The Japan trip resource thread 2.

[huxley]

All on your phone, like using a card in the wallet app.

I’ve been looking into go back to Japan again this year, last time I went was about 18 years ago

[Wools]

Nice, I'll take a look at the pros and cons of either a traditional Suica Card in my Apple wallet vs the Welcome Suica Mobile App which then puts it in your Apple Wallet.

If you have an opportunity this year you should totally go huxley! I bet it's changed so much since you last went. How was your trip back in the 2000's?

[wakka]

17 years ago for me. Was dating a Japanese woman for a while recently and she said Tokyo has changed quite a lot since then (as you'd imagine). Really want to go again at some point but there are a lot of places I haven't been to yet as well, so I don't know if it should be the highest priority.

Although the question wasn't directed at me, I'm gonna answer it anyway - my 2008 trip rocked. Went full otaku and spent loads of time games shopping in Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Den Den Town, loads of time in game centres (tons of Initial D Fourth Stage, was the coolest thing ever playing against other people in there, all of us with fags hanging out of our mouths as we drifted one handed).

Didn't do masses of cultural stuff though, didn't eat a massive variety of food (just loads of fast food), and didn't leave Tokyo and Osaka. So it was very much an 18 year old weeaboo trip. I'd do it differently next time. It was awesome though.

[huxley]

Nice, I'll take a look at the pros and cons of either a traditional Suica Card in my Apple wallet vs the Welcome Suica Mobile App which then puts it in your Apple Wallet.

If you have an opportunity this year you should totally go huxley! I bet it's changed so much since you last went. How was your trip back in the 2000's?

Yea let us all know.

My first trip to Japan was a last minute thing, I`d moved back to my home town after leaving my girlfriend (fiend) in London. An old school friend back in my hometown suggested the trip. At the time I was a heavy PSO player and on one of the forums one of the users mentioned he was in Tokyo and would meet up with us in Akihabara to show us around, and he did. It was great to meet someone that friendly with local knowledge (and patience). it was kryss btw

The experience was amazing if a little alien - Total culture shock!

Back then the Yen rate was amazing! I did several trips to Aki
Food and shopping

Are there any forum users still in Tokyo?

[Wools]

17 years ago for me. Was dating a Japanese woman for a while recently and she said Tokyo has changed quite a lot since then (as you'd imagine). Really want to go again at some point but there are a lot of places I haven't been to yet as well, so I don't know if it should be the highest priority.

Although the question wasn't directed at me, I'm gonna answer it anyway - my 2008 trip rocked. Went full otaku and spent loads of time games shopping in Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Den Den Town, loads of time in game centres (tons of Initial D Fourth Stage, was the coolest thing ever playing against other people in there, all of us with fags hanging out of our mouths as we drifted one handed).

Didn't do masses of cultural stuff though, didn't eat a massive variety of food (just loads of fast food), and didn't leave Tokyo and Osaka. So it was very much an 18 year old weeaboo trip. I'd do it differently next time. It was awesome though.

I'm so jelly, so many of you have been to Japan in the era all my mates were flaky and couldn't go while VF4 Evo was in its prime.

Your trip sounds beautiful wakka just like it should be, although I had to re-read what was hanging out of your mouth while playing Initial D.

Yea let us all know.

My first trip to Japan was a last minute thing, I`d moved back to my home town after leaving my girlfriend (fiend) in London. An old school friend back in my hometown suggested the trip. At the time I was a heavy PSO player and on one of the forums one of the users mentioned he was in Tokyo and would meet up with us in Akihabara to show us around, and he did. It was great to meet someone that friendly with local knowledge (and patience). it was kryss btw

The experience was amazing if a little alien - Total culture shock!

Back then the Yen rate was amazing! I did several trips to Aki
Food and shopping

Are there any forum users still in Tokyo?

I'm sorry to hear the reason that prompted you to going, but what a way to put your ex out of your mind! Did you talk about your trip at the time on NTSC-UK? You mentioning PSO and Kryss makes me want to say you talked about it here either at the time, or at some point.

Although I can't wait to go, I'm very aware some of the elements like SEGA Arcade's, modern gaming shops and other gaming places just aren't there anymore, or at least not to the same quantity as they once were. If I could turn the clock back, I would have adored to visit Japan as I am now, but in the 90's or 00's. But alas, time means that could never be. Still, I'll be visiting Super Potato, GiGo Akihabara Building 3, walking around Tokyo at night and staying in Hotels I could only dream of back in my teens, so that'll make up for not going in the golden era of gaming. You win some, you loose some.

[huxley]

Wools It was an amicable split, she had no interest in travel etc, it was something I`d wanted to do.
Just looking back at some photos. I went in 2005, 2006, 2007,2010 & 2012. There should be some in the first thread.
I might reupload some.

Happy St Paddy day - I`m off for a beer

[wakka]

I'm so jelly, so many of you have been to Japan in the era all my mates were flaky and couldn't go while VF4 Evo was in its prime.

