I'm going to wait for Andy to open a subsidiary store in Japan. The sign on the front of the building (in Japanese) would translate to English as "Honorable Andy-san's Super Happy Headquarters of Plastic Model Concern". At the rate Andy is going, we should expect the grand opening to be in time for the holiday season, 2024. 😁
This is amazing. I honestly didn't know anything like this existed. Where I live in MI is a hobby desert. People get mad that I buy so much model stuff online but what choice do I have
Wouldn’t it be amazing not to have to pay so much shipping? I don’t have any good dedicated Hobby shops near me for models and model supplies, but I do have 2 Hobby Lobby’s within 10 miles so it could be a lot worse. I’d love to at least have a local shop that sells Tamiya and Mr. Hobby paints and supplies.
I was stationed at NAF Atsugi circa 2007-11 and made a regular pilgrimage to Yodabashi in Yokohoma for kits during that time. This is a huge nostalgia trip for me!
@@trollwholivesu7258 Heck, building models isn't as fast as it use to be when I first started as a 12 year old. On average I could put a kit together and paint it in about 5 hours! lol
We are but grasshoppers compared to the world of Japanese model enthusiasts! Thank you for sharing this with us, Andy - now we expect a Glendale store to be just as rad!
Was there few weeks ago and I can confirm : THIS IS INSANE !!! The models and tools, paints.. are very cheaper compares to Europe it is amazing. Models kits paradise !
And that's just one floor in that gigantic store. There are other floors for appliances, personal computers, photography, audio/video, etc. you could spend a week in there. When I was there last, I saw even audiophile headphones displayed with a flag indicating where it was made, and a stack of glossy literature under each one. The workers also know how to actually operate the printers, and will give you new paper to print things out. A world of difference from America, where shoplifting, looting and smash and grabs are an ever-present threat, too.
My main life goal is to travel to Japan just for the hobby shops in it. I want to get Hasegawa's 1:32 Fw 190Ds and Bf 109Fs without having to sell a kidney for them. Maybe a Stuka too.
When I visited Yodobashi Akiba (or any Yodobashi Camera) I was not blown away by the amount of model kits. I was blown away by the volume & range of accessories, tools, gear, materials, etc available in one place. If I had access to this in my country I would have been building kits, diarama's or whatever as a serious hobby. Also the cost is 1/3 the price in my region. No wonder Japan loves their hobbies.
I was stationed in Japan years ago. I remember how impressive the hobby shops were near my base. This one is very impressive. I could spend all day in there. makes me sad that the last decent locally owned hobby shop in my hometown recently closed down.
I can’t work out if Andy walked us through a model shop in Japan or heaven.?..Great video Andy and hope you’re ok and having a great time in Japan.!🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
I'm just back from a one night layover in Tokyo. I hit Yellow Submarine and Volks plus Leonardo LG2 and TamTam. It was a quick 2 hour tour. Been there before during COVID Cargo flights. I go back again in a few weeks and fully intend on hitting this mega store. Amazing! Just the paint selection and tools is overwhelming! Great video Andy!
Leonardo was weird. Rows upon rows of model kits (mostly old kits priced like new kits) but I found it all a bit, well, underwhelming. Only place I bought anything was in the Tamiya Plamodel Factory store.
I was there a week ago and this place is haven! Not only huge selection and the price is unbelievably good! I got 3 Tamiya re-release 1/12 F1 kits for about $80CAD each!
@@allanlee8757thank you for your response: I’m going to Japan tomorrow and plan on spending 5 days in Tokyo… I’m really excited to check this place out!
Andy, you are bringing back memories, I have been there before, there is a smaller hobby shop on the oppsite side where you entered and down to the left approximately three or four blocks. It is on the left side of the street.
Hey, Welcome to Tokyo! Akiba Yodobashi has one the biggest hobby floor in the country. Have you been to Radio Kaikan nearby? Some nice shops in there as well.
