The Crane games are programed nearly the same why they are in America. The grippers are only allowed to actually grip hard on prizes once every certain amount of tries. Here in American it's usually every 9 to 10 times.
I know right!! I just bought some figures (without boxes) at Hobby Off for 380 yen - can't believe how cheap they are. They would have been 20 times that much over here at comic con.
Most Japanese online stores that ship internationally set their price on their international website to be around the same price of International retailers. If you want to be able to have the best deals on figures, you can rely on a proxy buyer to purchase the items for you on online stores that ship only in Japan for a fee. Depending of the proxy buyer, fees may range from $3 - $10 per purchases. So it is worth to look around the different proxy buyers, what services they offer and at what cost. Some might offer the possibility to store the items bought from different sellers for a certain period of time to combine them all together to be shipped at once, while others might ship each items individually the moment they acquire them for you. So it all depends on what kind of purchases you are planning to do (i.e.: single item purchase, or bulk purchases from different sellers). But when you consider you can get a Prize Figure (the type of figures shown in most part during this video) new for $10 - $20 plus shipping fees instead of $40 - $50 plus shipping fees, or a new Scale Figure for $120 plus shipping instead of $200 or more, those proxy buyer fees are definitely end up being worth it while saving money.
If you Go west corner of akihabara, there is a building where the figures are on bouncy balls. Those are extremely easy to win compared to the others and not many people go there since it is not on the main street! My friend and i got about 15 figures. usually they took 3 tries (300 yen) to get 1 figure!
does the building had name or something? sounds cool..would be fun to win something? i also saw a video where people could win something with scouping some beads and small thing to win a bigger prince by pushing a coin down..is this also in japan and if so were?
Just by watching this video and seeing all the stuff there I got so overwhelmed, My eyes literally widened, I can already imagine all the stuff I'm going to buy there and seeing my favorite characters. I just feel like getting out of my bed right now and travel to straight to Japan🙋 One of my goals is to shop there! Thank you for this video!
It's such an amazing place, you'll love it! I hope you can make it there one day! I'm going back really soon - can't wait (new Japan vlogs coming up!!) :-)
I was only able to spend one evening in Akiba. My friends weren't interested in anime though so we mostly spent time in Club Sega, a pachinko / slot machine place, and one friend wanted to stop in an... Adult shop.
Cakes with Faces Yes, my friend (who was female) was annoyed that they had a whole floor that was men only. According to the sign some men are very private and would be embarrassed if women saw them going in there. It was a learning experience.
I went to Japan last october with three friends. I told them I was going to spend a whole day in Akihabara and they could do whatever they wanted (not into anime and gaming). They ended up spending the day with me in all the anime shops and arcades :-) Was a great day.
Any advice for someone who is going with their parents? I want to go to heaps of anime stores but I'm scared of my parents freaking out because they accidentally walked into yaoi or super sonico figure. I also really like otome games but I'm super scared about me buying a uta no prince sama poster or something. Also is there heaps of old unpopular anime stuff (eg brothers conflict or diabolik lovers) in akibahara or anywhere in Japan. Sorry for the super long comment!
There were a LOT of Sonico figures! Maybe keep them away from bookstores - lots of them have a yaoi manga section - it's all in Japanese anyway ･ﾟ･(｡>ω
Cakes with Faces Thanks! I really hate the BBC because they did a broadcast about how Japan has manga that sexualize children and how most of it is child porn... My parents saw that and have been criticizing what I watch and like.... Your videos are really good btw and I can't wait to go to Japan!
You missed out the mention on the Mandarake Akihabara outlet, which has some rare figures that Nakano broadway does not have (Bare in mind they are the same chain). Also, Radio Kaiken has Yellow Submarine and Jungle Hobby stuff with alot of figures. Last but not least the Amiami stores both in Radio Kaiken and the 2nd hand outlet near Kotobukiya are a must-see!
Also if you are planning to go beyond Osaka and further west (say...Fukuoka or Kokura), give Kokura a shot. There's an anime building next to the station that has Animate/Jungle/Mandarake in it. I found quite alot of rare stuff and it's cheaper than Tokyo but it's quite far from Osaka.
To be fair she did mention the fire escape you have to climb to get into Akiba Mandarake. I couldn’t believe my luck when I picked up Momohime from Oboromuramasa in there, I’d been looking for that for ages.
Ramone Ritchie maybe buy bubble wrap and wrap it around your figure? All of my figures come either with a box or wrapped with plastic then put into a bag.
Ah, she's one of the characters I got because I liked her, not because I knew the character, so thank you! She came in a set with Lumiere (now I know the names thanks to you!)
@@cakeswithfaces Tbh to this day I think Eclair is one of the prettiest anime girls (I'm a girl myself lol). Now that you know the series I really recommend it. When you have time to watch it ofc . It does have some fanservice (very little compared to what we have nowadays) but the story gets very interesting, especially in the middle. The two main girls are so badass, as a young girl I really looked up to them since 13 years ago there were fewer anime with strong main female characters. Other ones were Slayers (magic) and Kaleido Star (acrobatics). And of course Sailor Moon.
Loved all the detailed info! Never been able to leave the airport when I’ve been to Japan, but I won’t forget Akihabara because of this vid! Thanks for sharing!
This was in my recommendation feed. Reminds me of when I was in Akihabara. I remember being in some of these stores. Now I really wanna go back again. I miss Japan.
I went there in April and there is just so much to see there we definitely had to make a few trips back during our stay just to see a lot more of it. It was definitely our favorite part of the trip.
I like the 2nd hand gacha shops. They're ideal if you want merch of your waifu and don't want the other stuff in the set. Also check out Book Sale. We popped into the Shinjuku one a few times, but most of them have a figures/toys/model section
Thank you for pointing out specific shops; I went to Akihabara last year, loved it, but had a tough go of finding what I was looking for. I now have a few places to start for next time.