Your trip sounds beautiful wakka just like it should be, although I had to re-read what was hanging out of your mouth while playing Initial D.

Haha you sound like one of my American mates.

Yeah it was wicked. It was exactly what I wanted to do at the time. Hours and hours digging through second hand games shops...it was bliss. I had to get an extra suitcase I brought so much stuff back! I remember I had to weigh my cases at Narita and Virgin allowed a pretty significant overage without charging me, which was lucky cos I hadn't got any money left!

Still got everything I bought there. I was on a real mission for NGPC games in particular and that stuff looks great on the shelf and has skyrocketed in value. Have a load of stuff related to 2000s animes that I liked at the time but that I don't really care about any more though (and should probs get rid of).

[Yakumo]

Sadly I think a lot of you guys never got to experience Akihabara in the age before PS2. That was a golden time. A true gaming paradise way before a load of stupid Maide cafes and DVD shops showed up.
I know people still think tourist traps like Super 🥔 are great but try to imagine at least 30 shops like that in a row.
Imagine a 5 floor building with new releases on the ground floor with each additional floor being fully dedicated to a platform.
Then we had the many arcade stores selling cabinets, PC s and accessories.

It really was a different age and one that has never been matched. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have visited Japan in 95, 96, 97 and 98 until present day. I got to see the days when Akihabara and gaming was at its peak. A true nerds paradise unlike now.

[kryss]

I don't know, being able to pay with tap rather than having a wallet stuffed with cash was a nice change this summer! There's been some talk of us going back in November/December so the little guy can get his 3rd and final Japanese Encephalitis shot, but we'll see.

Huxley is kind enough not to mention that that first year (2005) my ex had sprained her ankle and I was an hour late meeting him and F! We did better the following years.

[CMcK]

I'm hoping to go back to Japan next year to celebrate my 50th. The Suica card sounds handy so I'll look into it. I really want to see more of modern Japan this time and head to the islands.

[Wools]

Great to hear it was alright for you both huxley and hope you enjoyed that Monday night beer!

Ha, sounds like you had an epic time wakka. The solution you had of bringing back excess games in a spare suitcase is very much on my radar. I'm thinking of bringing back a retro console with some games from Super Potato and Sarah has her eye on so much cute stuff. And I've not even mentioned the vintage clothes shops, homeware stores and all manor of other things we'll probably buy. So a cheap suitcase purchased out there might be on the agenda!

I can remember the sepia toned images of Tokyo in the 1980's and 1990's from Edge Magazine and can only picture what it was like from them. To be traveling out there in the 90's before settling with your Mrs must have been brilliant Yakumo! However, I think you're underselling just how brilliant Tokyo is for someone who's always admired the place but never visited. Yes, the gaming shops and the Arcade's aren't like their golden era, but they still have a pull for an ageing nerd like myself. And gaming isn't like it was in the 90's; 3D replacing 2D, each console bringing something unique and every year there was a milestone game released. Gaming in 2025 has become stale, homologated and fairly dull. So a modern gaming shop doesn't have the pull like it did for us back in the 90's, retro very much does though! And with all that considered, that's before we get to the more cultural aspects of Japan that will still be marvellous. Well, hopefully!

[Yakumo]

Oh, don't get me wrong, Tokyo will still be a lot of fun for those who have never been before. From a gaming perspective though, it isn't a patch on what it was. I last went to Tokyo in 2023 and was greatly disappointed as I knew what it was like back in the mid 90s to about 2001. It was just a different vibe back then.

[wakka]

Yeah don't let Yakumo discourage you. You will have an awesome time. I would suggest that you might have more fun shopping for games looking slightly further afield than Super Potato though. My info is well out of date but it was Nakano Broadway and Osaka's Den Den Town that felt like proper treasure troves back in 2008 (still spent a lot of time in Super Potato and Trader 2 and stuff in Akihabara though).

Also I remember visiting an import shop called Game Hollywood lol. Which was all US and Euro games. Was a novelty to see importing in reverse.

[phillv85]

I’m also off to Japan in just under a month. Got a hefty warchest for buying games, although going with my wife so I can’t be spending hours a day searching for uber bargains. The Suica card looks really easy on iPhone, just add one through your wallet and top it up with Apple Pay. I installed the app but you need a decent level of Japanese reading to use it. We’re doing Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe (but mostly using Kobe as a base to venture to other places from). I can’t wait!

[kryss]

Tsurugaya behind one of the Apa Hotels in Akihabara was a good shop I thought, got me a minty SFC Mini Classic for 7700yen there, and prices were pretty reasonable.
Keep an eye out for the BookOffs as you can get some cheap carts there - I got all the 3DS Monster Hunter games for 100yen each.
The GEO Mobile on the main street of Akihabara has secondhand Taiko no Tatsujin tatakikon for about 3000yen and TONS of used controllers for all consoles. on the upper floors.

I did not venture into Super Potato as I didn't want to cry at the prices.