What’s impressive to my eyes, and I suspect Andy thought this as well, is the sheer depth and fill of stock. There were a few ‘one of’ items I saw in the vid, mostly very large ships for example, but entire SHELVES of JUST ONE KIT. And they would not stock like that if they weren’t turning the merch. It’s frightening to really see how far down model building has become as a past-time here compared to Japan. I suspect if Andy went to one of the ‘old kit’ stores he might never return home… 😁
Glad to see this wealth of models and modeling tools. We are living in the golden age of modeling, even if it doesn't seem that way in some countries where interest is lacking among the younger people.
Bah so many things in these shop. Wow. Japan are crazy. Haha 😅. Even in France we don't have so big shop. Really good. You was certainly eyes big opened isn't? Hooooo. I must to be a millionairy to go in this shop.... To spend looooot of money. Lol. Thanks for the update
This place is my favorite store in the world. In the past when I traveled to Japan for work, I would be in the place mutiple times in a week. The electronics and PC section of the store have just about everything you can think of.
Yodobashi Camera has a full lineup of online sales, and all products in the store can be purchased online as well. Moreover, all shipping is free within Japan.
These stores are too neat. That's one of the things I love about my model shop. If you want something specific, you have to dig in order to find it. I always find the coolest things that way.
Spill the beans, what did you buy? From this video alone there was a stack of kits I would have purchased. I'm sure there are some holy grail kits in that store that are super hard to find.
Finaly i had a vieuw on 1 of the 2 heavens that excist at least in the world. This shop and the Tamiya shop are for sure heaven on earth. A paradise for Big Kids.
Loving all the 1/48 Tamiya vehicles. I've built a lot of those. It's a shame that scale hasn't really caught on in the States. A perfect middle ground between 1/35 and Braille scale. Saves shelf space but still tons of detail.
1:48 is O scale for North America model railroaders... trains need a lot of real estate for their tracks to do anything interesting and not look like toys, so it is less popular than 1:87 or HO scale. 1:48 is also a very popular scale for model aircraft. It is also 1/4" = 1' - 0", a common architect's scale, making scratchbuilding buildings and structures convenient. All of that said, you do not get the same level of detail as in 1:35, and in many cases, the smaller parts make building the models much more difficult - especially as we age and lose eyesight and fine motor control from what we had when younger.
@@chemech I know about O scale model railroading, but I was referring the AFV models in one of the scenes. In the States, 1:35 is the prevailing standard for armor modeling. The detail on a lot of the 1:48 armor kits is actually strikingly good ,with link-and-length tracks, photoetch, etc. With the 1:48 Tamiya armor, there are no real compromises made compared to their 1:35 kits. I love 1:72 scale armor, too, and wish Andy would cover it more. With a magnifier, it's the same as building a 1:35 kit and certainly easier than painting fantasy minis, for example, and you can easily fit rows of tanks on one shelf when done.
Brilliant to see living, breathing model building culture in that store. All those customers, guys with their young sons. Haven't seen anything similar since I was a child.
Yodobashi will have mostly the latest models, I usually don't buy my models there, but rather the accessories, paints, and equipment you need is best at Yodobashi. For rarer and harder to find models, you need to go to the back shops of Akihabara. Eg Surugaya, Leonardo ET, Leonard LG for my main go to shops in Akihabara. I guess you're in town because of the Shizuoka model show next week?
Amazing store for sure!!! Why do we not have a single store like this state side??? I have been in the hobby biz for many years. Ran a storefront hobby shop 1983 to 1999. Still have a small aftermarket hobby biz. We have a much larger population than Japan, about the same disposable income. Yet cities like Charlotte NC, where my store was, will not support even the smallest of hobby shops. A huge white collar work force that can't think of living in a house that cost less than $500K. thanks for sharing
Luckily I speak fluent Japanese. In the background the lady on the public address system is inviting UA-camrs to spend as long as they need to get detailed pictures of their models for their viewers, and upload them quickly. So that’s lucky, eh? 😊
I would’ve wanted to stay much, much longer and browse through all their stuff but after the, what, 300th time listening to that damned Yodobashi jingle playing in loop, I had a full-blown migraine and had to duck out.
