Heroic's Toy Shop Guide Maps for HK, Osaka, Tokyo & SG

[GoktimusPrime]

I've never had any issues using Japan Post, they're far more convenient and efficient than Australia Post. As for writing addresses, I recommend writing the word for "Australia" in Japanese on the very top, then the rest of the address can be written in English because Japan Post will ignore that. Basically when you ship things overseas the only part of the address that matters from where you post it is the destination country. The post office needs to know which country to send it to, but once it hits Australia then delivery is taken over by Australia Post.

Here's an example of how I write an Australian address on something sent from Japan:
オーストラリア
Maynard MacGuffin
42 Wallaby Way
Sydney NSW 2000

And similarly whenever I send things to Japan from here, I write the address like this:
JAPAN
〒125-8503 東京都
葛飾区青戸4丁目19番16号
幸日佐志様
Australia Post workers will (most likely) only be able to understand "Japan," but that's all they need to know. Even if I Romanised this address it would make no difference because all they need to know is that it's going to Japan. Once it hits Japan then Japan Post takes over, and it's much easier for them to read Japanese address written in Japanese (less chance of delay or misdelivery).

So I recommend practising writing オーストラリア so that you can write it on top of your Australian address. I wouldn't recommend making/using sticker labels as filling out things like customs declaration forms must be written in pen (because it also has to go through the carbon copies).

[Eruntalon]

I've never had any issues using Japan Post, they're far more convenient and efficient than Australia Post. As for writing addresses, I recommend writing the word for "Australia" in Japanese on the very top, then the rest of the address can be written in English because Japan Post will ignore that. Basically when you ship things overseas the only part of the address that matters from where you post it is the destination country. The post office needs to know which country to send it to, but once it hits Australia then delivery is taken over by Australia Post.

Here's an example of how I write an Australian address on something sent from Japan:
オーストラリア
Maynard MacGuffin
42 Wallaby Way
Sydney NSW 2000

And similarly whenever I send things to Japan from here, I write the address like this:
JAPAN
〒125-8503 東京都
葛飾区青戸4丁目19番16号
幸日佐志様
Australia Post workers will (most likely) only be able to understand "Japan," but that's all they need to know. Even if I Romanised this address it would make no difference because all they need to know is that it's going to Japan. Once it hits Japan then Japan Post takes over, and it's much easier for them to read Japanese address written in Japanese (less chance of delay or misdelivery).

So I recommend practising writing オーストラリア so that you can write it on top of your Australian address. I wouldn't recommend making/using sticker labels as filling out things like customs declaration forms must be written in pen (because it also has to go through the carbon copies).

I'm glad I asked as this makes a lot more sense than writing an address in reverse, thank you.

[kup]

I am having s hard time finding modern/current official transformers or any transformers whatsoever in tokyo. Went to akihabara but not much luck. All seems to be card games, anime and retro games. I am within walking distance so i can return if i have missed stores but i went into a lot and no TFs.

In Ginza i went to a large toy store but the tf section was very poor and overpriced similar as you find at target nowadays but no toys i was after like new headmasters.

[tinyJazz]

I am having s hard time finding modern/current official transformers or any transformers whatsoever in tokyo. Went to akihabara but not much luck. All seems to be card games, anime and retro games. I am within walking distance so i can return if i have missed stores but i went into a lot and no TFs.

In Ginza i went to a large toy store but the tf section was very poor and overpriced similar as you find at target nowadays but no toys i was after like new headmasters.

Tets might know?

I'm assuming TRU and Yodobashi Camera would be the place to go for new stuff. They both have headmasters figures on their websites so it might be worth checking instore if you haven't tried them already.

[Shirokaze]

I am having s hard time finding modern/current official transformers or any transformers whatsoever in tokyo. Went to akihabara but not much luck. All seems to be card games, anime and retro games. I am within walking distance so i can return if i have missed stores but i went into a lot and no TFs.

In Ginza i went to a large toy store but the tf section was very poor and overpriced similar as you find at target nowadays but no toys i was after like new headmasters.

As TinyJazz mentioned, Yodobashi Camera Akihabara would be the place to go for new stuff. The range is usually good and the prices are competitive. Sometimes the Akiba Mandarake will have well priced MIB current stuff. Go to the 8th floor where the Transformers are, the more current items are usually not in the display cabinets, but on shelves second aisle from the back wall.

Also do try the Radio Kaikan building. It's the brand new looking building adjacent GAMERS near to the JR Station entrance. Inside there's a collection of different stores, so of which carry new Masterpieces/Unite Warriors/Legends stuff.

Toys R Us at Ikebukuro in Sunshine City will have a good selection at TRU prices.

BIC Camera in Ikebukuro also has a decent toy section.

The BIC Camera and Yodobashi Camera department stores are all over the place, but the contents will vary. Some have Toy/Game levels, some don't.

[GoktimusPrime]

Transformers are selling like hotcakes in Japan and it can be really hard to find new stuff, even in major stores. I went to Yodobashi Camera Akihabara and a lot of the Legends stuff was already sold out. They had them on display in a perspex case, and I saw a displayed Legends Blurr and wanted to buy one, but there were none on pegs. They did have Hardhead, Skullcruncher, Broadcast and a few others - pretty much the same as the Wave 1 TR stuff we have here. The TakaraTOMY heads are nicer but I couldn't justify purchasing the same moulds again when I have the Hasbro versions. They also had some MPs (Ironhide, Ratchet, Delta Magnus, Laserwave - not Hot Rodimus though), but again, nothing that piqued my interested. I checked out Aeon Mall TRU in Kyoto which where I got my Legends Weirdwolf from and I did see the smaller sized figures like Wheelie, Rewind etc. TRU and Takashimaya had TAV stuff.

I honestly got more toys from dealing with local fans from last Sunday's Osaka Meet than from actual stores. Otherwise I'd recommend checking out specialist collectible stores like Mandarake, Animate etc., but even then it's pot luck. Although remember to bring your passport to these specialty stores as you can get tax-free discount prices if you do. I know that Mandarake and Hero Gangu will waive tax off the price of toys for overseas passport holders, not sure about others but it's worth a try. Oh, and some department stores are also tax-free for overseas passport holders.

I've never seen Transformers sell so well in Japan before. On the plus side it's a good sign that the franchise is doing very well, but the down side is that it makes toys harder to find. Many local fans are now just resorting to online shopping like Amazon JP rather than risking the frustration of brick and mortar store hunting.

[kup]

Thanks for your help guys. At the shopping areas near the gundam cafe where the giant gundam is, i bought a few TFs at TrU at a general goods store. It wasn't the headmasters i was after but ok i guess since there appear to be slim pickings although pricey ones. Got Legends Blurr, Blackarachnia, slipstream and nightbird.

[Eruntalon]

Going to Japan tomorrow night, leaving via Melbourne to Sydney then Haneda!

[Jetfire in the sky]

Going to Japan tomorrow night, leaving via Melbourne to Sydney then Haneda!

Enjoy! It's an amazing country.

[GoktimusPrime]

Going to Japan tomorrow night, leaving via Melbourne to Sydney then Haneda!

If you (or anyone else) are going to be meeting up with any TF fans in Japan, feel free to post pics/stories on the Japan Meetup 2016 thread.