Vacation in Tokyo July 8th. I've a couple of questions...

[Pyongyang]

Hi all, I'm finally making the pilgrimage to the Mecca that is Tokyo next Sunday. I've been busy gathering together shopping lists, stuff to see and do and so on. However I've a couple of questions which I hope someone can help me out with.

1. It appears MAK have moved? Does anyone know where they are now? All I have is this map from their website:



2. Where is a good place to buy Superplay DVD's and VHS, SHMUPS only though? Also does anywhere in Akihabara or anywhere else in Tokyo sell or specialize in Laserdiscs?

3. I saw something recently where there was a shop selling lots of Cave merchandise. Appeared to be only Cave merchandise too. Is this store still around?

4. Any other good stores and hotspots to check out for a SHMUP addict?

Thanks a lot for your help! :)

[GaijinPunch]

1: They're on the main street (opposite side of where they used to be). They are actually closer to Suehirochou station (as is G-Front) than Akihabara station. So, depends on where you're coming from. They're up on the 3rd or so floor, and have a sign, so it's not hard to find.

2: Yahoo Japan for super plays. If you're lucky, you can time your trip w/ one of the "minor games" shows and they sell doujin items there. Probably not going to find many LDs outside of Akiba (other than YJ). They're dirt cheap though.

3: I think so. Never been to it but heard of it.

4: Game Inn Ebisen on a weekend. It's in Shin Ekota... a bit off the beaten path, but many record holders go there. Of course, HEY on a weekend is worth going to too.

[Shou]

1) Like GP said, Mak is near the end of the strip and in a very small cramped store with no AC.

2) There are several doujin focused stores which sell DVD super plays. One is called March Rabbit (San gatsu no usagi) but the store has moved multiple times and I'm not sure how you'll find it without someone who's been there before...Akiba Mandarake sells used and new doujin super plays on their male doujin floor. On the 7th floor, they have the old LD and VHS super plays for high prices.

3) The old Messe Sanoh (now Trader #4) has a bunch of the Cave CDs and books for sale.

4) Mikado in Takadanobaba also has a decent setup and sells shooter related superplays/soundtracks for cheaper than retail.

[Pyongyang]

Thanks Shou and Gajinpunch for your help with my questions, much appreciate that. :)

Hopefully the new MAK location is not too difficult to find, good to hear they have a sign. Do you know if places like MAK, Try and G-Front sell their own brand instruction strips? I saw a Try one on a YouTube video recently, but it was in store so I guess they just made a one-off for themselves?

Great to hear super play discs are readily available. Hoping I can pick up a couple of INH releases. I don't suppose anyone knows if a Batrider super play DVD, VHS or LD exists? I've never seen one mentioned before. I will definitely try to find Mikado. No idea where Takadanobaba is, but I'll track it down thanks!

Sorry to grill you for a couple of further questions but I was also wondering:

1. Do any of the places you mentioned stock Shooting Gameside? I'd like to pick up Vol. 5, usually I import every issue, I hear it isn't widely distributed though?

2. Regarding game centres, I'm specifically on the hunt for Darius Burst ACEX, Darius, Darius II and DDP Saidaioujou. Here's hoping these games are still in Hey! or similar? Bit of a tall order question but I was just wondering if anyone has seen them on recent visits to any game centres?

Shame about the meet by the way, I was really looking forward to inviting myself along. :D Still, if any of you are around on the 14th or 15th July let me know. :)

[Jamtex]

1 - Mak is easy to find although the shop is more cramped then the old place. Find Suehirochou station, be on the other side of the road that the UFJ bank is and you'll see the sign.

3 - Cave have various merchandise sales but they are generally for a few days a few time a year. So the store was probably just that. Still you will miss delights that they only sell in these places like bottled teenage witch piss (although it is just a soft drink...) and I do wish I was making that up...

0 - Takadanobaba is north of Shinjuku, one stop on the Yamanote line.