Who will buy all this? The planet does not need so many modellers and models. Not a single person will collect them all even in a lifetime ... the lungs will burst from paint and solvent :))
am japanese. sometimes i check ur youtube. and i thank u for sharing very useful and interesting informations. u still in tokyo? wish to see u in person in tokyo. u also should visit countrysides if u can. enjoy ur stay⭐️
Another great video Andy. Thanks for sharing. We vacation every year and Japan is on my list, but not on my wifes. She doesn't like the flight time. We live in Georgia and headed to Hawaii next week, hell we'll be half way there.
Andy, next time your unsure about filming/photograph look at the clerk and ask, "Shashin wa daijōbudesuka?" A little effort goes a long way (in my experience). Thanks for the video!
This is one of my favorite place in Akihabara. The Yodobashi Akiba is largest shop in the Yodobashi Camera. Reasonable prices are attractive as well as large selection of items.
I was in front of the door of that building in 2016. I have no idea that it have a model shop inside. At the time there was a Hobby-off across the street, near the MacDo.
To be fair, you have to keep in mind that they also have plenty of foreigners going there to buy up that stock, especially in a tourist area like Akihabara.
I’ve been there… I filled a large empty suitcase (that I bought in Japan). I spent around £1800. Thankfully no questions asked when back in the UK.😅😇
Holy crap the tool section alone is insane. I could spend all day here.
You can never have too many tools
i been there, trust me u need whole day to explore all the store!!!
You will need a whole day, I been there more than once during my 2 week stay.. one day won’t be enough..😅
I'm going to wait for Andy to open a subsidiary store in Japan. The sign on the front of the building (in Japanese) would translate to English as "Honorable Andy-san's Super Happy Headquarters of Plastic Model Concern". At the rate Andy is going, we should expect the grand opening to be in time for the holiday season, 2024. 😁
Amazing, I'm really enjoying this look into Japan's model hobby world.
This is amazing. I honestly didn't know anything like this existed. Where I live in MI is a hobby desert. People get mad that I buy so much model stuff online but what choice do I have
Agree 100%
Wouldn’t it be amazing not to have to pay so much shipping? I don’t have any good dedicated Hobby shops near me for models and model supplies, but I do have 2 Hobby Lobby’s within 10 miles so it could be a lot worse. I’d love to at least have a local shop that sells Tamiya and Mr. Hobby paints and supplies.
Where in Michigan because I knew about Roger’s Hobby Shop in Saginaw that just closed and I’ve only seen Hobby Lobby’s. It’s pretty sad.
Here in Genessee county riders and hobby lobby is about it.
I agree. I don't drive and live 35 miles from Grand Rapids. All my shopping is online.
I was stationed at NAF Atsugi circa 2007-11 and made a regular pilgrimage to Yodabashi in Yokohoma for kits during that time. This is a huge nostalgia trip for me!
I was in Yokosuka 2016-2022 and it was my main shop too!
That would be a VERY dangerous store for me to be in...
I would become bankrupt in seconds
it makes me want to cry from envy. 😥 ...what a wonderful place to get lost in for a model builder .
Like a kid in a candy shop, "You can only have ONE son"! Thanks for the tour Andy!
Yeah, sadly building models is not as quick as eating candy
@@trollwholivesu7258 Heck, building models isn't as fast as it use to be when I first started as a 12 year old. On average I could put a kit together and paint it in about 5 hours! lol
Yes Dad. How big a trolley can I get, to put "my one only" in it?
You can never have enough sprue cutters.
Of one color
They are less than $10.
You can never have too many tools
For those of us where brick & mortar hobby stores are a thing of the past, this is absolutely amazing.
We are but grasshoppers compared to the world of Japanese model enthusiasts! Thank you for sharing this with us, Andy - now we expect a Glendale store to be just as rad!
What an amazing store. Thank you so much for this. For many of us, having something like this back home is something of a dream.
Was there few weeks ago and I can confirm : THIS IS INSANE !!! The models and tools, paints.. are very cheaper compares to Europe it is amazing. Models kits paradise !
And that's just one floor in that gigantic store. There are other floors for appliances, personal computers, photography, audio/video, etc. you could spend a week in there. When I was there last, I saw even audiophile headphones displayed with a flag indicating where it was made, and a stack of glossy literature under each one. The workers also know how to actually operate the printers, and will give you new paper to print things out. A world of difference from America, where shoplifting, looting and smash and grabs are an ever-present threat, too.
