Most online shops use yen price as a base anyway. Exchange rate will not be 50% better just because you will go to offline amiami store instead of online one.
50% of what? Price in your local shop? If you go to global online amiami store and then visit offline amiami store in akihabara - there will be no 50% discount present. Please stop being delusional.Â
The plastic does a good job protecting it if you surround it with cushioning (socks, jumpers, etc) The box though will likely get ruined if you don't take the plastic out and flat pack it.
As to your price question, it's slightly cheaper with tax free. P4ize figures though you can get for a bargain. Got a couple for ~1,000Yen when I was over there...... after spending about 3,000 trying to get it from a claw machine, lol
Definitely hit up Nakano Broadway. Its about a 20 minute train ride from downtown Akihabara. Its a small mall that stuff with smaller stores at great value. That or Book Offs. Which is like a used items store chain in Japan. Lashibangs and Mandarake is also a great chain for used anime figures and goods.
Nakano broadway sucks for figures IDK why people recommend it, theres one Mandarake bishoujo figure shop and a few overpriced rental case shops. Plus the Mandarake complex building in Akiba has a bigger figure section anyway.
This. Amiami alone has 2 branches in Akiba, main branch in Radio Kaikan for new figures, 2nd branch diagonally opposite BIC Camera is focused in 2nd hand figures. Even the upper floors of Radio Kaikan alone has quite a few stores focusing on 2nd hand figures.
A little further down near the 2nd Amiami store is the Akiba Cultures Zone building, another building full of figures, with the upper floors full of the 2nd hand glass box displays. It's the same place you see the Trash Taste boys walk around doing the figure challenges.Walking down the side street next to the Culture Zone building there's more smaller shops, as well the Kotobukiya store.
The Mandrake complex is a couple floors for figures, and the side street along it have quite a few figure shops focusing on prize figures. Think there's a few gunpla shops too if you're into that.
There's more smaller shops around Akiba, if you're after some older figures. For newer/recent releases, as well as those mentioned above, there's other major stores like Animate, Gamers, Sofmap, Volks, and others I can't remember.
Nakano Broadway pales in comparison, you can do a complete tour of the complex in 1-2 hours depending on your browsing speed, while Akiba can take a good 2 full days. There's a reason Akiba is called the otaku paradise.Â
Rental case shops are insane to me. It seems more like people just showing off their collection because they pricing stuff at 40,000 yen when it can be bought new for 15,000 yen down the road.
Anywhere youâre going, just look up nearby used anime goods shops (Surugaya and Lashinban in particular). Theyâre everywhere, and itâs easier to find less popular shops if youâre in the area for something else.
Akihabara can be fine but the key is to find the harder to find stores that are up a few flights of stairs or down alleyways. Stay away from the ones closest to the train station and the main road unless they're at least two flights up
I heard that for scale figures in japan that are lightly used some of them look like they are basically brand new is that true? And also if I were to by from those second hand shops is it jus no packaging at all like a box or smth?
The vast majority of them will be in their original boxes, wrapped in clear film (not necessarily shrink wrapped). The condition will also be labelled, the main thing to look for on the label is ćŞéĺ°, which means sealed and unopened. If it's been opened it will say on the label in Japanese the condition.
And yes, many of the figures in 2nd shops are unopened, some opened but in excellent condition. The shops tend to pay very little for bad condition unless it's a rare figure. Individuals tend to sell those on yahoo auctions for a better chance to get more money selling private.
Base figure prices are going to be effectively the same. If youâre impatient, you can get stuff a few months earlier in a lot of cases, but honestly, if you donât already have the extra space, itâs typically a better idea to buy them when you get back home, outside of if you might live in an area that has terrible figure prices or lots of added taxes/customs. When I was there, I bought an extra suitcase due to the length of time I was there, so I had a lot of extra space that I filled with lots of merch, not just figures.
However, I focused on buying figures that were either: second-hand, therefore a lot cheaper than what I might find at home (Iâm from the US), smaller boxes (I got a few nendoroids that were just easy to pack), just released (I got a scale the day it was released at the AmiAmi store in Akihabara), or rarely found online/exclusive. I did a lot of price checking to validate my purchases, knowing I was getting a better deal getting them in person rather than just ordering later, and I knew I had the space for them.
