. They all have evil pornstart eyelashes.
neorichieb1971
Posts: 7668
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:28 am
Location: Bedford, UK
Contact:

Re: My Japan trip April 2018

Post by neorichieb1971 »

The weather is sunny, no wind. Just a cool breeze. Perfect for my kind of attire. Just went through a tunnel that went forever. Japan is very rich to afford tunnelling that goes on that long. Noticed the road workers throw a smokeless flare into the roads to divert traffic into other lanes its genious. The toll gates on toll roads read something in the car and you go through at 40mph. There is a barrier but it goes up and down so quickly. The toilet seats here are heated. Its like sitting on a luke warm radiat5. Perhaps only brits will geyt that last bit. We are near yokohama
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
Post Reply