Ah like the old Polk's Hobbies in New York City.
If I were you I spend another week.
Was it expensive though? I know here in Australia we get the "Oz" tax rip off added, so curious as to what it's like there.
we’re so stupid over here, no patience for hobbies just scroll scroll scroll me me me
Wow this place is Paradise!
My main life goal is to travel to Japan just for the hobby shops in it. I want to get Hasegawa's 1:32 Fw 190Ds and Bf 109Fs without having to sell a kidney for them. Maybe a Stuka too.
So you gonna spend thousands for a trip to Japan to get a couple of kits cheap...makes sense.
@@wheelsdeal Did you know that people often travel for no reason except fun and experiences?
aaahhh.... the Yodobashi Camera Jingle... it gets on my nerves when I'm there, but I dearly miss it when I'm back home...
I'm watching from Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿 nice work 👍 👏
Very Cool 😎 The Japanese are so ahead of us in modeling and hobbies in general it’s almost immeasurable !!!
Definitely more mainstream than in the west.
They spend their time in creative pursuits rather than here, playing on a phone.
@@johnberry2877 indeed !!
My credit card would burst into flames if I went in there. Also, how cool is it to see a hobby shop packed with so many young people?
That's what happened to me last December!!! :)
When I visited Yodobashi Akiba (or any Yodobashi Camera) I was not blown away by the amount of model kits. I was blown away by the volume & range of accessories, tools, gear, materials, etc available in one place. If I had access to this in my country I would have been building kits, diarama's or whatever as a serious hobby. Also the cost is 1/3 the price in my region. No wonder Japan loves their hobbies.
Opening shot of the Macross diorama really hit home.
I'd have spontaneously combusted with excitement!!!
The ships...the sci fi.....I would go broke there !!😀😀😀😀😀😀
I was stationed in Japan years ago. I remember how impressive the hobby shops were near my base. This one is very impressive. I could spend all day in there. makes me sad that the last decent locally owned hobby shop in my hometown recently closed down.
omg that warship section, i'm literally drooling over that store, you'd never get me out of there.
I often dream on being in such a store. Glad that Andy made footage of the subject.
This is like paradise for modellers.
That Macross diorama in the first minute is eye-popping!
In Japan there are so many people in the model building area. This is amazing.
Oh der Shop ist noch größer als MBK Modell Bau König
I can’t work out if Andy walked us through a model shop in Japan or heaven.?..Great video Andy and hope you’re ok and having a great time in Japan.!🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
There is not enough of one life time for all that. Thanks for the show Andy.
Very entertaining Andy! Thanks for sharing your experiences in Japan.
I'm just back from a one night layover in Tokyo. I hit Yellow Submarine and Volks plus Leonardo LG2 and TamTam. It was a quick 2 hour tour. Been there before during COVID Cargo flights. I go back again in a few weeks and fully intend on hitting this mega store. Amazing! Just the paint selection and tools is overwhelming! Great video Andy!
Leonardo was weird. Rows upon rows of model kits (mostly old kits priced like new kits) but I found it all a bit, well, underwhelming. Only place I bought anything was in the Tamiya Plamodel Factory store.
I was there a week ago and this place is haven! Not only huge selection and the price is unbelievably good! I got 3 Tamiya re-release 1/12 F1 kits for about $80CAD each!
Which location is this? This isn’t the Akihabara one, is it?
@@Mr.Parker95 it is the one beside akihabara station
@@allanlee8757thank you for your response: I’m going to Japan tomorrow and plan on spending 5 days in Tokyo… I’m really excited to check this place out!
Andy, you are bringing back memories, I have been there before, there is a smaller hobby shop on the oppsite side where you entered and down to the left approximately three or four blocks. It is on the left side of the street.
I could easily spend $10,000 and not be finished. This is the Home Depot of hobbies.
Only $ 10,000. 😊😊 I would need to win the lottery just to buy what I saw in this video.
Good comparison
Thanks for informing us about this store.
So… this is how heaven looks like❤
Hey, Welcome to Tokyo! Akiba Yodobashi has one the biggest hobby floor in the country. Have you been to Radio Kaikan nearby? Some nice shops in there as well.