There's just so much there it can be hard to know where to start! And easy to miss things if you don't realise so much is upstairs/downstairs. I've got a tour of Akihabara coming up so look out for that! :-)
Thank you for all the tips! I needed to know the prices for the figurines because i thought they were much more expensive for a good one! Thank you very much and nice video
There are certainly expensive ones too, but you don't have to spend a lot to get nice figures :-) They're so much cheaper than you'd pay here in the UK, it was such a surprise when I first went there.
Absolutely! Most of the figures I buy are prize figures (originally prizes in the UFO catchers) and for me they're everything I want in a figure at a great price. When the same figures are sold here in the UK, the price is usually 3x as much.
The biggest things I learned while there was. 1. Check multiple shops and all the floors. Theres a good chance you'll find the same figure at a better price. 2. If you absolutely need/want it, but it! I lost a few items by letting it sit for an extra day when I came back the next day ;-; 3. Check back daily if possible. Theres always new items for sale at the resale shops(like akiba culture zone) Thia video is amazing though, randomly ended up at Nakano myself as well and spent all day there browsing the place!
I remember going to Akihabara on my trip but I had absolutely no idea on where to go, I'm glad you pointed out where to go so I don't get lost like last time ;-;'
It can be tricky to know where to go when you go somewhere for the first time. When I first went to Ikebukuro I didn't like it at all because I went the wrong way and didn't find the good stuff, but I love it there now! Did you see my tour of Akihabara, that might help too! ua-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/v-deo.html
I'm Going to tokyo next week so I'll visit akihabara for sure. Thanks for this video. I hope that as second hand figures, maybe I'll find them with box included since I'll get some for some friends
Thanks for this video...did so much (maybe too much) figure shopping in Japan from Nakano to Osaka to Akihabara...loved this dream land can't wait to go back 😆
Going back there would be a nightmare lmao. I legit had to pack extra three empty large check-in suit cases just for the figurines/accessories - And I actually wanted more one day before returning home lol
Cakes with Faces absolutely better, second hand figures but the prices... omg the prices are ridiculously low, 10 or 12usd for a big Asuka Langley (23-25 cm)
Just ran across this video. I'm n planning a trip to Japan here in the near future and I found your video very useful and full of good information. Onto another one. Proud 👍👍👍👍
Dang!!! I'll have to go there soon! Probably once my husband and I move to South Korea. For sure I'll do vlogs when we visit Japan as well! Goooshhhh I can't wait! Anyways thanks for sharing this! Very helpful!
How exactly do you go about asking them for the figures behind the glass? :o I'm gonna be in Japan at the end of this month and I'm a bit nervous about that!
The cabinets are all numbered. Some shops have slips of paper to write the number of the cabinet on. At others, you take the shop assistant to the cabinet you want - you'll be able to get by with mime and pointing if you learn basic "sumimasen" (excuse me), "please" and "thank you". Have a great trip!! :-)
Strategic advice if you're not a box-keeping collector: MANDARAKE. They have stuff that wouldn't sell to obsessive collectors because the box is dented/bruised, but the contents are OK.
Do you know where to buy the plushies from the UFO catchers? I wasted so much trying to win a Poteusa Loppy 😂 A video on plushie shops would be amazing ❤️
In Japan I've not seen them in the shops that much, more as UFO catcher prizes. There've been a couple in the shops that sell figures etc in glass cabinets in Akihabara. I think Amuse plushies are easier to get in the UK than in Japan if you want to buy them eg from Tofu Cute!
Been to Tokyo 6 times and I still haven't seen everything Akihabara has to offer. Two years ago, I was staying a mile away from Akihabara. I visited the place so many times, found myself walking to it several times. Last year I didn't nearly go enough as I would of liked. Great video. :)
Are the train noise as bad people say it is when u stay at the hotel in akihabara? What's the most popular male figure name in Japan? I'd love to buy female figures but my family would think that's strange for a male to collect 🙄. Lol!
Akiharaba's on a major train line so check reviews and see how close hotels are to the tracks. I haven't stayed there; I prefer the other side of Tokyo for staying in (Shinjuku/Shibuya area). I think you should collect whichever figures you like! :-) What's popular changes seasonally - I often find we're behind Japan in terms of what's popular (It takes a while to come over here!). When I was there, I saw lots of the guys from Haikyuu (basketball anime).
Thank you very much for replying to my questions and comments. I'll be definitely be having chat with the tourism section of hyper Japan this Christmas. Watching ur videos makes traveling to Japan a reality and not just a dream : )
Hyper Japan 2017 was amazing . Seeing and meeting famous J pop artists and getting autographs. I would also like to have a selfie with you to add to my collection. Was so happy to get one with Danny choo (that selfie has been framed) ; )
I've meat to go out to Nakano on my last September trip after watching your video but didn't make it. But today, I finally went and I was completely blown away! Other than anime related stuff, they also have train, audiophile headphones and watches. That is all the main category I ever need for my otaku life! And those old restaurant there, it truly was an amazing place with lots of character. Thank you so much for suggesting!!!
ah memories. Can't wait to be back in November. I have also been to Den Den town in Osaka. While it felt a lot like Akihabara it also has its own vibe and a lot more obscure anime stuff. I found a little shop full of original gen 1 pokemon stuff. I got a few figures there and a boat load of pokemon cards. All really cheap too :D
can't remember the name as it was in Japanese but i am almost certain it was one of these stores. Just off the main street www.google.co.uk/maps/@34.6606467,135.5048827,3a,75y,88.78h,91.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saK_Rab-Z1fwdDpT2zVmp_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
enjoy! Osaka is an amazing city. My biggest regret was not staying longer than a day but i am going to Hiroshima on my next trip and i will be stopping in Osaka on my way back to Tokyo for the day again. The food in Osaka is also amazing. Best food i had in my whole trip was there. When i go back in November i'll be sure to call into those shops again and tell you which one has the pokemon stuff :)
I finally get to go to Japan next year after wanting to for 10 years and man I'm gonna be so overwhelmed aha I get to play the game of how much anime merch can I possibly fit and afford into my travelling backpack lmao
Personally, i really reccomend people with a tight budget to go to mandrake just because the figures there were mostly around 800-3000 yen, and some stores also sells coslpay. Edit: the thing she said about den den town in osaka are completely true. There you can basically finds a figurine only for 600 yen. The mandrake there was absolute treasure to me
Thanks for the recommendation! Did you see my Denden Town vlog too? :-) The best prices I've seen were in Hobby Off - I got some UFO catcher prize figures for 350 yen each 😱
It's my firdt time watching one of your videos and I have to say thay I'm pretty impressed. Other youtubers just tell where to go and what you can buy there but they don't talk about the prices! Thanks for talking about the cost!