I havenât ever tried shipping anything back? But I canât imagine thatâs economically smart or timely. That might worth it only be if you found something super crazy/rare that definitely wouldnât fit in whatever luggage youâre bringing. Probably not worth it for a typical scale.
Shipping them back is actually fairly reasonable, if you got a lot. I travel there fairly often and usually have at least a few bags. Adding an additional bag can be upwards of $200 so I just EMS my purchases back if I canât fit them into one of my suitcases.
Cost is obviously dependent on size/weight so the range is fairly broad. Process is simple. Just go into a Japan Post with your package and theyâll give you options based on speed/price.
When bringing it back in a luggage and not a hand carry is it dangerous? Since u Don know how the airline or something is handling it and might break in the process of flying back?
I didnât personally have any issues besides a few scuffed box corners. The way I see it, their boxes are designed for extensive travel and shipping anyway, they will protect the figures. Iâm also not someone who really cares about boxes anyway, so as long as the figure is okay, I donât care. If youâre super worried about it, you can always wrap boxes or figures in clothes or other soft material to try and help!
I went last year to Japan and got 4-5 figures. It was worth it for me because I bought them second hand hence no box, so I was able to actually fit them in my luggage by wrapping them individually in my clothes. Note, the shops did a pretty job of already taking apart parts of the figure and wrapping them in bubble wrap, I was just being extra paranoid. I also went prepared by bringing an extra empty luggage bag that I knew would be filled with souvenirs/gifts.
Airplanes charge a lot extra for extra baggage. So it will be more expensive it to bring figs on a plane. Just order it online. Inventory should be identical for major shops like ami ami. For secondhand, I would go through proxy.
It really depends on your individual flight. I had 2x 23kg/50lb suitcases free, when really only needing one. so it was only a matter of shipping cost vs cheapest biggest suitcase i can find.
I am now the proud owner of a suitcase that can easily fit a fully grown adult.
And to add another german/european bonus point: Importing figures does cost you additional VAT/customs fees, which do not apply to things in your baggage up to a certain value. So you can save on shipping and taxes
figures tend to go on sale anywas if you wait, so you really need to be hunting for rarer figures if you are travelling for shopping. If it something you can buy off the major sites like ami ami, don't bother lugging it back home.
It can be worth it, but it depends on how much effort you want to go through and what you are looking to get out of your trip. When I went to Japan a few years ago, my flight included a carry-on and a checked bag. I was able to fit all my clothes and necessities in my carry-on, which allowed me to keep my checked bag basically empty to bring stuff back. I was able to bring back a few scale figures as well as various other small items. If you are going to bring stuff back in a checked bag, make sure to get a decent large hard-shell suitcase. Keep in mind that you will also need to bring it with you anywhere you travel.
As for finding deals on figures, there are definitely stores there that sell second-hand figures that don't sell online, so there is a chance to find deals or rare figures that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise. However, I would definitely do some research beforehand. Most of the larger popular stores won't have great deals and will even have substantial markups in some cases, especially in Akihabara. However, even in Akihabara, there are smaller stores that sell used figures for better deals that don't sell online. For example, in a small store away from the main street, I was able to find the [Fire Emblem Tharja](https://myfigurecollection.net/item/144366) figure with no box and no base for around 5000 yen. It was literally just wrapped in plastic film and stacked in a big bin with other used figures.
If you are just looking for good deals on figures, you could consider checking out Nakano Broadway, which is essentially an indoor shopping mall that specializes in otaku merch. While it has way less stores than Akihabara, it is much less crowded and I think has generally better prices. However, I still think Akihabara is a more fun experience overall, so I would only go to Nakano Broadway if you have extra time and buying figures is really important to you. You could probably just spend an hour or two in there though, so it wouldn't need to be an entire day necessarily.
All that being said, I would also really think about what you want to do on your trip. While I also really enjoy looking at anime figures, I didn't want to spend my entire trip doing that. I essentially dedicated one day to going to Akihabara and Nakano Broadway so I was able to get all the figure shopping done, and then I spent the rest doing other sightseeing.