What’s impressive to my eyes, and I suspect Andy thought this as well, is the sheer depth and fill of stock. There were a few ‘one of’ items I saw in the vid, mostly very large ships for example, but entire SHELVES of JUST ONE KIT. And they would not stock like that if they weren’t turning the merch.
It’s frightening to really see how far down model building has become as a past-time here compared to Japan.
I suspect if Andy went to one of the ‘old kit’ stores he might never return home… 😁
Glad to see this wealth of models and modeling tools. We are living in the golden age of modeling, even if it doesn't seem that way in some countries where interest is lacking among the younger people.
That’s my go-to place whenever I’m in Tokyo. I was there a couple of weeks ago, first time since the pandemic began. Still as overwhelming as ever!
Bah so many things in these shop. Wow. Japan are crazy. Haha 😅. Even in France we don't have so big shop. Really good. You was certainly eyes big opened isn't? Hooooo. I must to be a millionairy to go in this shop.... To spend looooot of money. Lol. Thanks for the update
Spent a number of years in Japan and Okinawa, always enjoyed their hobby shops and talking with the owners.
Shima's...Modeler's Core?
This place is my favorite store in the world. In the past when I traveled to Japan for work, I would be in the place mutiple times in a week. The electronics and PC section of the store have just about everything you can think of.
All I can say is WOW! This is one thing I’m definitely going to put on my bucket list
Cheers Andy. Incredible selection of modelling goodies.
Yodobashi Camera has a full lineup of online sales, and all products in the store can be purchased online as well. Moreover, all shipping is free within Japan.
These stores are too neat. That's one of the things I love about my model shop. If you want something specific, you have to dig in order to find it. I always find the coolest things that way.
I often have dreams where I'm in a model shop like this, and they are closing in 5 minutes. 😱
But in my dreams the models do not exist in the real world. Far better!
Spill the beans, what did you buy? From this video alone there was a stack of kits I would have purchased. I'm sure there are some holy grail kits in that store that are super hard to find.
Finaly i had a vieuw on 1 of the 2 heavens that excist at least in the world. This shop and the Tamiya shop are for sure heaven on earth. A paradise for Big Kids.
Loving all the 1/48 Tamiya vehicles. I've built a lot of those. It's a shame that scale hasn't really caught on in the States. A perfect middle ground between 1/35 and Braille scale. Saves shelf space but still tons of detail.
1:48 is O scale for North America model railroaders... trains need a lot of real estate for their tracks to do anything interesting and not look like toys, so it is less popular than 1:87 or HO scale.
1:48 is also a very popular scale for model aircraft.
It is also 1/4" = 1' - 0", a common architect's scale, making scratchbuilding buildings and structures convenient.
All of that said, you do not get the same level of detail as in 1:35, and in many cases, the smaller parts make building the models much more difficult - especially as we age and lose eyesight and fine motor control from what we had when younger.
@@chemech I know about O scale model railroading, but I was referring the AFV models in one of the scenes. In the States, 1:35 is the prevailing standard for armor modeling. The detail on a lot of the 1:48 armor kits is actually strikingly good ,with link-and-length tracks, photoetch, etc. With the 1:48 Tamiya armor, there are no real compromises made compared to their 1:35 kits. I love 1:72 scale armor, too, and wish Andy would cover it more. With a magnifier, it's the same as building a 1:35 kit and certainly easier than painting fantasy minis, for example, and you can easily fit rows of tanks on one shelf when done.
Brilliant to see living, breathing model building culture in that store. All those customers, guys with their young sons. Haven't seen anything similar since I was a child.
Yodobashi will have mostly the latest models, I usually don't buy my models there, but rather the accessories, paints, and equipment you need is best at Yodobashi. For rarer and harder to find models, you need to go to the back shops of Akihabara. Eg Surugaya, Leonardo ET, Leonard LG for my main go to shops in Akihabara. I guess you're in town because of the Shizuoka model show next week?
Ohhh, I have not been to Japan for many years. I can’t wait to go again. Awesome 🙂
Always spend many hours here in yodabashi akiba when I visit akihabara. This place is one reason for always wanting to visit tokyo.