Ok, so I've just found your channel and i am in love with it! Your videos are really helpful, thank you so much ♥ Keep going with the great work, byyyyye! (You're soooo cute ♥)
I returned from Japan 2 days ago. Visited Nakano Broadway thanks to your other video, it was awesome :) Some figures there were so cheap that it almost looked suspicious :P Do you think they may be selling some fakes as well?
I think there must be... Maybe some shops police it, but there was a No Game No Life figure I kept seeing for either very expensive or very cheap and they looked the same, so I think the cheap ones must have been fakes. Glad you enjoyed your trip!! :-)
Great video, very much good quality information given! Looking in Akihabaras backalleys or in the smaller not with super bright neon lights flooded entrances can be very rewarding. Smaller shops often have the better prices. We visited Nakano Broadway in the last year for the first time and we were positively suprised. Everything there looks old and not so "fresh" in comparison with Akihabara but you can still find hidden gems and very exclusive figures for an awesome price. If you ever visit Nagoya (its in the middle between Osaka and Tokyo) you can go to the Osu shopping mall there you find some cool figure shops too or try the "Bookoff Megabazar" store in the inner city. Their prices are incredible low even if the figure selection is mainly from the last 5-8 years. There I found a huuuge Final Fantasy plush Moogle (new) for less than 5€ and a lot of cheap Super Famicom games.
Yes, Nakano Broadway's definitely worth a look! And you'll certainly see some interesting things there! I've not been to Nagoya yet, but I'm gradually finding out about these other places to find figures in different areas of Japan, like Aru Aru City in Kitakyushu, and I recently went to DenDen Town in Osaka (video coming up at some point!) :-)
I've never been in the west of Japan. Aru Aru City looks very promising if I ever went in this direction I will definitly visit it thanks for the hint! Looking forward to your video of Osaka I think we will also visit DenDen Town's Ota road again this year. Unfortunately the luggage is always sooooo limited ;)
Awesome content! This video inspired me to grow a collection(currently have 6 as of the moment). Akihabara is a paradise for hobbyists. Cheers and stay stafe! 😁
Cakes with Faces im hitting it up during my 19 day stay over September. If you havnt visited denden town by then I would be more then happy to show you round. There is terrific food just north west of it at Dotonbori to!
Cakes with Faces I found a great hotel right next to akihabara for the majority of the stay and one right next to denden town. Gimme holler closer to mid September if you wanna do some akiba exploring or make another vid as Imma gonna do some more videos this trip
Haha thank you :-) She's my fav too, I wrote her a birthday message in Akihabara last week (they always have displays in the arcades for characters' birthdays!)
Watching this was fun and overwhelming, seen some figures that i also like, now when i visit there i dont where to start. I could spend all may days in japan to just going around looking and buying toys. So fun. :)
That neighborhood cleaned out my wallet. I got more than a few plastic modeling kits as well as a golden dragon figure. There is a department store next to Akihabara Station with a lot of those plastic modeling kits. I like building military and airplane models. Those model trains were tempting too.
Ah was that department store Yodobashi Camera? Can’t believe how big that shop is! My friend bought some Gundam kits there, he said it’s a good place to get them with reasonable prices.
In my experience, to get better prices on figures while in Akihabara you need to branch out to the shops away from the main streets. Also, the shops away from the main streets will usually have a mix of older figures that you may not be able to find anymore as well.
Tez, if painting ever stops doing it for you a spot as a Taiko Drummer might work. 😁 Great vid. Japan does have some contrasts in scenery. All said, I think I prefer the gardens to the gaming. Happy exploring, Mate.
Cakes with Faces i hope to travel to japan next year 😆. I need to know a lot and your chanell its amazing 💪. Do you have a video of art books and mangas? See yaa !! Cheers 👐👐
How exciting! You'll love it! I have some other videos about Akihabara that you might enjoy - and Nakano Broadway, which is a good place for figures too. :-)
@@pfannakucha6490 There really is so much choice, it's quite overwhelming. You won't find it hard to find things you want! :-) Did you see my Akihabara tour as well? ua-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/v-deo.html
Hey! I spent $50 on crane game just to get the figure I wanted... and the next day I saw one in Nakano for $10.
Best feeling ever... not. lol.
Ah noooo! At least you got it in the end! (That's why I don't even try, I don't know how people win them...!)
The Crane games are programed nearly the same why they are in America. The grippers are only allowed to actually grip hard on prizes once every certain amount of tries. Here in American it's usually every 9 to 10 times.
U had to be Umaru-chan to really win something in a crane game
gg
nekochen i feel very sorry for you...
Man those prices are so cheap compared to Amiami or US retailers. I feel like I'd spend my entire savings if I went to Japan.
I know right!! I just bought some figures (without boxes) at Hobby Off for 380 yen - can't believe how cheap they are. They would have been 20 times that much over here at comic con.
@@thotslayer9914 you'd probably go to japan as a vacation, and not just to buy some figures.
@@thotslayer9914 Im going for a two week vacation lol not just to buy figures
Most Japanese online stores that ship internationally set their price on their international website to be around the same price of International retailers.
If you want to be able to have the best deals on figures, you can rely on a proxy buyer to purchase the items for you on online stores that ship only in Japan for a fee. Depending of the proxy buyer, fees may range from $3 - $10 per purchases. So it is worth to look around the different proxy buyers, what services they offer and at what cost.
Some might offer the possibility to store the items bought from different sellers for a certain period of time to combine them all together to be shipped at once, while others might ship each items individually the moment they acquire them for you. So it all depends on what kind of purchases you are planning to do (i.e.: single item purchase, or bulk purchases from different sellers).