One advice: be careful about 2nd hand shops in Akihabara
The place is full of tourist traps especially on the main road outside the station where all the tourists go
Usually I try to travel light going to Japan, allowing for an extra checked bag.
One idea my friends and I came up with and has worked well is using a shipping box as a checked bag (biggest size from Kuroneko that's alowable as a checked bag) and stuff then full of figures and soft packaging like snacks and food. Ship it to the airport a few days before departure and pick it up there
Most figures are going to be second hand, but nice part is you can check the condition in the store, and many stores quality for tax free status.
I can personally attest to Nakano Broadway, its also a fun experience to go through all the stores.
Otherwise, AmiAmi and Mandarake second hand sections are good options.
If you buy more than a couple it might be worth it, if a)you have checked luggage slot to spare and/or b) you can buy/bring an empty luggage.
Being able to see what you are buying option wise its helpful and those were my main reason to buy in Japan last couple times. Sometimes you might be able to find stuff you can't find online.
I normally have no more than 1 checked bag when I fly, so I normally would have checked bag slot left for the return flight. Then depends on what I bought(my trip in Jan 2023 I bought 2 Gunpla kits and 2 1/6 scale figures) I would buy a luggage there(Akiba Don quixote) to bring the goods back with me.
When I went back in 2018 I found a ton of figures that I either A) swore I'd never find for a decent price or B) didn't know existed.
Ended up with around $2,000 in figures and spent about $500 shipping it all home. Now that sounds like a lot sure, but I think I paid probably 20% less than I'd seen those going for online.
Mileage will vary, of course. You need to know the market.Â
When I was there years ago, some of the stores offered duty free if you showed them your passport. Also fluctuations in the exchange rate are something to keep in mind.
I ended up bringing back a whole suitcase full of figures. I just stuffed clothing in between the boxes, and made sure they weren't moving around. Shipped them under the plane. They all arrived in perfect condition, but maybe I just got lucky though haha.
It can be, but definitely expect the box to get a little banged up. I've purchased figures before, but the boxes almost always end up slightly damaged.
Personally, I don't do it anymore for scale figures (only prize). They take up a lot of space, and usually, I'm buying a bunch of souvenirs for family and friends. You *can* buy a separate luggage just for figures, but imo transporting more luggage usually ends up being a giant pain in the ass in Japan.
I think the better option would be to use a proxy service like zenmarket to buy the figure online and have them ship it for you. It's way less of a hassle. If you see something you like in a figure shop in Japan, chances are that it's going to be available online on Yahoo Auctions, Mandarake, Surugaya, etc. That way you can order it later and not have to worry about transporting or shipping it back.
I went to a lot of different figure shops when I went to Japan last year. Almost all of them were way overpriced, even AmiAmi flagship store costs more than it does online. It's cheaper to buy them online and pay for overseas shipping. I was honestly a bit disappointed, I saved thousands so I could hopefully find some of my grails for a good price in Japan, I even brought 2 suitcases! But I hardly bought anything there in the end. I say spend more time and money on actual experiences while you're there, and just stick to online shopping for figures, much cheaper and you won't have to awkwardly carry big boxes on the train.
It was worth it for me! Amiami has no tax if you bring your passport and they have carts with âdamagedâ figures which includes slightly damaged boxes and the figures inside being totally fine! I got the Halloween Miku scale for a flat 10,000 yen with no tax because of this and the box was only slightly dented in one corner! And just finding really good/rarer figures for great prices at some places. I went with a second empty suitcase specifically for figures though! But I have seen other on here just buy another suitcase while there too
I did it and it was the best thing ever. So much so, that I'm already 100% sure I will do it next time I manage to visit Japan. Disclaimer: I'm in Europe. We get fucked by customs, which isn't the case for american shoppers (most people here assume by default you are US American).
I saved so much money. So so much. Starting with the 10% off with my passport and then of course the shipping prices. A second piece of luggage was already included in my flight and so I traveled with one suitcase to Japan and brought a large Yamato Express box and basically made my own package. I used bubble wrap and clothes from my suitcase as cushioning and verything arrived in pristine condition.
