Akihabara Visit

[Bert Hardy]

Following my trip this month to Akihabara I'll post lots of pics and info for retro collectors....

Here's something I saw on the main street in Akihabara outside a Sofmap...it's two guys from the development team (I assume) autographing posters of Grandia II for people.....

(click images to see full sized image)
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/grandia/DSCN1031button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/grandia/DSCN1031.jpg)
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/grandia/DSCN1032button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/grandia/DSCN1032.jpg)

[Bert Hardy]

While wandering around I came across this by mistake....it was pretty hidden....it's an arcade shop....there were thousands of boards in there....really packaed warehouse (walked into it by mistake).....then found the associated shop....it looked like all Atomiswave stuff...

http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1074button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1074.jpg)
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1075button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1075.jpg)
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1076button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/DSCN1076.jpg)

[Bert Hardy]

Here's details of some retro places in Akihabara. I specifically was looking for Dreamcast stuff, but whenever I found DC stuff I found retro for most other consoles...

There's a map below - the letters indicate shops and the numbers indicate a picture taken from a particular viewpoint. I've included pictures of all the retro shops that I found.

(Click on all the pictures below to get a hi-res version)

Hope you like it!


http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/akihabara-mapbutton.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/akihabara-map1.jpg)

A - Liberty
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1014.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1014.JPG)

http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1084.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1084.JPG)



B - Akiba
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1013.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1013.JPG)




C - Liberty
Forgot to get a picture of this one but it's an identical shop/sign to A above.



D - Sofmap 3
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN0992.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN0992.JPG)


E - Trader
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1079.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1079.JPG)


F - Sofmap (no number)
This was just a softmap shop, but it's distinguishable by it not having a Sofmap number on the front of the shop


G - Trader 2
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN0989.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN0989.JPG)



H - "G-Front" (strictly arcade boards - Atomiswave etc.)
Shop is on 2nd floor, workshop is on 5th floor. Located on Kuramaebashi Dori.
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1078.JPG (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1078.JPG)


View 1
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1090.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1090.JPG)



View 2
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1011.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1011.JPG)



View 3
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1087.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1087.JPG)



View 4
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1089.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1089.JPG)



View 5
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1091.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1091.JPG)



View 6
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1082.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1082.JPG)



View 7
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1012.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1012.JPG)



View 8
http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/button_DSCN1024.JPG
(http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/scaled_DSCN1024.JPG)

[GaijinPunch]

Bert -- that PCB shop I'm pretty sure is G-Front. Also, I think they'd be signing images of Grandia III, not II, right? Great pictures. If I can't take any better ones for my Akihabara map, mind if I nick yours?

[Glitch]

Damn those Atomiswave cabinet's are soooooo cool, I want one!!!!

[Yakumo]

Bret, where about was that PCB shop? I'm going to Tokyo in September so I'll be paying a visit to Akihabara for a bit of Retro Core filming.

Yakumo

[Bert Hardy]

>>Bret, where about was that PCB shop? I'm going to Tokyo in September so
>>I'll be paying a visit to Akihabara for a bit of Retro Core filming.
I'll stick up the location and more pics tonight (at work the now). Trick is to act like a dumb westerner and go to the 5th(I think) floor and enter the workshop....the shop is on the 2nd floor which I didn't realise at first...(until I was escorted out of the workshop....)


>>Bert -- that PCB shop I'm pretty sure is G-Front.
That's the one...

>>Also, I think they'd be signing images of Grandia III, not II, right?
You're quite right, it was Grandia III. There were loads of people so had to barge in a bit to see anything....

>>Great pictures. If I can't take any better ones for my Akihabara map, mind if
>> I nick yours?
No probs...feel free to use them...give me a credit if you could....

[Bert Hardy]

Yakumo - Updated the map and added a picture of the building for G-Front and included the name of the street it's on...

[GaijinPunch]

I feel like I'm repeating myself from months ago, but I've had G-Front (and the other worthwhile PCB shops while you're there) on my Akiba map for a while now. :)
http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~japangaming/akimap.php

[Bert Hardy]

While in the Akiba game store I came across this DC Pod being desecrated!....

Thye were using it as a PS2 Pod.....shameful.....

http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/dcjappod1button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/dcjappod1.jpg)

http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/dcjappod2button.jpg (http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/akihabara/dcjappod2.jpg)

[Mark30001]

Thanks for the pics! Now I have a guide to where I need to go if I go to Japan :D!