But when you consider you can get a Prize Figure (the type of figures shown in most part during this video) new for $10 - $20 plus shipping fees instead of $40 - $50 plus shipping fees, or a new Scale Figure for $120 plus shipping instead of $200 or more, those proxy buyer fees are definitely end up being worth it while saving money.
1 dollar = 100 yen right?
I always get so overwhelmed by all the stuff in Akihabara. Thanks for all the tips.
I know the feeling! When you realise there's more upstairs and downstairs, and discover new shops you never knew were there! :-)
I feel like I would need to spend time in Akihabara and re-search for half a year all the shops to find there are the best items and prices
I really liked your video, I'm hyped to go to Japan now! Btw I was wondering, what mic are you using?
Thanks, you'll love it! Lots of other videos on my channel to help you plan your trip too :-) It's a Rhode directional mic.
That's great because I was thinking about getting that one anyways, thanks!
No complaints from me, it’s been great!
@@cakeswithfaces thanks for the replies, definitely subbed to your channel!
@@MVPerry Thank you!! There's more coming up from Akihabara - enjoy the videos! :-)
If you Go west corner of akihabara, there is a building where the figures are on bouncy balls. Those are extremely easy to win compared to the others and not many people go there since it is not on the main street!
My friend and i got about 15 figures. usually they took 3 tries (300 yen) to get 1 figure!
Good tip! I can never win anything usually!!! :-)
does the building had name or something? sounds cool..would be fun to win something? i also saw a video where people could win something with scouping some beads and small thing to win a bigger prince by pushing a coin down..is this also in japan and if so were?
What’s the name of the bldg?
Aaah I can't wait to go. I feel like I'll need a whole suitcase just for figures.
Yes!! (*≧ω≦*) I always take an extra bag just in case, haha!
How do you budget this? I am afraid that I will pay extra luggage fees due to a full extra bag
clothes are unnecessary... LONG LIVE FIGURINES!!!!
I was thinking the same watching the video..
arcadegel 👏😂 same I’m really considering it
1000 yen is like only 10 dollars US !!!!!!!!!!! those figures are like $100 at us stores
Yes they're much more expensive in the UK too! If you live in Japan it must be so hard not to buy them ALL!
Why must the universe be so hard on our funds? 😭😭😭
its even worse in 3rd world coutrie.s you have to pay x3 to get them + custom fees...
Just by watching this video and seeing all the stuff there I got so overwhelmed, My eyes literally widened, I can already imagine all the stuff I'm going to buy there and seeing my favorite characters. I just feel like getting out of my bed right now and travel to straight to Japan🙋 One of my goals is to shop there! Thank you for this video!
It's such an amazing place, you'll love it! I hope you can make it there one day! I'm going back really soon - can't wait (new Japan vlogs coming up!!) :-)
I was only able to spend one evening in Akiba. My friends weren't interested in anime though so we mostly spent time in Club Sega, a pachinko / slot machine place, and one friend wanted to stop in an... Adult shop.
I'm sure that was... interesting! Everyone has a different to-do list in Japan...!
Cakes with Faces Yes, my friend (who was female) was annoyed that they had a whole floor that was men only. According to the sign some men are very private and would be embarrassed if women saw them going in there. It was a learning experience.
24 hour challenge in akihabara?~
I went to Japan last october with three friends. I told them I was going to spend a whole day in Akihabara and they could do whatever they wanted (not into anime and gaming). They ended up spending the day with me in all the anime shops and arcades :-) Was a great day.
Any advice for someone who is going with their parents? I want to go to heaps of anime stores but I'm scared of my parents freaking out because they accidentally walked into yaoi or super sonico figure. I also really like otome games but I'm super scared about me buying a uta no prince sama poster or something. Also is there heaps of old unpopular anime stuff (eg brothers conflict or diabolik lovers) in akibahara or anywhere in Japan. Sorry for the super long comment!
There were a LOT of Sonico figures! Maybe keep them away from bookstores - lots of them have a yaoi manga section - it's all in Japanese anyway ･ﾟ･(｡>ω
Cakes with Faces Thanks! I really hate the BBC because they did a broadcast about how Japan has manga that sexualize children and how most of it is child porn... My parents saw that and have been criticizing what I watch and like.... Your videos are really good btw and I can't wait to go to Japan!
Thanks! I saw that documentary too!! If you could get them to watch something like Your Name they might understand how amazing anime can be.
Watch out for r18 sections too haha
^please actually read the thread before commenting, i highly doubt your comment was helpful in any way.
You missed out the mention on the Mandarake Akihabara outlet, which has some rare figures that Nakano broadway does not have (Bare in mind they are the same chain).
Also, Radio Kaiken has Yellow Submarine and Jungle Hobby stuff with alot of figures.
Last but not least the Amiami stores both in Radio Kaiken and the 2nd hand outlet near Kotobukiya are a must-see!
Thanks! All good recommendations :-) I love Radio Kaikan, so many glass cabinets! The first time I went I didn't realise it had so many floors!
Also if you are planning to go beyond Osaka and further west (say...Fukuoka or Kokura), give Kokura a shot.
There's an anime building next to the station that has Animate/Jungle/Mandarake in it. I found quite alot of rare stuff and it's cheaper than Tokyo but it's quite far from Osaka.
Thanks! I'm planning a stay in Fukuoka for my next trip so that's perfect!
It's called Aruaru city in Kokura, it's connected to Kokura station by a overhead bridge.
To be fair she did mention the fire escape you have to climb to get into Akiba Mandarake. I couldn’t believe my luck when I picked up Momohime from Oboromuramasa in there, I’d been looking for that for ages.
Are they easy to get through customs?
I've never had any problems. Figures aren't restricted items so you're allowed to buy them as "souvenirs"!
Larry Bundy Jr take something back for ashens
+TheGamerCyclops goddamn Larry is literally in every comment section I go to.
Ramone Ritchie maybe buy bubble wrap and wrap it around your figure? All of my figures come either with a box or wrapped with plastic then put into a bag.