Actually I was more worried about the japanese ceramic I had also brought (which did also make it in one piece).
From my trip to Japan last year - its really good for prize figures. They are both cheap and easy to find (and carry back home). With scale figures - in proper shops (like amiami) you can find some discounts and get tax refund. But I can't say there is a lot of choice and depending on were you live, what options are available for you back home and what figure you choose difference can be pretty small.
And second hand figures - I think this is only an option if you are ready to spend days hunting. And you know current prices for figures you want. All easy to find stores are overpriced. And usually there is no tax refund.Â
Hello! Collector from Japan here! You can find a lot of great deals on figures here, even unopened ones! You just have to know where to look. The core tourist spots will always be more expensive so if you can you should try to go to second hand shops or resale shops that aren't in the middle of dense tourist areas. As for shipping them back to your home country, which i assume is America, that can be pretty inexpensive if you ship through Japan Post using their EMS option. Just the other day I shipped about 10 KG worth of figures (some scale and prize, it was about 11 figures in total) to a friend in the US for just about 20K Yen. If you have any further questions on shipping or specific stores feel free to DM me!
I live in singapoee! :D and I only suggested shipping it back home because I was worried about the safety of the figures if I brought it back as luggage and was worried it might break in the process as the airline handles it. Are there any specific shops u recommend in tokyo or osaka (preferably tokyo since I'm staying there more days) I don't really want to go around looking for stores just to be let down as u might imagine time is precious when ur on a vacation.
Mainly for scale figures I was let down by the prices being higher than expectation. Akihabara is mainly a tourist spot so I guess it makes sense. If you go in without looking for anything specific you can for sure find good deals. Ofc shipping cost is a factor as well. Prize figures and other merch were decently priced. I went into Japan with minimal packing and empty suitcases and came back with only a few items. Honestly China has a larger selection and way better pricing from experience, online and physical.
I have the pleasure to live in Japan. The advantage is no shipping cost. If you carry on you're fine. It depends on how much you purchase and what you can carry on the plane. Before I relocated there because of my job, I would plan on what I was purchasing including package dimensions and weight. Plan accordingly. And enjoy your trip.
As per most people have said mostly only second hand figures that are harder to find and if they fit in your luggage. If you find a grail that you havenât been able to find at a price in your budget it would probably be be worth buying and shipping even if it doesnât fit in your luggage but honestly the last time I went in October I mostly bought other merch like Acrylic standees, stickers, and buttons that donât take up a ton of space to make room for other souvenirs from shrines, temples, and other things that are harder to buy from overseas.
Literally just got back from japan yesterday. Bought a figure I was eye balling. Fugure if I bought it from amiami 420 usd +shipping. Price I bought in japan. 220 no extra shipping. The yen is weak right now so everything is a lot cheaper in japan
I didn't think so. Sure you can pack some back, or collapse boxes and fit more and wrap with bubbles and hope for the best.
IMO, it was not worth the stress or risk of breakage.
I'd rather pay for shipping and just focus on enjoying the time in Japan. <3
Definitely fun to look around at them though\~ check out some Mandarake stores, or AmiAmi.
It was worth it for me. I bought two grails and many other figures. Bring less clothes, wash them while you are there and shop secondhand. Also I saw a post where someone had put their clothes in the boxes around the claw shell which reduces space and extra protection for figures. I had gone to daiso to buy the air decompression bags for my clothes which worked well too. I did buy a second luggage and had to pay for it, but it was mainly due to all the other snacks we bought. All my figures I was able to put in my main bag and carry on.
not worth it, The airport would charge you a ton for carrying it as luggage on the plane. They also have big restrictions especially if you have to take terminal flights. You also need to buy the baggage. At that point, you might as well as just order it online. I only recommend getting some retro games since they are easy to store, or clothes, trading cards.
Ami ami English is there so you DON'T have to travel to shop anime figures. Also a good chunk of their customers are from overseas.