Wow, I think I have just seen scale modelling heaven!
6:07 large scale fulcrum ? Wow they do have everything then :) And all the PE extras.... heaven!
Dis is paradise, I am tellin ya!
- Tony Montana -
Wow, this is incredible
Thank you.
One day in the future. Andy is going to have his own multimillion dollar building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
Andy’s Hobby Headquarters Emporium.
Andy 's Trump Tower😂🎉
I went there and it was amazing.
As an additional comment, for us old geezers, a famous movie quote comes to mind-“We’re gonna need a bigger boat!” Well, a bigger crate!
Fantastic, thanks so much!
Have a wonderful trip in Japan !.Looking forward to see more of the upload.👍
"Heaven...I'm in heaven."🎶
God if I had a model shop like that near me I'd never be out of it wow
I definitely saw a ship I need for my modelling bench, but it would have come home as luggage - the 1/200 Mikasa.
Wow, a model maker’s dream! If I lived near there, I’d probably be in that store every other day, easy.
Wish we had something like this here in the SF Bay Area!
I have got my spruecutter from faller and i am totally satisfied with .
Amazing store for sure!!! Why do we not have a single store like this state side??? I have been in the hobby biz for many years. Ran a storefront hobby shop 1983 to 1999. Still have a small aftermarket hobby biz. We have a much larger population than Japan, about the same disposable income. Yet cities like Charlotte NC, where my store was, will not support even the smallest of hobby shops. A huge white collar work force that can't think of living in a house that cost less than $500K. thanks for sharing
3:56 Missile launcher (?) diorama: the two figures, taking a selfie photo, was a clever idea to add to the scene. 👍
Luckily I speak fluent Japanese. In the background the lady on the public address system is inviting UA-camrs to spend as long as they need to get detailed pictures of their models for their viewers, and upload them quickly.
So that’s lucky, eh?
😊
I would’ve wanted to stay much, much longer and browse through all their stuff but after the, what, 300th time listening to that damned Yodobashi jingle playing in loop, I had a full-blown migraine and had to duck out.
Thank you for the video , Andy!
Who will buy all this? The planet does not need so many modellers and models. Not a single person will collect them all even in a lifetime ... the lungs will burst from paint and solvent :))
1st Class video Andy, thankyou.
am japanese.
sometimes i check ur youtube.
and i thank u for sharing very useful and interesting informations. u still in tokyo?
wish to see u in person in tokyo. u also should visit countrysides if u can. enjoy ur stay⭐️
That is a great store. Sounds like they’re playing the same music from when I was there 9 years ago.
Spent 10 years living in Tokyo great place to shop, I was in one store they had a Bandai 1/16 Tiger always regretted not buying it.
I wasn't expecting to see so many foreign kit manufacturers to Japan represented on the shelves. An amazing store.
Another great video Andy. Thanks for sharing. We vacation every year and Japan is on my list, but not on my wifes. She doesn't like the flight time. We live in Georgia and headed to Hawaii next week, hell we'll be half way there.
Andy, next time your unsure about filming/photograph look at the clerk and ask, "Shashin wa daijōbudesuka?" A little effort goes a long way (in my experience). Thanks for the video!
Holy moly, that's bad ass!
This is one of my favorite place in Akihabara.
The Yodobashi Akiba is largest shop in the Yodobashi Camera.
Reasonable prices are attractive as well as large selection of items.
I like this place because there is a Thai voice announcement too. If I have a chance, I will definitely go.
I was in front of the door of that building in 2016. I have no idea that it have a model shop inside. At the time there was a Hobby-off across the street, near the MacDo.
That store is bigger than your warehouse! Wow!
Haha, my wife and I are going to Tokyo this coming Wednesday!
It looks incredible. Just looking at the new stock items where you have 30-50 of the same kit, looks like the hobby is doing well in Japan!
To be fair, you have to keep in mind that they also have plenty of foreigners going there to buy up that stock, especially in a tourist area like Akihabara.
The castles were great wow
TOOOOOP i like this !!!!!!! NOT IN GERMANY FINDE THIS
Amazing! Thanks for sharing
How I envy that car and paint selection