Ramone Ritchie no problem :)
my dream is to visit there but just watching the video i got overwhelmed >_<
also i can see me going bankrupt in less than 20 minutes
That is a real danger! Practice your self control! :-) There really is a lot to look round, it's an amazing place if you like anime.
Thank you for this fun and informative video. I like to collect figures and very much want to go to Japan some day.
If you like figures you'll definitely love Akihabara! Check out Nakano Broadway too :-)
0:03 Omg, you've got Eclair from Kiddy Grade. One of the anime series of my childhood. The nostalgia ^^
Ah, she's one of the characters I got because I liked her, not because I knew the character, so thank you! She came in a set with Lumiere (now I know the names thanks to you!)
@@cakeswithfaces Tbh to this day I think Eclair is one of the prettiest anime girls (I'm a girl myself lol).
Now that you know the series I really recommend it. When you have time to watch it ofc . It does have some fanservice (very little compared to what we have nowadays) but the story gets very interesting, especially in the middle. The two main girls are so badass, as a young girl I really looked up to them since 13 years ago there were fewer anime with strong main female characters. Other ones were Slayers (magic) and Kaleido Star (acrobatics). And of course Sailor Moon.
Nicely made video, not just someone walking through a store/neighborhood talking to their phone. Looking forward to checking out more videos
Thanks, I try & make my videos useful! (I spend way too much time on them!) :-)
Loved all the detailed info! Never been able to leave the airport when I’ve been to Japan, but I won’t forget Akihabara because of this vid! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! Hope you can make it out & about to explore one day!
Thanks for the tips! I'll make sure to follow then once I go there in July 2022!
Thanks! Enjoy your Japlanning! :-)
This was in my recommendation feed. Reminds me of when I was in Akihabara. I remember being in some of these stores. Now I really wanna go back again. I miss Japan.
I know that feeling! No matter how many times I go, I always want to go back! :-)
I went there in April and there is just so much to see there we definitely had to make a few trips back during our stay just to see a lot more of it. It was definitely our favorite part of the trip.
Ah so glad you enjoyed it! (＾▽＾) I always spend at least a day there too!
I like the 2nd hand gacha shops. They're ideal if you want merch of your waifu and don't want the other stuff in the set. Also check out Book Sale. We popped into the Shinjuku one a few times, but most of them have a figures/toys/model section
Is that like Book Off? I found some figures for only 380 yen there recently! 😱
@@cakeswithfaces Doh! Yes, Book Off, not Book Sale xd
@@CaitiffPrimogen 😝 Outside Tokyo I've found huge Book Off / Hobby Offs, like the big shops you get in retail parks. Goldmines!
Thank you for pointing out specific shops; I went to Akihabara last year, loved it, but had a tough go of finding what I was looking for. I now have a few places to start for next time.
There's just so much there it can be hard to know where to start! And easy to miss things if you don't realise so much is upstairs/downstairs. I've got a tour of Akihabara coming up so look out for that! :-)
Thank you for all the tips! I needed to know the prices for the figurines because i thought they were much more expensive for a good one! Thank you very much and nice video
There are certainly expensive ones too, but you don't have to spend a lot to get nice figures :-) They're so much cheaper than you'd pay here in the UK, it was such a surprise when I first went there.
Woahhhhh, it’s so cool how some have such great detail but are quite cheap!
Absolutely! Most of the figures I buy are prize figures (originally prizes in the UFO catchers) and for me they're everything I want in a figure at a great price. When the same figures are sold here in the UK, the price is usually 3x as much.
The biggest things I learned while there was.
1. Check multiple shops and all the floors. Theres a good chance you'll find the same figure at a better price.
2. If you absolutely need/want it, but it! I lost a few items by letting it sit for an extra day when I came back the next day ;-;
3. Check back daily if possible. Theres always new items for sale at the resale shops(like akiba culture zone)
Thia video is amazing though, randomly ended up at Nakano myself as well and spent all day there browsing the place!
Good tips, thanks for sharing! And yes, I could spend all day at Nakano Broadway too! :-)
I remember going to Akihabara on my trip but I had absolutely no idea on where to go, I'm glad you pointed out where to go so I don't get lost like last time ;-;'
It can be tricky to know where to go when you go somewhere for the first time. When I first went to Ikebukuro I didn't like it at all because I went the wrong way and didn't find the good stuff, but I love it there now! Did you see my tour of Akihabara, that might help too! ua-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/v-deo.html
Aww! 2:18 is my holy grail! To Love Ru, Momo in her schoolgirl uniform prize figure. The last one to complete the set.
Ah I bought that two-figure set! I hadn't watched the anime but I just liked how they look :-)
I am going to japan this year and i have found your videos very good to watch . Therefore you have gained a new subscriber :)
Thank you! Enjoy the videos - and more importantly, enjoy your Japlanning!! :-)
This makes me miss japan a lot
I went to osaka on my first visit and i was so overwhelmed by all the anime merch
I went to Osaka & Denden Town for the first time this year! (Video will be coming up!). I know the feeling - I miss it too!!
I'm Going to tokyo next week so I'll visit akihabara for sure. Thanks for this video. I hope that as second hand figures, maybe I'll find them with box included since I'll get some for some friends
The prize figures usually come with boxes too, and they're around 1200-1500 yen when you buy them from the shops. Have a great trip!
@@cakeswithfaces Thank you! I sure hope so ^^
i feel like crying, ive wanted to go to japan my whole life, youve been a few times and bought figures, i just have barely any money
I hope you can make it to Japan one day, you'll love it!!! :-)
Me too, i really same as you really want to go to japan and buy miku
Well there is always amazon tho.
i just recently started a job so going to try save up its been my dream and my partners dream to go to japan
sell your kidney
Thanks for this video...did so much (maybe too much) figure shopping in Japan from Nakano to Osaka to Akihabara...loved this dream land can't wait to go back 😆
Wow you really did go everywhere! :-) It's addictive, isn't it! Hope you got some great finds!
@@cakeswithfaces Ya had to 😅. And yes I found great ones. Thank you for all your videos and advice, lots of help.