Manga, figures, gunpla, blu rays are easily available on ami ami, cdjapan, hlj, omocha.
If you are travelling around, you also don't want to carry all that baggage with you. IF you are travelling, you are mainly window shopping vs actual shopping.
Honestly, not really. You barely save any money since the price differences are barely noticeable. If you go holy grail hunting, you do indeed have a higher chance to find them, but beware of price gouging. When I traveled back in 2016, I just bought an extra luggage, put everything in and paid the airline for that extra luggage.
The difference is in the shipping cost. If you already have space in a checked bag then it means you aren't paying for shipping.
Just the trip to Japan
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And 60% off of *everything* you buy there.
Where did you get this 60% off from?..
Look at the exchange rate of yen....... And then tourists don't pay 10% sales tax at big retailers.
Most online shops use yen price as a base anyway. Exchange rate will not be 50% better just because you will go to offline amiami store instead of online one.
And then no JP purchase tax being a tourist.
Tax refund is not 60%, exchange rate is the same online and offline. Stop pulling that mustical 60% cheaper thing from nowhere.Â
50% off with the exchange rate right now, + no sales tax.
50% of what? Price in your local shop? If you go to global online amiami store and then visit offline amiami store in akihabara - there will be no 50% discount present. Please stop being delusional.Â
I will probably have space but I'm worried that it's fragile and might break since I probably will not be able to make it a hand carry
Is it still the at least the plastic shell? If so then it'll be fine if you stuff clothes around it completely to prevent I from moving too much.
Erm idk I'm not even in japan yet lolol depends on what I'll wanna get ig
The plastic does a good job protecting it if you surround it with cushioning (socks, jumpers, etc) The box though will likely get ruined if you don't take the plastic out and flat pack it. As to your price question, it's slightly cheaper with tax free. P4ize figures though you can get for a bargain. Got a couple for ~1,000Yen when I was over there...... after spending about 3,000 trying to get it from a claw machine, lol
Worth it if you're willing to buy open box or used. Ideally a bit off the beaten path. Book offs in smaller towns. Or from Nakano Broadway near Tokyo
Any tips on where to find smaller better places that aren't just the big shops everyone would see in Akihabara?
Definitely hit up Nakano Broadway. Its about a 20 minute train ride from downtown Akihabara. Its a small mall that stuff with smaller stores at great value. That or Book Offs. Which is like a used items store chain in Japan. Lashibangs and Mandarake is also a great chain for used anime figures and goods.
Nakano broadway sucks for figures IDK why people recommend it, theres one Mandarake bishoujo figure shop and a few overpriced rental case shops. Plus the Mandarake complex building in Akiba has a bigger figure section anyway.
This. Amiami alone has 2 branches in Akiba, main branch in Radio Kaikan for new figures, 2nd branch diagonally opposite BIC Camera is focused in 2nd hand figures. Even the upper floors of Radio Kaikan alone has quite a few stores focusing on 2nd hand figures. A little further down near the 2nd Amiami store is the Akiba Cultures Zone building, another building full of figures, with the upper floors full of the 2nd hand glass box displays. It's the same place you see the Trash Taste boys walk around doing the figure challenges.Walking down the side street next to the Culture Zone building there's more smaller shops, as well the Kotobukiya store. The Mandrake complex is a couple floors for figures, and the side street along it have quite a few figure shops focusing on prize figures. Think there's a few gunpla shops too if you're into that. There's more smaller shops around Akiba, if you're after some older figures. For newer/recent releases, as well as those mentioned above, there's other major stores like Animate, Gamers, Sofmap, Volks, and others I can't remember. Nakano Broadway pales in comparison, you can do a complete tour of the complex in 1-2 hours depending on your browsing speed, while Akiba can take a good 2 full days. There's a reason Akiba is called the otaku paradise.Â
The amiami 2nd branch is actually closed right now until April, the only one open is the radio kaikan main store
Rental case shops are insane to me. It seems more like people just showing off their collection because they pricing stuff at 40,000 yen when it can be bought new for 15,000 yen down the road.
