Guides
What to know before you shop in Japan: tax-free, shipping, etiquette, grading.
BOOKOFF, HARD OFF, Suruga-ya, Mandarake: Japan’s second-hand chains explainedSecond-hand shops in Japan explained: which chain sells manga, retro games, figures or trading cards, what to expect inside, and how to find them.
Akihabara for collectors: where to shop, floor by floorAkihabara shopping guide for collectors: figures, trading cards, retro games and manga, which buildings to visit and when to go.
Den Den Town, Osaka: the guide to Nipponbashi's otaku streetDen Den Town guide: Osaka's otaku district in Nipponbashi, Otaroad, where to find retro games, figures and cards, and how to combine it with Namba.
Gachapon in Japan: where to find the best capsule toysGachapon guide for Japan: what capsule toys cost, where to find hundreds of machines, how to pay, and how to get the figure you want.
Ikebukuro anime shopping: Otome Road and Sunshine CityIkebukuro anime shopping guide: Otome Road, Sunshine City's official stores, the giant gachapon store and where to buy second-hand goods.
Nakano Broadway: what to find on each floorNakano Broadway guide: which floors hold the collector shops, the many Mandarake branches, opening hours and how to get there.
Official character stores in Japan: Pokémon, Nintendo and moreWhere to find official character stores in Japan: Pokémon Centers, Nintendo, Ghibli, One Piece, Chiikawa, Sanrio and Marvel, and how to get exclusives.
Buying Pokémon cards in Japan: where, prices and limitsHow to buy Pokémon cards in Japan: boosters and singles, where to go, prices in yen, purchase limits and how to avoid fakes.
Retro games from Japan: region, voltage and cables explainedBuying retro games in Japan: will Japanese cartridges and consoles work at home? Region locks, 100 V power, video cables and where to shop.
Shipping your cards, figures and games home from JapanHow to ship cards, figures and games home from Japan: luggage, Japan Post parcel or shop shipping, lithium batteries, and the effect on tax-free.
Shopping etiquette in Japan’s card, figure and game shopsShop etiquette in Japan for card, figure and game shops: photos, glass cases, cash trays, purchase limits, queues and lotteries.
Tax-free shopping in Japan: the new refund system from November 1, 2026Tax-free in Japan from November 1, 2026: you pay the 10% tax and get it back after customs at departure. Step by step for collectors.