@@comiccaperproductions Thanks, that's great to hear! Everyone I know who's been to Japan wants to go back! :-)
Thankfully most places do take card but I love how you can shop for figures way cheaper second hand. That's not something you can do easily online.
Absolutely, good point! And the secondhand ones are mostly in as-new condition!
Going back there would be a nightmare lmao. I legit had to pack extra three empty large check-in suit cases just for the figurines/accessories - And I actually wanted more one day before returning home lol
You'd better save up for next time then...! :-)
Book Off! Near Kawasaki's Station, 34 minutes from Akihabara on railway. Good place to buy a lot of things and figures for sure.
Thanks for the rec! Is that one better than the other branches in central Tokyo?
Cakes with Faces absolutely better, second hand figures but the prices... omg the prices are ridiculously low, 10 or 12usd for a big Asuka Langley (23-25 cm)
Sounds good! Didn't see any figures in the Book Offs I went to (although I was distracted by the CDs...)
Just ran across this video. I'm n planning a trip to Japan here in the near future and I found your video very useful and full of good information.
Onto another one. Proud 👍👍👍👍
Glad you found it helpful! I'm sure you'll find lots of great figures in Akihabara!! :-) Enjoy planning your trip!
Dang!!! I'll have to go there soon! Probably once my husband and I move to South Korea. For sure I'll do vlogs when we visit Japan as well! Goooshhhh I can't wait! Anyways thanks for sharing this! Very helpful!
Thanks! I'd love to visit South Korea one day too! :-)
Cakes with Faces we're moving in November! Maybe meet up one day? It'll be a new adventure! ❤️
I'll need someone to show me all the good places!
Cakes with Faces gotcha on that! 😁
Thank you for the nostalgia factor, spent hours in that cabinet shop when I visited.
There's sooo much to look round isn't there! So much choice...
How exactly do you go about asking them for the figures behind the glass? :o I'm gonna be in Japan at the end of this month and I'm a bit nervous about that!
try google translate. it will be the most useful communication tool
The cabinets are all numbered. Some shops have slips of paper to write the number of the cabinet on. At others, you take the shop assistant to the cabinet you want - you'll be able to get by with mime and pointing if you learn basic "sumimasen" (excuse me), "please" and "thank you". Have a great trip!! :-)
I went to Akihabara and I barely speak Japanese. I either show the thing I ask or talk in English. They understand English but don’t speak it 😂
Most of time, you just say "sumimasen" (sorry) then show what you'd want and they understand
Strategic advice if you're not a box-keeping collector: MANDARAKE. They have stuff that wouldn't sell to obsessive collectors because the box is dented/bruised, but the contents are OK.
Thanks for the tip! I'm not a box-keeper either, if you throw them away you can fit more in your suitcase.
I got mines just for 300 yens each one, plus taxes. Of course, all secondhand, but a really good deal.
Wow that's an amazing price, good find!
2:22 ooh I really want that chiaki. Nice video btw, I subscribed
Thank you! Can't wait to get back to Akihabara when it's safe to travel again!
Very nice video. Very informative. Someday I'll make a trip there.
Thanks! Hope you can make it one day! :-)
There was a mall in taiwan where it was just an underground mall with rows and rows of figures for sale. I just got my stuff there
Sounds good! I've never been to Taiwan but it'd be great to go one day!
Do you know where to buy the plushies from the UFO catchers? I wasted so much trying to win a Poteusa Loppy 😂 A video on plushie shops would be amazing ❤️
In Japan I've not seen them in the shops that much, more as UFO catcher prizes. There've been a couple in the shops that sell figures etc in glass cabinets in Akihabara. I think Amuse plushies are easier to get in the UK than in Japan if you want to buy them eg from Tofu Cute!
This is a great help, me and my friends are looking for tips as this is our first trip to Japan ever.
Ooh exciting! You'll love it! :-) Did you see my Japlanning series too? ua-cam.com/video/rvqitrtmziY/v-deo.html
I can't believe how awesome them persona figures were I would love to go too japan great video I subbed : )
Thanks! I hope you can make it one day - so many amazing figures!! :-D
Been to Tokyo 6 times and I still haven't seen everything Akihabara has to offer. Two years ago, I was staying a mile away from Akihabara. I visited the place so many times, found myself walking to it several times. Last year I didn't nearly go enough as I would of liked. Great video. :)
Juve Travels Thanks! It’s unbelievable isn’t it! I always want to go back too!
This is why I first loved Japanese culture. Manga, gaming and figures. Heaven on earth!!
Me too! Anime was what I discovered first, then I found more and more things I liked :-)
Are the train noise as bad people say it is when u stay at the hotel in akihabara? What's the most popular male figure name in Japan? I'd love to buy female figures but my family would think that's strange for a male to collect 🙄. Lol!
Akiharaba's on a major train line so check reviews and see how close hotels are to the tracks. I haven't stayed there; I prefer the other side of Tokyo for staying in (Shinjuku/Shibuya area). I think you should collect whichever figures you like! :-) What's popular changes seasonally - I often find we're behind Japan in terms of what's popular (It takes a while to come over here!). When I was there, I saw lots of the guys from Haikyuu (basketball anime).
Thank you very much for replying to my questions and comments. I'll be definitely be having chat with the tourism section of hyper Japan this Christmas. Watching ur videos makes traveling to Japan a reality and not just a dream : )
Hyper Japan 2017 was amazing . Seeing and meeting famous J pop artists and getting autographs. I would also like to have a selfie with you to add to my collection. Was so happy to get one with Danny choo (that selfie has been framed) ; )
I've meat to go out to Nakano on my last September trip after watching your video but didn't make it. But today, I finally went and I was completely blown away! Other than anime related stuff, they also have train, audiophile headphones and watches. That is all the main category I ever need for my otaku life! And those old restaurant there, it truly was an amazing place with lots of character. Thank you so much for suggesting!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! There’s all sorts there isn’t there?! And the little alleyways are fun to explore too!
ah memories. Can't wait to be back in November. I have also been to Den Den town in Osaka. While it felt a lot like Akihabara it also has its own vibe and a lot more obscure anime stuff. I found a little shop full of original gen 1 pokemon stuff. I got a few figures there and a boat load of pokemon cards. All really cheap too :D
rain carnell oooo do you remember the name of that shop perhaps?
