Anyone been TF shopping in Japan?

[jasonw]

I'm here now, n Okinawa, then off to Tokyo for 8 days.

Anyone been shopping over here? Any Transformers store gems you can suggest?

[Dezzeh]

I am here right now, in Nakano at the moment. I am about to go exploring, though I have found the mandarake here already and it is GLORIOUS. If you fancy making the trip, there are some very nice stores in den den town, in Osaka. Hero gangu and jungle were a joy to behold.

[jasonw]

What were they like for vintage G1. Crucially, have you seem an Overlord anywhere?

I'm going for it on the Overlord front on this trip.

Have you found Osaka better than Tolyo for toys?

[Dezzeh]

I've seen one loose, incomplete overlord in mandarake, nakano, but I think that was sold yesterday. They have a massive amount of boxed g1 stuff, though nothing hugely rare. So far, Osaka was better, but, I haven't been to Akihabara yet, which is supposed to be pretty special.

When do you arrive in Tokyo?

[kayevcee]

How are you getting around, Dez? Do you speak/read Japanese? I've heard from a few places that it can be tough to find places since so few signs are in western alphabet.

By the by, if you're actually finding Japanese G1 figures in stores over there and the prices are non-insane, could you help a brother out? Toy-fu always needs stuff and Japan exclusives tend to do well, but first and foremost I told Nick Roche I'd find him a Roadfire like three years ago and I've come up with nowt!

We can take this to PM if you prefer.

-Nick

[Dezzeh]

The only g1 stuff I've found has been boxed, and prices are pretty high, but as I'm here till Monday I will try to get you a list of stuff I've seen made up.
Getting around is a lot easier than ordering food, all the train/subway stations have the names in English as well, so as long as you work out where to go and how to get there first, it's easy.
Major road names are also in English as well as Japanese, as a whole the country is trying to make it a lot easier for us ignorant foreigners, though I speak enough to be able to get somewhere, I can't read it at all.

If there is something in particular you want to to keep an eye out for, I can certainly try, but the first Roadfire I see, I might have to claim for myself! I have seen the buster/hydra set a few times, but I could get that cheaper from Paul Hitchens.

[kayevcee]

Fair play big chap. Thanks for the consideration!

Glad to hear that the public transport system is a wee bit accommodating to tourists.

-Nick

[jasonw]

Apr 7, 2013 21:54:18 GMT Dezzeh said:

I've seen one loose, incomplete overlord in mandarake, nakano, but I think that was sold yesterday. They have a massive amount of boxed g1 stuff, though nothing hugely rare. So far, Osaka was better, but, I haven't been to Akihabara yet, which is supposed to be pretty special.

When do you arrive in Tokyo?

Saturday 13th. You in Tokyo then?

Have you seen much in the way of pretenders? What have the prices been like?

Oh and how was Osaka, generally, worth a day trip?

J

[Dezzeh]

Osaka generally is pretty grubby, but den den town and otaku road made up for it. It is worth an overnight stay if nothing else, Shinkansen takes 3 hours to get there from Tokyo. Once you get to shin-Osaka you take a tube to namba, then you are a 5 min walk from nerd heaven on Sakai-Suji. Pretender wise I have seen a fair few, can't remember prices off the top of my head but will check it out tomorrow. I'm here till early morning on the 15th.

Nick, heading to Akihabara tomorrow so will keep an eye out for any exclusive stuff, again, just send me a pm if there is something you want in particular.

[jasonw]

Apr 8, 2013 9:15:11 GMT Dezzeh said:

Osaka generally is pretty grubby, but den den town and otaku road made up for it. It is worth an overnight stay if nothing else, Shinkansen takes 3 hours to get there from Tokyo. Once you get to shin-Osaka you take a tube to namba, then you are a 5 min walk from nerd heaven on Sakai-Suji. Pretender wise I have seen a fair few, can't remember prices off the top of my head but will check it out tomorrow. I'm here till early morning on the 15th.

Nick, heading to Akihabara tomorrow so will keep an eye out for any exclusive stuff, again, just send me a pm if there is something you want in particular.

Want to meet up on the 14th? I'm here with my wife and two kids, but I'm allowed to sneak off for a few Transformer shops :-)

I'm also meeting up with a local who is giving me a tour of the good places to buy TFs so could see if we could do that at the same time if you fancy?

He's also got a Metalhawk MIB for sale for 42,000 yen. So, Very. Tempted. (despite having never seen one in th flesh)

[Dezzeh]

Sounds pretty good to me, name a time and place! The mrs and I have been through Akihabara today, except one shop, golden age, which was closed. Need to go back for that, and yodobashi camera was AMAZING for stuff on general release. Think I'm going to have to pick up an mp10 black convoy whilst here.

Then I have to work out how to get all my stuff home...

[jasonw]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Had a busy few days.

What was Akhibara like? Any good for G1 Japanese stuff?

Im just waiting to hear back from Tokyo contact re meeting up.

Is there an easy way to get hold of you?

[Dezzeh]

I've seen some nice g1 bits in the mandarake stores, but nothing from the exclusive side except one incomplete Braver, and a dinosaur cassette.

[The Doctor]

DINOSAUR CASSETTE???!!!!!

-Ralph

[Dezzeh]

A bargain at only £300.

[The Doctor]

Ah ha ha. Of course.

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Chimungmung has the KOs of the dinosaur cassettes for £20 each. I've heard the build quality isn't great so I'm still holding out hope that Takara will get round to them. eHobby Soundblaster and Twincast just came out a couple of months ago, so you never know...

-Nick