YOU?!? NO WAY!!!
Yeah, yeah. Me in Akiba. What a shocker.
Seriously, though, I’d only gone down there to make a quick run and hunt up a couple Dreamcast games, but got sucked into the Akiba time vortex.
As usual.
I was there longer than I’d expected, but did manage to score a couple nice items – Power Stone for ¥280 and Samba de Amigo for ¥504 (both for DC). I also picked up KeroKero King DX for the Cube. (That one’s called “Ribbit King” in the US. It’s golf – but played with frogs instead of balls. Sure to be the subject of another entry.)As I was wandering around, it dawned on me that although I find Akiba easy to navigate now that I know where my favorite shops are, it’s probably pretty daunting to somebody on their first visit. So with that in mind, here’s a guide to used game shopping in Akiba.Now, this is far from a complete list of used game shops, but it does include the ones I make a point of hitting most every time I go to Akiba. You never know what’s going to turn up where, so it pays to have several shops to visit. This little guide also doesn’t take into account how much time you may have to spend browsing around. You could probably visit all these shops in less than an hour.
But game browsing is hardly ever a quick thing.
You always stay longer than you plan on – Akiba is a huge time-eater – but you may luck out and find what you want and be in and out in no time.
Yeah, right.
Anyway, here’s your self-guided walking tour of used game shopping in Akiba:
1. Take the JR train (Yamanote, Chuo and Keihin-Tohoku lines all go there) to Akihabara and exit through the “Akihabara Electric Town” exit. After you pass through the ticket gate, turn right and exit the station. Once outside, immediately turn left and head towards the main street. (You’ll see Club Sega directly in front of you on the other side of the street.
2. Don’t cross yet! Turn left on the main street and walk about half a block to find Media Land. It’s on the left side of the street, almost directly under the train tracks. The second floor is where you’ll find used games/systems and DC stuff.
3. Once you’re done in Media Land, exit the store and cross the main street at the crosswalk just to your right. After crossing, turn right, then make an immediate left. (Club Sega will be on your right as you walk down this street. At the end of the block, take your first right. Look for a yellow awning on your right. That’ll be Sofmap 3. New stuff on the first floor, used Sony stuff on 2F, DC, Saturn, GBA, DS, SFC and N64 on 3F. After you’re done here, exit the store and turn right.
4. About a block and a half down on the right you’ll find Super Potato. Or, you may not. They don’t have an actual storefront as they’re on the 3rd floor of the building. Keep an eye out for a big yellow sign with a cartoon potato-person on it. Enter the building that sign is on and head up to 3F. This store is awesome. It’s almost like a gaming museum. Very small and cramped, but well worth the visit. You may not find what you’re looking for here, but you should go anyways. You’ll find yourself saying “Dude! I used to have this!” quite a bit. All done? Head back down to the street and turn right.
5. Not a game shop, but worth a quick look is Azo Bit City 4. Head down the street after you exit Super Potato and cross the big street in front of you. (There’s a crosswalk to your left once you reach the street.) Just to the left of the crosswalk is ABC 4. This is their “military” store. Tons of airsoft guns. Even if you’re not into them, you should take a look. It’s a very impressive display. After you’ve had your fill, leave the store, turn left and head up to the main street. Turn left there and head down to the big Sofmap store.
6. I don’t know what number this one is, but it’s hard to miss. Pass the Kakuta Sofmap (not the one we’re looking for – no games there!) and keep walking until you get to the Sofmap Mac Collection. Just across the street (small street, not the big on to your right) is the shop we’re looking for. First floor – new Sony. 2F – used Sony. 3F – Used Sega and Nintendo. This shop may take you a while to get through, so take your time. Once you’re done, exit the shop, go to the main street an turn left.
7. The last shop we’re going to hit is Trader. Smallish place, just up the street on the left-hand side. It’s pretty crowded, but everything’s on the first floor. (Unless you want hentai games, then you’ll have to go up to 2F.) Not the biggest selection, but nice finds can be had sometimes.
8. If you’re all burned out by this point (and you may well be), just turn right after you leave Trader and head back to the station. It’ll be on the opposite side of the main street a few blocks down. You can’t miss it, since the tracks for the Chuo line cross over the street and go right into the station. (Where else are they gonna go? ^.^)
9. If you’re not burned out yet, take some time and explore. You’ll have barely scratched the surface of what Akiba has to offer. If you’re after Manga, check out Comic Toranoana, on the other side of the street. (Look for a big orange sign with a cartoon cat on it.) More manga than you’ve probably ever seen in your life. Just beware of the stuff on B1 level. You have to be 18 to go down there for a reason.
10. Have fun!