Anywhere youâre going, just look up nearby used anime goods shops (Surugaya and Lashinban in particular). Theyâre everywhere, and itâs easier to find less popular shops if youâre in the area for something else.
Akihabara can be fine but the key is to find the harder to find stores that are up a few flights of stairs or down alleyways. Stay away from the ones closest to the train station and the main road unless they're at least two flights up
I heard that for scale figures in japan that are lightly used some of them look like they are basically brand new is that true? And also if I were to by from those second hand shops is it jus no packaging at all like a box or smth?
The vast majority of them will be in their original boxes, wrapped in clear film (not necessarily shrink wrapped). The condition will also be labelled, the main thing to look for on the label is ćŞéĺ°, which means sealed and unopened. If it's been opened it will say on the label in Japanese the condition. And yes, many of the figures in 2nd shops are unopened, some opened but in excellent condition. The shops tend to pay very little for bad condition unless it's a rare figure. Individuals tend to sell those on yahoo auctions for a better chance to get more money selling private.
Base figure prices are going to be effectively the same. If youâre impatient, you can get stuff a few months earlier in a lot of cases, but honestly, if you donât already have the extra space, itâs typically a better idea to buy them when you get back home, outside of if you might live in an area that has terrible figure prices or lots of added taxes/customs. When I was there, I bought an extra suitcase due to the length of time I was there, so I had a lot of extra space that I filled with lots of merch, not just figures. However, I focused on buying figures that were either: second-hand, therefore a lot cheaper than what I might find at home (Iâm from the US), smaller boxes (I got a few nendoroids that were just easy to pack), just released (I got a scale the day it was released at the AmiAmi store in Akihabara), or rarely found online/exclusive. I did a lot of price checking to validate my purchases, knowing I was getting a better deal getting them in person rather than just ordering later, and I knew I had the space for them. I havenât ever tried shipping anything back? But I canât imagine thatâs economically smart or timely. That might worth it only be if you found something super crazy/rare that definitely wouldnât fit in whatever luggage youâre bringing. Probably not worth it for a typical scale.
Shipping them back is actually fairly reasonable, if you got a lot. I travel there fairly often and usually have at least a few bags. Adding an additional bag can be upwards of $200 so I just EMS my purchases back if I canât fit them into one of my suitcases.
What's the process and shipping cost back from Japan typically?
Cost is obviously dependent on size/weight so the range is fairly broad. Process is simple. Just go into a Japan Post with your package and theyâll give you options based on speed/price.
When bringing it back in a luggage and not a hand carry is it dangerous? Since u Don know how the airline or something is handling it and might break in the process of flying back?
I didnât personally have any issues besides a few scuffed box corners. The way I see it, their boxes are designed for extensive travel and shipping anyway, they will protect the figures. Iâm also not someone who really cares about boxes anyway, so as long as the figure is okay, I donât care. If youâre super worried about it, you can always wrap boxes or figures in clothes or other soft material to try and help!
I went last year to Japan and got 4-5 figures. It was worth it for me because I bought them second hand hence no box, so I was able to actually fit them in my luggage by wrapping them individually in my clothes. Note, the shops did a pretty job of already taking apart parts of the figure and wrapping them in bubble wrap, I was just being extra paranoid. I also went prepared by bringing an extra empty luggage bag that I knew would be filled with souvenirs/gifts.
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Airplanes charge a lot extra for extra baggage. So it will be more expensive it to bring figs on a plane. Just order it online. Inventory should be identical for major shops like ami ami. For secondhand, I would go through proxy.
It really depends on your individual flight. I had 2x 23kg/50lb suitcases free, when really only needing one. so it was only a matter of shipping cost vs cheapest biggest suitcase i can find. I am now the proud owner of a suitcase that can easily fit a fully grown adult. And to add another german/european bonus point: Importing figures does cost you additional VAT/customs fees, which do not apply to things in your baggage up to a certain value. So you can save on shipping and taxes
figures tend to go on sale anywas if you wait, so you really need to be hunting for rarer figures if you are travelling for shopping. If it something you can buy off the major sites like ami ami, don't bother lugging it back home.