Sounds great, I'm looking forward to exploring and seeing what it's like!
can't remember the name as it was in Japanese but i am almost certain it was one of these stores. Just off the main street www.google.co.uk/maps/@34.6606467,135.5048827,3a,75y,88.78h,91.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saK_Rab-Z1fwdDpT2zVmp_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
rain carnell thank you so much! I'm going in april, very excited to explore ^_^
enjoy! Osaka is an amazing city. My biggest regret was not staying longer than a day but i am going to Hiroshima on my next trip and i will be stopping in Osaka on my way back to Tokyo for the day again. The food in Osaka is also amazing. Best food i had in my whole trip was there. When i go back in November i'll be sure to call into those shops again and tell you which one has the pokemon stuff :)
I finally get to go to Japan next year after wanting to for 10 years and man I'm gonna be so overwhelmed aha I get to play the game of how much anime merch can I possibly fit and afford into my travelling backpack lmao
Ahh so glad you finally get to go! :-) You'll need to pack light on the way there!!
Personally, i really reccomend people with a tight budget to go to mandrake just because the figures there were mostly around 800-3000 yen, and some stores also sells coslpay.
Edit: the thing she said about den den town in osaka are completely true. There you can basically finds a figurine only for 600 yen. The mandrake there was absolute treasure to me
Thanks for the recommendation! Did you see my Denden Town vlog too? :-)
The best prices I've seen were in Hobby Off - I got some UFO catcher prize figures for 350 yen each 😱
It's my firdt time watching one of your videos and I have to say thay I'm pretty impressed. Other youtubers just tell where to go and what you can buy there but they don't talk about the prices! Thanks for talking about the cost!
Thanks, I try to make my videos helpful & include everything I wanted to know before I went. There’s more on the way from Akihabara!
Ok, so I've just found your channel and i am in love with it! Your videos are really helpful, thank you so much ♥ Keep going with the great work, byyyyye! (You're soooo cute ♥)
Aww thanks so much, that means a lot! ♡ ～('▽^人) Just booked my next trip to Japan so there'll be more Japan vlogs coming up, yay!
I absolutely love sega prizes, premiums and SQ figures. They're so cheap but they look so lovely on your shelves and cabinets.
Yes! Before I went to Japan I never realised they were so cheap, I think they make a great collection :-)
Kotobubika is also online so you don't have to go to the shop to, well, shop!
I'll just spend too much money now....! Their figures are so nice!
so glad i found this channel, gonna be traveling to Japan soon!
Ooh exciting! Enjoy your Japlanning!
Paradise
I wish it was just around the corner so I could go there on weekends!
Cakes with Faces Weekends sorted! It looks amazing. I love watching your vids Amy, you're a great presenter =D
Yes!! ヽ(>∀
paradise city
Thanks so much for this. When I went last year I didn't know where to find figures. This time I know
Now you know and they'll be waiting for you! :-)
Thanks. Going in October and I can't wait
Not too long to wait! It's lovely and warm in October, and there'll be loads of cute Halloween stuff!
Thanks
I returned from Japan 2 days ago. Visited Nakano Broadway thanks to your other video, it was awesome :)
Some figures there were so cheap that it almost looked suspicious :P
Do you think they may be selling some fakes as well?
I think there must be... Maybe some shops police it, but there was a No Game No Life figure I kept seeing for either very expensive or very cheap and they looked the same, so I think the cheap ones must have been fakes. Glad you enjoyed your trip!! :-)
thanks for making this video. I plan to go to those places in the future, and it is so cool to see them.
I hope you can make it one day - if you like anime you'll definitely love Akihabara!!
This is beautiful! QuQ
I wanna go to Akihabara so badly.
Thanks! I'll be going back soon & will be filming more there so look out for it :-) Hope you can make it there one day!!
Thank you. All the sudden, travelling to Akihabara looks easy!
I hope you can make it there one day! :-)
U should get Madoka Magica figures
Ah they're cute too! I have one of Homura with her bow
OMG SO AMAZING
Thank you, especially for giving the price information, that's very helpful.
Thanks! I'll be filming more in Akihabara this spring so keep an eye out :-)
My sister went to Japan for 3 weeks and she went to a lot of anime shops and got me 5 anime figures omg I’m so great ful😭
That's a good sister! :-)
Amazing
Ah, this brings back so many fond memories! Would eat at Maidreamin' and then hours of window shopping.
Happy memories! As many times as I go to Japan I always have to go back to Akiba!
damn u can get authentic good looking figures for that cheap :O, I need to go to Japan once
I had no idea that's what they cost in Japan until I went! I thought they just cost as much as we pay in the UK 😝
Great video, very much good quality information given! Looking in Akihabaras backalleys or in the smaller not with super bright neon lights flooded entrances can be very rewarding. Smaller shops often have the better prices. We visited Nakano Broadway in the last year for the first time and we were positively suprised. Everything there looks old and not so "fresh" in comparison with Akihabara but you can still find hidden gems and very exclusive figures for an awesome price. If you ever visit Nagoya (its in the middle between Osaka and Tokyo) you can go to the Osu shopping mall there you find some cool figure shops too or try the "Bookoff Megabazar" store in the inner city. Their prices are incredible low even if the figure selection is mainly from the last 5-8 years. There I found a huuuge Final Fantasy plush Moogle (new) for less than 5€ and a lot of cheap Super Famicom games.
Yes, Nakano Broadway's definitely worth a look! And you'll certainly see some interesting things there! I've not been to Nagoya yet, but I'm gradually finding out about these other places to find figures in different areas of Japan, like Aru Aru City in Kitakyushu, and I recently went to DenDen Town in Osaka (video coming up at some point!) :-)
I've never been in the west of Japan. Aru Aru City looks very promising if I ever went in this direction I will definitly visit it thanks for the hint! Looking forward to your video of Osaka I think we will also visit DenDen Town's Ota road again this year. Unfortunately the luggage is always sooooo limited ;)
Pack as light as you can! :-)
I want that Chiaki one !!!!!!!
