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Akihabara is the ultimate collector's district for video games, figures, trading cards and more, but it's hard to decide where to go since, depending on the store, the price can vary significantly. The main stores are on the main avenue and the parallel alley. Today I'm not alone, I'm with my great friend Francisco from Japan Geek, who will show us some stores.

We must move quickly because cars might crash here on the main avenue, where there are stores that, although some are good, many are very expensive, like this figure store. Come see the prices. .

. This store has everything very visible, look, this kind of diorama, 4500 yen, that's about 35 dollars. Other prices are 3000 yen, 4000 yen, 3500 yen, and Master Roshi for 6000 yen.

This would be one of the cheapest, 1500 yen. . .

Therefore, shopping on the main avenue is not advisable, at least for Banpresto figures in boxes, where you can't see inside. Across the street, there are also two other stores owned by the same people. Now, for example, venturing further down the avenue, half a block from that expensive figure store, there's a used phone store that also requires a lot of searching, especially because it depends on the condition of the product.

However, many stores in Akihabara offer tax-free shopping, presenting your original passport, they check your tourist visa and give you a 10% discount. Here the prices are according to the range, it says grade A, which means it's in very good condition: 185000 yen, but below the small price, with tax-free, that is, for tourists showing their passport, it's 169000 yen, just over $1000, and this is the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1 terabyte. Well, PlayStation VRs are very cheap, at $25 dollars, the Nintendo Switch around $250 dollars, used in good condition, says grade A.

When in Japan they say grade A, it means it's really in very good condition. Back on the avenue, there are many more SIM-free phone stores. Now, there are large technology stores like Big Camera and Yodobashi Camera that, for example, most of the phones they sell come with the phone company's plan.

Sometimes they have new phones; if you're looking for the latest iPhone, they might have it, but it greatly depends on stock and iPhones tend to sell out very fast. Here's another retro game store, whose prices aren't too bad, they're competitive. Another phone store has both Android and iPhone next door as well, and here all, for example, most of the phones are all SIM free.

Let's see, look, for example on the label, those with blue, it says SIM free; instead, for example, the one next to it, there, on the white label it says AU which is the name of a phone company, so it's not unlocked. Well, iPhone 14 Pro, 256 GB, just under $1000 dollars. Grade A, that is, it's in super good condition.

Here, for example, the store "Trader," which is quite big here on a corner, on the second floor, there are retro games and a bit of consoles. . .

Let's see how much this Famicom is. . .

Well, this Famicom is a bit more expensive than the Surugaya store here, it's 10500 yen. Here is the Super Famicom with box, without box. .

. FX, this, I don't know, I have no idea. Loose Pokémon games, well, here, this, I think I've seen them cheaper elsewhere.

We're in the Japan Geek studio, look how nice. . .

-All this is yours. -All this is my humble collection -your personal dru*. You have a store, yes, we have an online page where we receive orders from different stores and then people buy, we buy for them and send them their Saint Seiya figures.

-Ah! It fell. -Well, that your great specialty is being with the Saint Seiya figures, right?

-The guardians of the universe. . .

-What's the page? -animejapangeek. com -There people can make orders and purchases of figures.

-Yes, yes. -For those who can't come to Japan now they know. .

. yes, 330000 yen, that's like $2500 dollars. This is a slap to poverty, but total.

. . I have a section called "slap to poverty.

" No, but what a craziness, these prices are indeed top, aren't they? Expensive. Look, look at this one here, $220000.

Well, that Book-Offs often have good prices, don't they? But it's a lottery, the Hard-Offs and the Book-Offs you can find some good prices, some not so good. .

. Is this Final Fantasy 16000 yen? I used to get it for 1000 yen back.

. . Well, 10 years ago.

-Don't be mean. -No, I think it's horrible, a slap to poverty. And all this, the office of Japan Geek is opposite this Book-Off, Hobby-Off in the parallel alley to the main avenue.

