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How To Shop For Games In Japan?

Posted by simoniker on from the dance-dance-otaku dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing out Insert Credit's new feature on how to navigate Japanese videogame stores. This in-depth article talks about some of the best ways to get rare Japanese systems and games inexpensively at the massive gaming stores in Tokyo and Osaka, covering some of the pitfalls ("..keep in mind that âimport gamesâ(TM) written on a sign outside a store means overpriced US games"), and the weird situations you can get into ("..even the big [stores] have whole hentai [software] floors.. try bringing a girl up with you, and the entirety of the clientele will FREAK THE HELL OUT.")

15 comments

  1. 3 Years? by elid · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Hereâ(TM)s a nice preliminary rule. When going to Japan, try to know Japanese. Itâ(TM)s a good language, and not as tough as everyone says (well â" the written part is, but speaking is not bad). You can get a good knowledge in three years, a cursory knowledge in two.

    I'm not exactly sure how to define a "good" language, but anyway, if it's gonna take me 3 years to be able to buy a new game, I'd rather just surf over to eBay for it.

    1. Re:3 Years? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Its a "good" language becuase it helps you understand the tentacle pron movies and games better.

    2. Re:3 Years? by LazerImp · · Score: 1

      Yeah, damn subtitles always getting in the way of my tentacles and titties...

  2. hmm by joFFeman · · Score: 5, Funny

    "..even the big [stores] have whole hentai [software] floors.. try bringing a girl up with you, and the entirety of the clientele will FREAK THE HELL OUT." if you're the type of chap who plans on going to look at and potentially buy cartoons with women with blue hair being raped by all manner of man and beast, there's a good chance you'll have a hard time getting a girl to go with you ANYWHERE.

    --
    "Life is great; without it, you'd be dead." -Harmony Korine
    1. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      my friends GF buys more hentai than I have ever seen in my life...dont be so stereotypical

    2. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This might explain why the Japanese population is shrinking exponentially

    3. Re:hmm by TheLink · · Score: 1

      How many tentacles does she have. Or whatever it is that she has.

      Or does GF stands for something else? Sorry don't mean to stereotype.

      --
    4. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      my friends GF buys more hentai than I have ever seen in my life...dont be so stereotypical

      I take it that, in this instance, "GF" means "Gay Friend", am I right?

  3. Games In Japan!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Those guyz went to Akihabara and shibuya those are not the best places. They are good for tourists. If you search around other places in tokyo along train stations close to larger places like shibuya u can find game shops with really cheap games. I bought a playstation for 20$.

    Look here!!!
    Sangenjyaya on Den En Toshi Line central Tokyo
    Shin Matsudo on Chiyoda Line near Chiba

    Famicom Shop is has large variety but sometimes little pricey....

    Remember BOOK VIDEO means porno store

    How to buy a game in japanese.

    Pick up the game slip or box bring it to the counter.Then say

    kono gemu onegashimasu.

    Then he'll ring it up. Then pay him!

    If you wanna find a game say this

    "Game Name" ga arimasuka?

    If no he'll say sumthin like

    Sumimasen arimasen
    or
    nai

    If you wanna cuss him out say

    Idiot What did you say!!!
    bakayaro!! omae wa nani itta no!!

    1. Re:Games In Japan!!! by TheRoachMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Idiot What did you say!!!
      bakayaro!! omae wa nani itta no!!

      In fact, i know japanese too, and the correct translation for "What did you say" is "What you say!?"

  4. Answer: get free p2p copies like everyone else by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How do you get games in Japan? You get free copies from warez and p2p sites like everyone else.

  5. Madame Butterfly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "my friends GF buys more hentai than I have ever seen in my life...dont be so stereotypical"

    I think your friend has a surprise coming sometime.

  6. Unless of course... by bluemeep · · Score: 1

    ...Watching something like that is what puts the kink in her knickers. Then you're made in the shade.

  7. outside akihabara by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, and "Konnichiwa" translates directly as "HOW ARE YOU GENTLMEN!!"

    I believe there's a, uh, another article also relating to Akihabara and/or gaming experience stuff on the same site, in which the guy talks about the best game store in world being in Shiki, Saitama.

    Shiki ROM HOUSE, for my money, is the best videogame store in the world. I used to like Kami-Fukuoka's ROM HOUSE better. These days, I hang out in the Shiki location about four hours a day, so I'm starting to like it better.

    There's some odd videos involving Mario-statue-fondling and a special appearance from Penny Arcade on page three.

    Hmm.

  8. On that day.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...when I'll go to Japan to buy(!) my shit. The DMCA has won.