Going to Japan

[kuran]

Due to luck, I have the opportunity to go to Japan for two weeks, I'm departing the 12th of september.

I will try (really hard) to visit Akihabara, could you guys/gals give me some good advice I could use to find good game deals? And other random tips will help too.. thanks.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Hi there. I'm new to the forums here but as I've been to Japan numerous times I can help you out with places to go.

Firstly Akiba is indeed the best spot for games in Tokyo, it's packed with game stores so if you're after new wares you'll have no trouble finding what you're looking for. Best store there is the new Aso Bit City store which is several stories, very flash, and very good. There are several LAOX stores too.

For older games there are two main spots in Akihabara - Trader 2, and MediaLand. There are several Trader stores in Akihabara (all numbered), but Trader 2 is the one that specializes in old games. To get to it, leave the subway and walk onto the main road through Akiba, cross the road and walk inbetween Sega Hi-Tech Land and the large railway bridge. Follow the road and on your left you'll see the green sign of 'Trader 2'. Kind of out of the way, but an amazing, amazing store. They even have *lots* of old Game and Watches, all for huge prices.

Medialand is easier to find. It's directly opposite Sega H-tech land. Lots of good stuff there too, but it's expensive. Everything tends to be in grade A mind condition though.


As I say, I've been to Japan many times, so if you need any more advice, feel free to drop me a message or email.

[dave heats]

Good akiba advice up there. Another area of Tokyo that is not only a wonderful place to visit, but not bad for games, and excellent for electronics is Shinjuku. Over the years its pretty much stolen Akibas limelight when it comes to electronics, and there are a few good stores there.

The best is the yodabashi branch of stores. In the back alleys surrounding Shinjuku Stn (stay away from there at rush hour, unless you fancy getting wedged in the train car by the infamous white gloved station staff!) yodabashi have a huge number of stores, each specialising in one thing or other.
You cant miss one of their stores, so take a look inside, and find their local store map, which is usually near the lifts, to find whereabouts the shops your after are. I was there last week, and some of the bargains they had in their game store included VF4evo arcade sticks for under ?15, gc keyboards for ?25, boktai for ?10 and Mr driller on the gba for ?8. Not bad by all accounts.

Theres also the usual selection of game shops there, such as the huge chain Sofmap, and I think theres some traders there too, although I may be wrong.

Either way, when your in Shinjuku, go to the park on the East side of town, and spend hours in the Japanese garden at the back (the park shuts at 4:30). Also, go to the tokyo metropolitan building in the sky scraping westside of town. its free acess to their 45th floor, and some of the views you can get on a clear day are unebelievable. They are certainly better than the views offered by the tourist trap that is the horrid tokyo tower, located in the even more horrid Roppongi (I hate that place with a passion. Its about as Japanese as Bristol). You have to pay to go up (800 yen if I recall)

Anyway, there you go. Thats my moneys worth on Shinjuku, and it goes without saying that places like Shibuya and Harajuku should be visited, and are fun to explore with no further knowledge of the area. Just get yourself some basic maps of the areas, and get looking around!
If youve got any other questions, the masses and I that have been to Japan will undoubtedly be able to help.

[kuran]

Wow, thanks a lot for all the great replies! Keep them coming!

[kuran]

Well, I'll be leaving next thursday... I bought two excellent guides to Japan with maps and information, but I'm still unsure if I'll be able to find my way to Akihabara... wish me luck!

BTW, do most hotels in Japan keep in mind that Europe uses a different voltage system? Because I'll need to bring rechargers for both my 17" Albook, Camera and iPod.. and I don't think it'd be very practical to take a step-down converter with me on the plane... I hope I can get one in the hotel?

[vich]

I'm going on the 21..
any ideas what the powersupply for a digital camera is like
I assume I just need to find a 2 pin plug that has no transformer, since this one for UK has a massive transformer block._.


what about internet cafes, any around TGS.. .. I hope they have USB connections they'll let me use..

I'll take the tips into consideration too~!!


.Bikutaa(otaku1/2)

[kuran]

vich, I'm sure this site will be of great help to you.

[Supergoal]

I find sakura ya in Shinjuku the best for games there, the game yodabashi shop is alittle too small and limited.

I bough a hori game stick for the GC for 15 quid there bargain.

[vich]

vich, I'm sure this site will be of great help to you.

sankyuu~!!

I booked my accomodation now,.. at Ryokan Fuji inn, looks great from the pictures, and is in Asakusa~

also got my Ghibli Museum tickets sorted out, all is cool^__^


.Bikutaa(otaku1/2)

[nigel1210]

vich, I'm sure this site will be of great help to you.

sankyuu~!!

I booked my accomodation now,.. at Ryokan Fuji inn, looks great from the pictures, and is in Asakusa~

also got my Ghibli Museum tickets sorted out, all is cool^__^


.Bikutaa(otaku1/2)

i'm going next year, how much where your tickets for the ghibli museum?

[kuran]

And how did you order them? I thought about it, but a friend told me you had to order the tickets 6 months in advance...

[Salsa Party Animal]

Why do you need transformer for Digiital camera as it run on batteries

Either get recharegable batteries or perhaps 2/3 packets of Duracel Ultra.

I have Duracell Ultra batteries while I am on holiday in Madrid and Barcelona and they are very very good. Don't rely on rechargeable batteries as it alway let me down, if you don't remember to charge them up the night before.

[kuran]

Because I need to bring the recharger for my rechargable batteries!

[vich]

vich, I'm sure this site will be of great help to you.

sankyuu~!!

I booked my accomodation now,.. at Ryokan Fuji inn, looks great from the pictures, and is in Asakusa~

also got my Ghibli Museum tickets sorted out, all is cool^__^


.Bikutaa(otaku1/2)

i'm going next year, how much where your tickets for the ghibli museum?

cost about 17 (including handling) for the both of us.

And how did you order them? I thought about it, but a friend told me you had to order the tickets 6 months in advance...

can order tickets up to 3 months in advance, they got mine ready within 2 days~!!

http://www.jtb.co.jp/eng/ghibli/TicketSystem.html

very helpful ppl if u email or phone number, this can post the tickets to u aswell, but I went there to collect them as I live near London^^
btw: the museum is shut on tuesdays, so i'm going the coming wednesday~


btw; the digital camera i'm using uses proprietary battery, but now, I figure, the charger can accept 100v to 240v; 50/60hz, and the plug I use,.. from my JPN PS2, so all is cool~


.Bikutaa(otaku1/2)

[kuran]

Got back from Tokyo tonight... had so much fun.
Its late now, tired, jetlag, .... going to take a bath!

I have about 1063 pictures to sort through and categorize tomorrow, right now all I can show you is gaming related loot...

Pictures are here!


Oh yeah I went to the Tokyo Gameshow too! Got me a lot of booth babes on camera? more tomorrow!