People, while sending a little message notifying, can stop by to visit the uncle from Japan Geek -who is always there, always welcoming people. -This street is called Junk Street. -Ah, because of course, it's the area where they sell a lot of junk, right?

-That's right. . .

Sure, look, I made a video here in Akihabara as the second-hand district and sure, on this street there's a lot of junk products, many used things, a lot of junk, that is, things that might work but it's junk, that is, obsolete technology. I also pass by here often, and sometimes here there are junk consoles that lately there's only the Nintendo 64, which is a bit expensive, 4500 yen that's like $30 dollars and well, this isn't checked if it works or not, so you buy it at your own risk. But I've seen here, for example, the Nintendo, the Super Famicom at 600 yen, $4 dollars.

I remember a tourist taking 4, "one must work," he probably thought. Now, the machines that already have lenses, readers are a bit riskier, aren't they? And this is for me they must have checked and must know it doesn't work.

In this case, for example, it's Tsurugaya, which Tsurugaya, is a store that sells a lot of second-hand collectibles. The upper floors are mostly figures, and well, and a lot of dirty things are in this building, I remember a lot of dirty things. Well, here's a Hard-Off, but this Hard-Off is mostly musical instruments -But there are also games, I'll show you.

-Ah, let's see. . .

-Ah, consoles. . .

-Here it's a bit cheaper than over there Still a bit expensive, 12000 yen, 13000 yen for a yellowed Famicom it's a bit expensive, not cheap. -The king of finding prices for these things is Japan Gemu, right? -Yes, yes, yes.

But let's see, something I want to explain, for example about, those who are followers of Japan Gemu, -friends we love very much -Of course But let's see, he lives in the countryside, lives in remote areas where you can find Hard-Off, Book-Off larger, more varied, and all that and it's good, but the reality is that for the tourist, for example, who is two weeks in Tokyo going to a very remote area, just to visit a store, no friends, it's not worth wasting your vacations like that. . .

What you save, maybe you end up spending on travel, and it's mostly the time, because let's see Akihabara, for example, is good because even though depending on the store the prices might be a bit higher in the end it's also part of a tourist experience too, right? Now, going to a rural area, there's nothing touristy Unless it's, for example, in an area where there's also something to do, right? But for those who come for two weeks, three weeks to Japan no guys, use the time for your vacations because time is the most valuable thing of all.

Oh, the Super Famicom, the complete Famicom with box around $150 dollars, is very good, to have it complete, 10000 yen, about $70 dollars the Super Famicom. And well, here, the Akihabara Culture Zone building, a block from the main avenue, where there's the crossing, this building, here, for example, on the ground floor at the entrance, there are very good prices for these boxed figures, the Banpresto ones. And the good thing here, for example, is that the standard price for figures is below 3000 yen, that is, they are below $20 dollars.

These One Piece figures are priced at 1200 yen, just under 1000 yen, that is, between 7 and 9 dollars, while on the avenue they cost 4500 yen, approximately 35 dollars. We also have prices of 3000, 4000, and 3500 yen. It makes no sense.

. . Now, this one is expensive 3200 yen.

On this side we have this goken dressed in civilian clothes, kind of ugly, at $7 dollars, which used to be 3500 yen, here it's half the price, about 10 dollars, 1400 yen. This other one is at 9 dollars, 1200 yen. And this Broly is at 1780 yen, while in other stores it sometimes reaches 5000 yen.

It's essential for those who are not very demanding when buying figures, these from Bandai Banpresto, which have very good detail, are very pretty and are economical. For example, when you take a figure out of the box, you save a lot of space, since they come disassembled in 2 or 3 pieces and are assembled in seconds. And they are very pretty figures.

We are in the same building but on the 2nd floor, where the figures are for the more enthusiasts, there's a lot here The dirty figures usually come in more transparent blister packaging. Look at this madness. .

. It's very good. .

. And brings a lot of nostalgia, especially the figure of Rockman X, the villain. -How much is the SegaSaturn?