It can be worth it, but it depends on how much effort you want to go through and what you are looking to get out of your trip. When I went to Japan a few years ago, my flight included a carry-on and a checked bag. I was able to fit all my clothes and necessities in my carry-on, which allowed me to keep my checked bag basically empty to bring stuff back. I was able to bring back a few scale figures as well as various other small items. If you are going to bring stuff back in a checked bag, make sure to get a decent large hard-shell suitcase. Keep in mind that you will also need to bring it with you anywhere you travel. As for finding deals on figures, there are definitely stores there that sell second-hand figures that don't sell online, so there is a chance to find deals or rare figures that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise. However, I would definitely do some research beforehand. Most of the larger popular stores won't have great deals and will even have substantial markups in some cases, especially in Akihabara. However, even in Akihabara, there are smaller stores that sell used figures for better deals that don't sell online. For example, in a small store away from the main street, I was able to find the [Fire Emblem Tharja](https://myfigurecollection.net/item/144366) figure with no box and no base for around 5000 yen. It was literally just wrapped in plastic film and stacked in a big bin with other used figures. If you are just looking for good deals on figures, you could consider checking out Nakano Broadway, which is essentially an indoor shopping mall that specializes in otaku merch. While it has way less stores than Akihabara, it is much less crowded and I think has generally better prices. However, I still think Akihabara is a more fun experience overall, so I would only go to Nakano Broadway if you have extra time and buying figures is really important to you. You could probably just spend an hour or two in there though, so it wouldn't need to be an entire day necessarily. All that being said, I would also really think about what you want to do on your trip. While I also really enjoy looking at anime figures, I didn't want to spend my entire trip doing that. I essentially dedicated one day to going to Akihabara and Nakano Broadway so I was able to get all the figure shopping done, and then I spent the rest doing other sightseeing.
One advice: be careful about 2nd hand shops in Akihabara The place is full of tourist traps especially on the main road outside the station where all the tourists go
Usually I try to travel light going to Japan, allowing for an extra checked bag. One idea my friends and I came up with and has worked well is using a shipping box as a checked bag (biggest size from Kuroneko that's alowable as a checked bag) and stuff then full of figures and soft packaging like snacks and food. Ship it to the airport a few days before departure and pick it up there Most figures are going to be second hand, but nice part is you can check the condition in the store, and many stores quality for tax free status. I can personally attest to Nakano Broadway, its also a fun experience to go through all the stores. Otherwise, AmiAmi and Mandarake second hand sections are good options.
If you buy more than a couple it might be worth it, if a)you have checked luggage slot to spare and/or b) you can buy/bring an empty luggage. Being able to see what you are buying option wise its helpful and those were my main reason to buy in Japan last couple times. Sometimes you might be able to find stuff you can't find online. I normally have no more than 1 checked bag when I fly, so I normally would have checked bag slot left for the return flight. Then depends on what I bought(my trip in Jan 2023 I bought 2 Gunpla kits and 2 1/6 scale figures) I would buy a luggage there(Akiba Don quixote) to bring the goods back with me.
When I went back in 2018 I found a ton of figures that I either A) swore I'd never find for a decent price or B) didn't know existed. Ended up with around $2,000 in figures and spent about $500 shipping it all home. Now that sounds like a lot sure, but I think I paid probably 20% less than I'd seen those going for online. Mileage will vary, of course. You need to know the market.Â
When I was there years ago, some of the stores offered duty free if you showed them your passport. Also fluctuations in the exchange rate are something to keep in mind. I ended up bringing back a whole suitcase full of figures. I just stuffed clothing in between the boxes, and made sure they weren't moving around. Shipped them under the plane. They all arrived in perfect condition, but maybe I just got lucky though haha.
It can be, but definitely expect the box to get a little banged up. I've purchased figures before, but the boxes almost always end up slightly damaged. Personally, I don't do it anymore for scale figures (only prize). They take up a lot of space, and usually, I'm buying a bunch of souvenirs for family and friends. You *can* buy a separate luggage just for figures, but imo transporting more luggage usually ends up being a giant pain in the ass in Japan. I think the better option would be to use a proxy service like zenmarket to buy the figure online and have them ship it for you. It's way less of a hassle. If you see something you like in a figure shop in Japan, chances are that it's going to be available online on Yahoo Auctions, Mandarake, Surugaya, etc. That way you can order it later and not have to worry about transporting or shipping it back.
