Transformers in Japan

[excelonzero]

I found some stores near Akibahara Station
(with in three blocks), with both new and 2nd hand stuff
(like the gold plated Grand Convoy!)
You can find some good stuff if your willing to look around!

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Akihabara would probably be a good bet for the music label convoy, although Bic camrea as Gok said would most liekly have it too.

Toys R Us can be a bit hit and miss as they only have the recent lines. When I was last in Japan, the only things about were Mp3 Starscream and some left over Galaxy force at mark-down prices. At the moment, thougbI suspect that Taktoms Classics would be sparkling all over the place.

If your boss is a femme, hide any kissplayers you find, or else there is gonna be trouble!

Also travel wise, if you're only there for a day, fork out the cash for the fast train, as it can take precious time away from toy shopping when commuting.

[funkyaw]

Well i went to Akihabara today and most stores had some stock of transformers ranging from G1 to the movie to the to-be-released animated. But it was not quite the transformers heaven that sometimes it is made out to be. Making it harder was that most stores had them all over the place and not necessarily in one shelf.

The animated stock was inflated significantly. For example, a loose voyager prime was 16,800 yen (or about $180).

Some rare finds included MIB Victory Saber for 145,000 yen (or about $1500) and Diaclone Convoy (can't remember exact price but was expensive).

Unfortunately most of the stores that sold the rarer G1 transformers would only accept cash and surprisingly it was difficult to find an ATM that would accept Australian bankcards.

Will upload photos when I get find the camera cable...

[excelonzero]

Funkyaw said

But it was not quite the transformers heaven that sometimes it is made out to be.

Your right it's not heaven..

IT'S HELL

Everything you could want...
... Assuming you're willing to kill _lots_ time for looking it
... and getting _lost_ trying to find the store in the first place [a]
... and at prices you can't afford (well only if you've been thifty for 20 odd years)
... and you have to pay cash (ok I had 1/2 million Yen onhand at day one and was trying to bend my CC on the final day)
... and the staff might not understand or speak English <-- OK I know _gross_ exaggeration. I only found two people who couldn't in a four week period (but three who thought I was a Yank )





[a] I got lost both going to and from a store somewhere between Hiroshima and shira-ichi . A good map is essential !

[roller]

i'll ask my friend Commodore Perry to open up the Japanese tf shops for our needs, surely a jap board would want to help us find their toy shops

[GoktimusPrime]

excelonzero: you're doing pretty well if you can find anyone who can speak English. Unless you're talking about Akihabara - lots of Akihabara staff speak English because it's a major tourist centre.

Unfortunately most of the stores that sold the rarer G1 transformers would only accept cash and surprisingly it was difficult to find an ATM that would accept Australian bankcards.

How many Australian ATMs accept Japanese cards like JTB, Sakura or Musashino? ;p Most major stores will accept international credit cards like Amex and Visa - with Visa being much more widely accepted.

[funkyaw]

I just found it a bit strange that outside of the airport that literally only a handful of ATMs I came across would accept Cirrus/Maestro cards. It's not as if Cirrus or Maestro is a piddly Australian banking network - it's global!

Whenever I've gone through the US, Europe and other parts of Asia, its easy to find ATMs that will accept these cards.

I found that in Akihabara that most of the stores on the main street will speak english which was handy.

But it was still fun experiencing the culture over there. And gotta love all those uniforms and cosplay outfits!

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I was a bit shocked at the lack of Card compatability. Making a note of your bank compatible ATMs is recommended before you leave.

Japan still loves cash and a lot of ATM's still aren't open 24hr as well. I found going into a bank to do some stuff was a very surreal experience. Took forever (it was a comlex transaction) but they had comfy chairs and I found the whole thing quite amusing.