-14800 yen Worth 100 dollars, it's a good price complete with box. When this video comes out, there will already be many things that you will have seen in the video that if you come the next day they will no longer be there. As for the merchandise, due to tourism, it is constantly being renewed.

Things constantly come and go Some products from this building can be found cheaper elsewhere, that's the thing about going around and looking for prices. For what are Banpresto or SEGA figures, in this case, my rule is not to spend more than 2500 yen, that is, no more than $20, because normally you can find them cheaper elsewhere, or maybe the price is already inflated because they are running out. Now, you buy one today for $10 dollars and in 2 years it will be sold out and will cost $30.

You have to really like it, it's part of collecting. . .

I've realized because I'm almost here every day, that if you buy a somewhat expensive figure, The one they restock, by rule they have to put it 1000 yen more. I tell you this because I've talked to people who work here. That is, you sell that one and to the next one you have to put 1000 yen more.

Here yes, everything is expensive. . .

$100 dollars, $200 dollars. . .

Worth 50000 yen the Goku farewell. These dioramas, which are over 15 years old, like 20 years old approximately, and now there's one for $200 dollars, here one that's cheap at $35 dollars. .

. And a while ago they cost $10 dollars and now they cost 500% more. -And now because of the YouTubers it's going to be more expensive.

-Yes, damn YouTubers, they ruin everything. on the fourth floor we have the acrylic store, where they rent the space of this acrylic and anyone can come, pay a monthly fee and put their things, besides taking a commission for sale. The interesting thing is that there is a lot of variety and you can find everything.

For example, you can see a figure for $20 and in the box next to it for $50 because each box belongs to a different owner, which makes it very interesting. There's everything, overvalued figures, well-priced figures, but normally people who come here know about prices, are collectors, so you're not going to find super auction deals because people have to rent the space. These, for example, are common Drgon Ball figures but are repainted, which adds a plus of artisanal work.

To buy this, you grab this little paper, and note the showcase number and the product number, in this case W10, number 22. It would be the price and quality. In Super Potato, the most famous retro game store in all of Japan, because they've been on YouTube channels, blogs, everything, but of course, this store already has extremely inflated prices.

There's nothing you can buy here that's cheaper than anywhere else in Akihabara. This, the "Trader" store is also a store that is under the tracks, very easy to locate, just crossing the main avenue And there are very good prices for boxed figures, from Banpresto Bandai. Let's take a look.

. . This figure for example is 2500 yen, I don't remember how much it was in the other store.

. . .

And these also, the mini dioramas, are $10 dollars, 1500 yen, and we just saw this at 4500 yen. That is, you can buy 3 of these figures here. Just so you know, no one is paying us to advertise this place.

. . What's bad is that the figures are quite piled up, you have to start looking in detail, look, this figure is 980 yen, that's 7 dollars, it's good, I don't know where this character is from, but it's awesome.

Look at this one: 2000 yen. -How much do you think this is? -30000 yen!

-50000! -Would you say your face turns pale every time you see the prices? Thank goodness I no longer collect figures, the truth is that I've already been through rehabilitation, I've been to collectors anonymous.

"Hello, I'm Naka and I have a problem. " "Hello, Naka! " "I can't stop buying figures.

" Here are also samples of the figures that come in boxes, from Bandai, that is, they have a very good level of detail. This to have at home, to indulge with little money, is more than fine. Well, here then, on the third floor, on the main avenue, where the bridge is, this place yes, for example, I didn't know this one because I know many retro stores in the area, but I had no idea about this one.

Plus, it's all very discreet, you don't realize, there's no way to know, it's like a jungle, you don't know where to go. Maybe what you're interested in is on a high floor and you have no idea. Oh, how nice the mini versions of the consoles are, they're very pretty.

Well, this must be junk, yes, it says junk, 1100 yen, a little less than 10 dollars Used phones. . .