[MysticParadise]

Rad pics. Always interested to see Akihabara store pics!!

[JTI2K]

Oh man, I cant wait to go to akiba :smt023


While in the Akiba game store I came across this DC Pod being desecrated!....

Thye were using it as a PS2 Pod.....shameful.....

And for a girl-sim, now thats a pod that will live in infamy :mad:

[ince]

great pics thanks for posting.

[ConsoleFun]

Bert Hardy, GaijinPunch, Thank you!!! I am going to Tokyo in October. I believe your maps will be very useful!

I am looking for all kinds of hardware, but am thinking of buying a FM Towns Marty or a nice X68000. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards..

ConsoleFun

[ASSEMbler]

buy neither... my advice. Get yourself an msx.

[GaijinPunch]

Marty -- you can't find in Akihabara. If you do, you're very lucky. You definitely can't find the good games for it in Akiahbara.

X68000 stuff I've never searched for, but I assume it would be somewhat the same unless you know the old school computer stores pretty well. You won't find that stuff in the game shops. MSX, on the other hand, is a lot easier to find... at least it was at one point.

[neozeed]

I have been to Akihabara 6 times know each of those times I have never come across x6800 or Marty systems the last time I visited I was very suprised that the prices of most of the software had increased greatly.
My own personal opinion is that the place has been raped know and all of the good stuff has gone long ago.
Its fine if you are in to sightseeing just dont expect to get any amazing bargains anymore!!

[Bert Hardy]

If anyone wants to see good quality ariel pics of Akihabara then download Google Earth and use this bookmark/keyhole file:

http://www.dreamcastgallery.com/dc/akihabara.kmz

[GaijinPunch]

Its fine if you are in to sightseeing just dont expect to get any amazing bargains anymore!!

Well, they never really had any 'amazing bargains' but things are definitely more pricey than they were.... most things anyway.

[Warakia]

The only bargains I ever saw in Akihabara are for bishoujou games, infact Akihabara in becoming more and more occupied by the bishoujou. There is a good book called Otaku-space-persona-city on the subject, worth a read.

The point of akihabara for games is not to get them cheaply, but to have a vast selection. BTW brand new ps2 games are cheaper in akihabara than anywhere else. But I only use akihabara to get things you cannot anywhere else (and the cheap bishy games).

[GaijinPunch]

BTW brand new ps2 games are cheaper in akihabara than anywhere else. But I only use akihabara to get things you cannot anywhere else (and the cheap bishy games).

Sofmap*, Sakura-ya, Bic Camera, and other big chains outside of Akihabara usually have better deals on brand new games on release day, offering 10% to 15% off retail. Yamagiwa, Messe Sanno, and other Akiba-based new-games shops sell games for full retail, but offer very cool bonuses with the games. Sometimes just a poster, other times telephone cards. Messe Sanno is generally the best for free stuff. Sega Direct is also good, sometimes combining the bonus and discount, but they only sell select games.

*Sofmap has shops outside of Akihabara, and a pretty big net-shop. Not sure of their policy exactly, as I rarely shopped there.

[Warakia]

Sofmap is actually not bad - cos they don't know their stuff. I got giga wing one and two and rainbow cotton, twinkle star srites for around 2500 yen each. Absolute bargain. That was a sofmap in hiroshima though.

I like them and when I pre-order games I would often used sofmap, especially for the best telephone cards. They also do huge dicount tables on brand new stuff that I always like. Just damn that theme song that plays 24 seven!

[Yakumo]

I found SoftMap to have some nice prices too. Over all though I'd say Traider 2 is the best place for rare stuff but they can be a little expensive at times.

Yakumo

[ConsoleFun]

Hey again!

You guys were right. I did not see any X68000 or Marty goodies in Akihabara. I visited plenty of stores. Here is some info on some of them:

1. MediaLand (2nd floor) - "Akihabara mainstreet"
03-3251-7004
http://www.m-land.co.jp/

Very nice staff. Got a couple of PSP Ceramic White PSP-1000 KCW for just over 22000 yen each. The staff let me start the PSPs to check for dead pixels. Nice.


