20 years ago Trader 2 in it’s old location used to be the place to go for retro games. Other great stores like Messe Sanoh and G-Front have come and gone. At least MAK Japan is still going strong.
Here is my experience with Japan tax free shopping for tourist when I was visiting Osaka last years. Most shops don't offer tax free shopping, let alone willing to accept foreign credit card. None of the Book Off and Hard Off shops I went to will offer neither services. I did find A-too in Denden town in Osaka offer tax free shopping. But I had to buy 5000 Yen worth to get the tax free discount, I only have 4000 Yen worth of games at the time. So had to add a 1000 Yen game that I didn't really want to the order for the discount. So ended up spending another 1000 Yen to save about 400 Yen. It took about 10 to 15 minutes for the cashier to fill out all of the paper works and I got the feeling that he didn't like doing the extra work. Then he staple the receipt to my passport, tape up shopping bag and said I can't cut the tape and the games out of the bag, as the custom inspector at the airport will check my receipt and bag. So great I have to pack it with carry on luggage. Good thing it was only 3 SFC game carts. Funny thing about the custom inspector at the airport, they didn't really care what you bought tax free in Japan. They had sign that tells you to remove any receipts from your passport and put them into any of bins below the sign. The bins I would easily mistaken for trash bins if it wasn't for the sign. Anyway, this tax free program is really aim at Chinese tourists buying Made in Japan rice cookers. But if you are in a tourist heavy area of Tokyo or Osaka and buying over 5000 Yen worth of games, this tax free program will be worth the hassle that you will be putting cashier through. BTW, lot of bigger shops will have Tax Free counters. Some shop will make you use the regular sale counter to pay for the product with sales tax and then to go the Tax Free counter for the paper work and issue a refund for the sale tax. Other shops will allow you to pay without the sales tax and do the paper work at the same Tax Free counter and skipping the regular counter.
Thanks for uploading great video brough back good memories of my trip from May I almost walked downstairs at Friends into the dodgy massage parlour lol! Also worth pointing out the retro arcade Taito Hey near Super Potato.
I dug Surugaya and thought the prices were pretty okay, but man you're right about the... variable condition of the games. A lot missing manuals as well, so look out for that people!
AWESOME WALK VIDEO I HOPE FOR MORE LIKE THIS EVERYWHERE IN JAPAN
If only you were still there so I could live vicariously through you or I lived there. Dare to dream
20 years ago Trader 2 in it’s old location used to be the place to go for retro games. Other great stores like Messe Sanoh and G-Front have come and gone. At least MAK Japan is still going strong.
I love super potate and RetroBitGame... fantastic video my friend!!!
Great Video mate !
Here is my experience with Japan tax free shopping for tourist when I was visiting Osaka last years. Most shops don't offer tax free shopping, let alone willing to accept foreign credit card. None of the Book Off and Hard Off shops I went to will offer neither services. I did find A-too in Denden town in Osaka offer tax free shopping. But I had to buy 5000 Yen worth to get the tax free discount, I only have 4000 Yen worth of games at the time. So had to add a 1000 Yen game that I didn't really want to the order for the discount. So ended up spending another 1000 Yen to save about 400 Yen. It took about 10 to 15 minutes for the cashier to fill out all of the paper works and I got the feeling that he didn't like doing the extra work. Then he staple the receipt to my passport, tape up shopping bag and said I can't cut the tape and the games out of the bag, as the custom inspector at the airport will check my receipt and bag. So great I have to pack it with carry on luggage. Good thing it was only 3 SFC game carts.
Funny thing about the custom inspector at the airport, they didn't really care what you bought tax free in Japan. They had sign that tells you to remove any receipts from your passport and put them into any of bins below the sign. The bins I would easily mistaken for trash bins if it wasn't for the sign.
Anyway, this tax free program is really aim at Chinese tourists buying Made in Japan rice cookers. But if you are in a tourist heavy area of Tokyo or Osaka and buying over 5000 Yen worth of games, this tax free program will be worth the hassle that you will be putting cashier through.
BTW, lot of bigger shops will have Tax Free counters. Some shop will make you use the regular sale counter to pay for the product with sales tax and then to go the Tax Free counter for the paper work and issue a refund for the sale tax. Other shops will allow you to pay without the sales tax and do the paper work at the same Tax Free counter and skipping the regular counter.
Awesome vid. I'll be in Tokyo next month. Could easily spend a good few hours here. Thanks for your insight.
Thanks for uploading great video brough back good memories of my trip from May I almost walked downstairs at Friends into the dodgy massage parlour lol! Also worth pointing out the retro arcade Taito Hey near Super Potato.
Fantastic! love electric town ☺
Love BEEP! Amazing store, a lot of old Japanese computer games like MSX， PC-98, and X68000.
Super Potato and book end are my favorite stores... 7-11 gets an honorable mention!
Have you combed through Okinawa's retro stores yet? I'd like to watch a series on that.
You're awesome. Thanks for the great video. Hope to meet you, if possible, when I'm there next week.
Man... i think it was too hot to go around in Akihabara in july.... almost had to run from store to store to reach the next aircondition xD
I dug Surugaya and thought the prices were pretty okay, but man you're right about the... variable condition of the games. A lot missing manuals as well, so look out for that people!
This video quality though :)
Sorry bad video bro...