Ah, this is very good, that you can test it is very good because in many places that sell you junk, they tell you they don't tell you if it works or not, and you can't know until you take the risk yourself. That is, you have to buy it and from there, if you're lucky, it works or not. But look, you there, for example, can ask the staff to test the device you buy, phone, console, whatever, and there they have all the cables to support it here and test the console, phone, whatever.

This is the bad thing, that it's mostly written in Japanese we have to look for the fine print: "video games, new and used" And that's what Akihabara is about, that it's a jungle. You can sometimes pass by, and on the ground floor there might be nothing of interest, but it turns out that at the entrance, there's a map indicating what's on each floor, and that's where you have to start exploring a bit. And here on the alley, which is the main parallel street, the junk street, the main avenue, and between them is another alley.

And here, for example, we have the Surugaya store, specialized in retro games and here you can get quite decent prices. Well, here we have, for example, the Famicom for 7,800 yen when in other stores it was 10,000 yen, that is, 50 dollars against about 80 or so. Game Boy game for 1000 yen, less than 10 dollars.

And here next to it we have another store, called VIP, there in the basement. This store is very nice because it has a lot, it could already be said to be vintage. They have very nice things here.

They don't have such a variety of Family games, Super Nintendo and that, but. . .

it has an interesting assortment of rare formats, right? This, for example, which I have one, which is a video game, but in a music cassette format like music cassettes, but they are video games. Ah, this is the same one I bought.

. . Very good top, but I paid half the price.

And well, on the parallel street we have a lot of stores that, I repeat, crossing the avenue, the street parallel to the avenue is where there's the most activity and here, for example, they sell, as my friend Rafa tells me, they have the most premium cards, let's see prices. 1. 5 million yen, which would be 10 thousand dollars but the funniest thing is that this is the price they are going to pay you, that is, they are going to pay you 10 thousand dollars for this card and who knows how much they will sell it for later.

. . No!

5 thousand dollars, 7 thousand dollars this is more or less there's some on display, of course, and besides. . .

the attendant wears gloves, it's like entering a jewelry store: "hello, yes, yes" 10 thousand dollars, 10 thousand dollars for a Pokémon card 6 million yen, 6 million yen that's like 40 thousand dollars no, this is the most expensive thing I've ever seen in my life. . .

This is a very famous store called Mandarake the store is very nice, it has many floors on the top floor there are figures on the seventh there are vintage toys on the sixth floor there are video games, cds, everything that is DVD, Blu-ray of animes and all that but the price is a bit expensive the prices are competitive if we compare it with super potato, but it's a very famous store among tourists therefore, the more famous it is with tourists, the more expensive it gets. and here there's another card store well, my friend Rafa wants to buy a pack of Pokémon cards ah, look, here it's 300 yen let's try it. .

. Look, it comes in a little box, it just comes with one, ah, it's not a loose pack it's a loose card. .

. -Yes, I already have it -How about it? How much is it worth?

It costs nothing. . .

They sell them loose and normally cost 30 yen, the little cards are for building your deck and stuff later, you can often find cards from 1996, from the first editions, I collect these and they are 30 yen they are well priced, in case you don't want to buy the packs -the Drgon Ball ones are the best. . .

-They're very pretty. . .

-And as I told you, they cost 30 yen so it's quite good -They're very good, very good offers. . .

there the important thing is basically not to buy on the avenue, mostly depending on what figures that might not, cell phones, retro games, yes there, on the contrary, in an alley where the super potato is, is the most expensive place. . .

But that yes, in general Japan is a country where everything you want to do shopping, tourist shopping, souvenirs and those things, normally the prices are very standardized but the collectibles issue is not. My personal recommendation, don't go to super distant cities exclusively to explore stores and enjoy it more for the holidays you can take a whole day if you want to explore stores in Akihabara, but enjoy a bit of the trip, not just shopping. See you next time, greetings to you, your family, your pet, and the annoying neighbor.