2. Trader - "Akihabara mainstreet"
03-3255-3493
http://www.e-trader.jp/

Got a used (looked new) PSX DESR-10 Dualshock controller for 2940 yen. Neo-Geo AES games. Even US imports, but why would I buy that in Akihabara...


3. "CD DVD GAME" Shinjuku Store
03-5269-9252

Picked up the N64 I RGB modded (pictures in my collection thread) for 1680 yen. This store had a MSX...


4. Wakamatsu - "Akihabara mainstreet"
03-3257-0601
http://www.wakamatsu.ne.jp/

Got a couple of 2GB Memory Stick Duo Pro for 19800 yen each.


5. Sofmap (Shinjuku)
03-3346-9651
http://tenpo.sofmap.com/tenpo/shop/shinjyuku_2.htm

I have always wanted a black Dreamcast in my living room. Got a used boxed R7 for 7000 yen, and a used boxed Dreamcast Karaoke system for 480 yen.


6. Sofmap - "Akihabara mainstreet"
03-3253-3030
http://tenpo.sofmap.com/tenpo/shop/tokyo_0.htm

A new Rez Trance Vibrator for 480 yen. Not bad.


7. Messe Sanno - "Akihabara mainstreet"
03-3266-3431
http://www.messe.gr.jp/chaos/chaosindex.htm

Maybe not the best use of money in Tokyo, put I got a XRGB2 Plus for 22000 yen.


8. Trader (Shinjuku)
03-5321-6330
http://www.e-trader.jp/

Paid 4480 yen for a used Famicom Disk System and 1460 yen for SMB 2 (disk).


9. Trader 2 (Akihabara)
03-3255-0777
http://www.e-trader.jp/

Got a used boxed Famicom here (again, mod pictures are in my collection thread) for 5980 yen. A used multitap for Sega Mega Drive was 500 yen.

I liked Akihabara a lot, and picked up loads of stuff, these are just some examples. I had to go to "Tokyu Hands" in Shibuya and get an extra bag. When it came to food, I really liked the Shabu-shabu places and the "drink as much as you like for 1 hour" concept at the Izakayas. :-)

Cheers!

CF

[cdoty]

Does this area ever change? The last time I was there was in 1995, and most of it still looks very familiar. I definately remember LAOX and Traders looks very familiar.


I walked into a smaller version of the arcade shop in Osaka, but it was Neo Geo back then..

[cdoty]

I am looking for all kinds of hardware, but am thinking of buying a FM Towns Marty or a nice X68000. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


You're about 10-12 years late, from the sounds of it. The Marty was everywhere, and used X68000 games were very easy to find.

I almost bought a X68000 game by mistake back then. I thought it was Japanese Amiga software. The store employee warned me not to buy it. It would definately be cool to have now, especially since I now know what a X68000 is and will have one in my hands shortly.


The Marty is worth tracking down.

[ASSEMbler]

Bret, where about was that PCB shop? I'm going to Tokyo in September so I'll be paying a visit to Akihabara for a bit of Retro Core filming.

Yakumo


Yakumo, there's a small PCB shop across the basketball court on the second floor that sells defective shoddily repaired boards, avoid them at all costs.

[ASSEMbler]

You guys were right. I did not see any X68000 or Marty goodies in Akihabara.

Check the trash...

If you check the secondhand goods area of sofmap 8 they have one in the corner somewhere, just for the tourists. Prepare to be ripped off.

[GaijinPunch]

Yakumo, there's a small PCB shop across the basketball court on the second floor that sells defective shoddily repaired boards, avoid them at all costs.

Basketball court is gone -- big ass building there now I believe. And that's Setup if I'm not mistaken.

[AntiPasta]

Indeed, when I was there I spent quite a while looking for this 'basketball court' in vain :lol:

[Yakumo]

Basketball court is gone -- big ass building there now I believe. And that's Setup if I'm not mistaken.
yep you're right. I used to enjoy hanging out at that cort as well :( The big ass building is one of those ultra modern efforts but I never bothered to go in. There used to be a T-Zone around there as well under the train track.

Yakumo

[Shadowlayer]

The only bargains I ever saw in Akihabara are for bishoujou games, infact Akihabara in becoming more and more occupied by the bishoujou.

I have a doubt with that genre: I know bishoujou is with schools kids and stuff, but does always has to have nudity? or can it be bishoujou without any tits popping out of the sailor uniforms?:confused: