Welcome to our shopping Guide to Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan. And no, we do not include Super Potato in this guide!
I was asked recently where to go shop in Akihabara for a first timer. He had only heard of Super Potato and I strongly suggested he would not spend a single dime in that overpriced shop. There are so many better options and I hope to shed a light on my own experience on where to go.
First off, there is a big second-hand market in Japan and if you are not familiar with it, Japanese people tend to treat their games so well, that even second hand often comes close to new and sometimes it will seemingly be unused. The reason I mention this first, most shops tend to have their own second-hand section or do second-hand exclusively.
Secondly, the difference between Retro and Current Generation games. While some shops sell just one out of both, some do sell both and it is important to know you can go both ways when talking about game hunting in Akihabara.
Third and last, buying or actually playing. There are a variety of places where you can just play the games like arcades or the Taito Station, where you play the games or do the UFO catcher games. UFO catcher dolls are incredibly addictive and we all love to catch that one figure by lowering the grabbing handle at the right place. In these arcades, UFO catcher dolls do reward your skills. Games will either be for glory or for the collectibles they often carry. I am mostly thinking about Dragon Ball games here that have their own trading cards. But enough about that, this is a buying guide after all.
Important to note is that while some shops provide Tax-free for purchases over 10800 yen, most second-hand shops might not. I know for a fact that Surugaya does provide this service, but Friends did not…
First and most importantly, Yodobashi Camera. I know, if you have been to Akihabara before, why in gods name would I say this is the most important one? I do not think it is the most important one, I do think it is the one that stands out the most and is most interesting. Right on top of the Akiba station, this behemoth and incredibly big shopping building stands tall. It is comprised of many floors and 1 of them in entirely dedicated to “hobby and gaming”. Basically, around 40% of the floor is filled with games and the rest with “otaku items” and general toys. I often spend hours on this floor and the late opening hours, all the way to 10, make this such a great place to be when all others close (usually at 8).
Second, Sofmap. Once you head to the main street of Akihabara, you will see the Sofmap buildings appear. Multiple stores of this famous brand all over the place and Sofmap is mostly for new items, they only carry a little selection of second-hand or like the Japanese like to call it, recycle goods. I mostly go here and Yodobashi for my new games and it does pay off to compare. More than any other place, Tokyo will often see shops in price wars and as a customer, you can only take advantage of it.
Third, Mulan. This is a mixed shop and they are in the higher price category usually, not high like SP, but higher than most others. In general, they do carry some higher end items but at corresponding prices.
Fourth, the Traders shops, my personal favorites, pretty much all of them throughout Akihabara. Traders is my personal heaven for retro and the big one on the big street, it always carries some of the better games. While they have become a little more expensive over the years, they are still well below SP prices and are competitive towards others.
Fifth, the Book Off, a little harder to find and not near the big street where the others are mostly situated, Book Off is a recycle paradise and while the Akihabara one is not the best, I always find the best items in the Ikebukuro store myself, this shop provides a great and relatively cheap range of game of what I like the call the previous generations. Go here if you are looking for PS2, Cube, … They tend to carry a nice selection of hardware too, I have bought several upgrade controllers and some 3DS gems here, all relatively cheap.
Sixth, last but definitely not least, Friends. While technically, this game shop is just outside of Akihabara as it is near to Suehirocho station, it is well worth the trip, at maybe 5 minutes by foot from the Trader store, this shop is run by a cool and friendly old lady who sadly does not speak any English. Luckily she is as friendly as can be and I have witnessed her trying her best to get her customers to understand. Friends has 2 floors in the same building and on the other floor, it is sound track heaven! All in super high quality, this applies to both floors by the way, Friends is the whole package. Sadly their prices have followed the general consensus and have raised over the past years. Five+ years ago, this store was way cheaper than the rest, now, the collector in me goes there for the higher quality items. But honestly speaking, this is mostly when I am not finding it in Traders just around the corner.
A very honorable mention goes to two more shops, first off, Surugaya. Surugaya is the shop where I love to browse but rarely buy. I can not put my finger on it, but I think it is the fact that this shop is so incredibly busy at all times. Surugaya is mildly priced and is worth the trip if you do not mind the busy feeling.
Last honorable mention is Mandarake, they are a recycle shop that is a little on the higher spectrum but everything is usually pristine quality or properly labeled if something is wrong. Only Traders reaches the same level of accuracy. Mandarake is a big building with a smaller and smaller section on just one of the floors. I remember it being a lot bigger 8 years ago compared to now.
It always pays off to keep your eyes open and just wander around, I once found a mint One Piece 3DS console for 120 euros in an electronics shop that carried nearly no games. I bought my Game Boy Micro in Akiba Zone, where you go for the otaku goodies, … It pays to keep your eyes open! Akihabara is a big place and while I prefer Nakano, Akihabara is worth a visit!
I know I did not speak of Super Potato, overpriced and just worth the visit to look around, not buy. Lammtara, Jan Para, … are all other shops where I usually seem to find a lot less and despite loving to visit them, they are more on my lists for my Otaku goodies and not games.
A special mention for anyone going, when you see the name Retrogame Camp, do not enter unless you like being ripped off! This chain charges you premium prices for the worst possible quality. I do not even enjoy browsing their stores, when I see a game listed at 4000 yen that I see elsewhere for 1500, I tend to avoid them like the plague.
There you have it, my personal shopping guide for Akihabara, based on 5 trips to Tokyo over the years and I stay in a hotel 1 train stop away, so I often spend the late afternoon just browsing around or grabbing a burger at MOS. If you like coffee, I can also recommend Excelsior cafe, they got a maple latte to die for!