(Its too expensive tho but she’s waifu)
Such an amazing figure!
Awesome content! This video inspired me to grow a collection(currently have 6 as of the moment). Akihabara is a paradise for hobbyists. Cheers and stay stafe! 😁
Enjoy your collection! In Akihabara you really are spoilt for choice! :-)
0:01 I HAVE THAT SPECIAL NICO FIGURE TOO :D TWINZIESSS 😂😂
Yay!!! Twinzies!! (*°▽°*)
Went to denden town last year and man it's a gold mine. Lots of good merch and shiz for great prices!
Yay, I'm excited to go there now!!!
Cakes with Faces im hitting it up during my 19 day stay over September. If you havnt visited denden town by then I would be more then happy to show you round. There is terrific food just north west of it at Dotonbori to!
Wow that's a long trip! Have an amazing time! :-)
Cakes with Faces I found a great hotel right next to akihabara for the majority of the stay and one right next to denden town. Gimme holler closer to mid September if you wanna do some akiba exploring or make another vid as Imma gonna do some more videos this trip
I just saw a Nico figure did I?
Yes, I got my Nico Nico Niii in Nakano Broadway!
Very helpful guide! Will save this for reference while imm away in 2 weeks ❤️
Ooh not long to go!! Have an amazing time!! :-D
im so poor(crying inside)
Haha, know that feeling...! :-)
Right with you fineguy
@Águila701 you're so dumb omg
Cool to hear this lady
Thanks so much! There's several other videos about Akihabara on my channel too (and more on the way!) :-)
Is there any naruto figures?
If there is
Me: *YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD*
my wallet: PLZ NO
There are Naruto figures. RIP wallet!
of course there are
Of course, there is almost everything you can imagine especially when it comes to anime as popular as Naruto
I would love to go there someday!! It looks like so much fun!!
Hope you can make it one day!! :-)
I see Maki i click like and sub.
Haha thank you :-) She's my fav too, I wrote her a birthday message in Akihabara last week (they always have displays in the arcades for characters' birthdays!)
I was in Akihabara 3 months ago. Spent hours in Kotobukiya and Yodobashi!
They're great shops aren't they! I can't get over how big Yodobashi is!!
Well thanks for tips But i have a Problem...i live in Germany and im only 13 😂😅
Maybe one day!! Guten Tag!
Guten Tag! :)
@@parturii Witzig hier auf Deutsche zu treffen.😂
I don’t know German... but I know Arabic!
My general go is:
Memorize what you like and keep looking. My experience is that there is always a cheaper seller somewhere in Akiba.
Yes! Definitely worth shopping around - the prices can vary a lot.
I just saw maki and clicked
She's my fav too!
This just puts a smile on my face.
Haha, glad to hear it! :-)
You're great!
More people should subscribe to your channel.☺️You have quality content.
Thanks so much! (Tell your friends!) 😝
Watching this was fun and overwhelming, seen some figures that i also like, now when i visit there i dont where to start. I could spend all may days in japan to just going around looking and buying toys. So fun. :)
Start from Akihabara Station 😝 You’ll love it! Sooo much to look round!
Start from Akihabara Station 😝 You’ll love it! Sooo much to look round!
That neighborhood cleaned out my wallet. I got more than a few plastic modeling kits as well as a golden dragon figure.
There is a department store next to Akihabara Station with a lot of those plastic modeling kits. I like building military and airplane models. Those model trains were tempting too.
Ah was that department store Yodobashi Camera? Can’t believe how big that shop is! My friend bought some Gundam kits there, he said it’s a good place to get them with reasonable prices.
In my experience, to get better prices on figures while in Akihabara you need to branch out to the shops away from the main streets. Also, the shops away from the main streets will usually have a mix of older figures that you may not be able to find anymore as well.
Yes! Good tip! Or even further down the main street, away from the station. :-)
im going to japan in april so this was really useful!! thanks :)
Ooh have an amazing time!! :-) You'll love it!!
@@cakeswithfaces thank you!! and i know i will, it looks amazing :D
Tez, if painting ever stops doing it for you a spot as a Taiko Drummer might work. 😁 Great vid. Japan does have some contrasts in scenery. All said, I think I prefer the gardens to the gaming. Happy exploring, Mate.
Exelent recomendation and explanation 💪💪💪 cheers from argentina ! Nice videos
Wow you're watching from Argentina? Hello!! :-) And thank you!!
Cakes with Faces i hope to travel to japan next year 😆. I need to know a lot and your chanell its amazing 💪. Do you have a video of art books and mangas? See yaa !! Cheers 👐👐
How exciting! You'll love it! I have some other videos about Akihabara that you might enjoy - and Nakano Broadway, which is a good place for figures too. :-)
Very cool video :3 I hope I will remember it September this year :D 2 weeks in tokyoooo *yay*
Thank you! You'll love it! So much to do :-) Enjoy your Japlanning!
@@cakeswithfaces me, while watching your video: oh I need this one, and this one OH AND THE OTHER ONE TOOOO 😍😅😂 I'M SO SO excited 😊
@@pfannakucha6490 There really is so much choice, it's quite overwhelming. You won't find it hard to find things you want! :-) Did you see my Akihabara tour as well? ua-cam.com/video/InyEy0uDKiA/v-deo.html
Thank you for this video, great tips!
Thanks! Enjoy your figure hunting! :-)
Awesome video! Thanks.
Thanks, hope it helps! :-)
i;m 40 but still excited watching this, my kids too
Haha, family viewing! More Akihabara videos on the way - hope you enjoy them! :-)
I love your videos! 🖤
Aww thank you!!
Ok thank u for making this. Was going to Japan soon and wanted to get a figure but for cheap. Much love
Enjoy figure hunting! I always come back with some figures!!! :-D
Thank you for these Tips! These will definitely help me on my trip ^^
Where are you going in Japan? 😊