[Pyongyang]

bottled teenage witch piss

I actually furrowed my brow when I read that. I suppose the one redeeming factor is it's only a soft drink with a bizarre ideology.

This on the other hand, is just grounds for getting yourself sectioned:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...d-two-veg.html

Then again, this is The Sun we're talking about. I'm assuming, sorry, hoping this is a publicity stunt.

Thanks for the useful information by the way.

[Shou]

Thanks Shou and Gajinpunch for your help with my questions, much appreciate that. :)

Hopefully the new MAK location is not too difficult to find, good to hear they have a sign. Do you know if places like MAK, Try and G-Front sell their own brand instruction strips? I saw a Try one on a YouTube video recently, but it was in store so I guess they just made a one-off for themselves?

Great to hear super play discs are readily available. Hoping I can pick up a couple of INH releases. I don't suppose anyone knows if a Batrider super play DVD, VHS or LD exists? I've never seen one mentioned before. I will definitely try to find Mikado. No idea where Takadanobaba is, but I'll track it down thanks!

Sorry to grill you for a couple of further questions but I was also wondering:

1. Do any of the places you mentioned stock Shooting Gameside? I'd like to pick up Vol. 5, usually I import every issue, I hear it isn't widely distributed though?

2. Regarding game centres, I'm specifically on the hunt for Darius Burst ACEX, Darius, Darius II and DDP Saidaioujou. Here's hoping these games are still in Hey! or similar? Bit of a tall order question but I was just wondering if anyone has seen them on recent visits to any game centres?

Shame about the meet by the way, I was really looking forward to inviting myself along. :D Still, if any of you are around on the 14th or 15th July let me know. :)

Try makes their own instructions for games that they either don't have the original instructions to or never had them to begin with since they also run an arcade and a number of UFO catcher locations in Akiba. G Front and Mak do not do this.

You can buy Shooting Game Side at Trader 4 on the 1st and 2nd floor. The 2nd floor has all of the issues plus other interesting mags/doujinshi based upon gaming.

Try Tower has DBACEX, Darius 1 EX and DDP SDOJ. Hey has all 4.

I'll be around when you're here, just can't host since my in-laws are in town.

[GaijinPunch]

3) The old Messe Sanoh (now Trader #4)

OUCH! How the mighty have fallen!

Cave have various merchandise sales but they are generally for a few days a few time a year. So the store was probably just that.

There is (was?) actually a store that carried Cave Matsuri stuff, presumably bought wholesale from them. However, the Cave Online Shop is now closed, and there are no more matsuris, so no telling what will happen to this store's goods. I'm assuming they'll just leave them on the shelves until they sell out.

[Jamtex]

You mean this place? http://main.kotobukiya.co.jp/store_i...ihabarakan.htm

[Pyongyang]

You mean this place? http://main.kotobukiya.co.jp/store_i...ihabarakan.htm

That's the one!

Thanks for all your help with my barrage of questions everyone. Keep me posted about the meet up, whatever form it may take! :)

[cez]

The link didn't work for me. Seems like it's .html: http://main.kotobukiya.co.jp/store_i...habarakan.html

[Pyongyang]

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice. It actually came in incredibly useful and I found everything I was looking for (except the game shop Friends, which I'm gutted about as I tried for an hour to find it and never did, they have a game there, still in stock amazingly, that I wanted to buy but even asking locals, no one seemed to know where it was!).

Anyway, I've started writing about my experience in Japan as a tourist, I hope it's an entertaining read. :)

http://www.pinkbullets.co.uk/blogs/l...ll-city-part-1

If anyone can actually clarify where Friends is in Akihabara, please let me know and put me out of my misery. That shop is the only one (online anyway) that has the game I was looking for. Gutted!

Thanks again everyone for your help. :)

[GaijinPunch]

Basically next door to G-Front, on the 2nd floor. Looks like you're walking into a Sushi shop based on the door.