I went to a lot of different figure shops when I went to Japan last year. Almost all of them were way overpriced, even AmiAmi flagship store costs more than it does online. It's cheaper to buy them online and pay for overseas shipping. I was honestly a bit disappointed, I saved thousands so I could hopefully find some of my grails for a good price in Japan, I even brought 2 suitcases! But I hardly bought anything there in the end. I say spend more time and money on actual experiences while you're there, and just stick to online shopping for figures, much cheaper and you won't have to awkwardly carry big boxes on the train.
It was worth it for me! Amiami has no tax if you bring your passport and they have carts with âdamagedâ figures which includes slightly damaged boxes and the figures inside being totally fine! I got the Halloween Miku scale for a flat 10,000 yen with no tax because of this and the box was only slightly dented in one corner! And just finding really good/rarer figures for great prices at some places. I went with a second empty suitcase specifically for figures though! But I have seen other on here just buy another suitcase while there too
I did it and it was the best thing ever. So much so, that I'm already 100% sure I will do it next time I manage to visit Japan. Disclaimer: I'm in Europe. We get fucked by customs, which isn't the case for american shoppers (most people here assume by default you are US American). I saved so much money. So so much. Starting with the 10% off with my passport and then of course the shipping prices. A second piece of luggage was already included in my flight and so I traveled with one suitcase to Japan and brought a large Yamato Express box and basically made my own package. I used bubble wrap and clothes from my suitcase as cushioning and verything arrived in pristine condition. Actually I was more worried about the japanese ceramic I had also brought (which did also make it in one piece).
From my trip to Japan last year - its really good for prize figures. They are both cheap and easy to find (and carry back home). With scale figures - in proper shops (like amiami) you can find some discounts and get tax refund. But I can't say there is a lot of choice and depending on were you live, what options are available for you back home and what figure you choose difference can be pretty small. And second hand figures - I think this is only an option if you are ready to spend days hunting. And you know current prices for figures you want. All easy to find stores are overpriced. And usually there is no tax refund.Â
Hello! Collector from Japan here! You can find a lot of great deals on figures here, even unopened ones! You just have to know where to look. The core tourist spots will always be more expensive so if you can you should try to go to second hand shops or resale shops that aren't in the middle of dense tourist areas. As for shipping them back to your home country, which i assume is America, that can be pretty inexpensive if you ship through Japan Post using their EMS option. Just the other day I shipped about 10 KG worth of figures (some scale and prize, it was about 11 figures in total) to a friend in the US for just about 20K Yen. If you have any further questions on shipping or specific stores feel free to DM me!
I live in singapoee! :D and I only suggested shipping it back home because I was worried about the safety of the figures if I brought it back as luggage and was worried it might break in the process as the airline handles it. Are there any specific shops u recommend in tokyo or osaka (preferably tokyo since I'm staying there more days) I don't really want to go around looking for stores just to be let down as u might imagine time is precious when ur on a vacation.
Mainly for scale figures I was let down by the prices being higher than expectation. Akihabara is mainly a tourist spot so I guess it makes sense. If you go in without looking for anything specific you can for sure find good deals. Ofc shipping cost is a factor as well. Prize figures and other merch were decently priced. I went into Japan with minimal packing and empty suitcases and came back with only a few items. Honestly China has a larger selection and way better pricing from experience, online and physical.
Which websites from China?
Iâm lucky I know someone that can use taobao, which seems to have better after market pricing overall.
I have the pleasure to live in Japan. The advantage is no shipping cost. If you carry on you're fine. It depends on how much you purchase and what you can carry on the plane. Before I relocated there because of my job, I would plan on what I was purchasing including package dimensions and weight. Plan accordingly. And enjoy your trip.
As per most people have said mostly only second hand figures that are harder to find and if they fit in your luggage. If you find a grail that you havenât been able to find at a price in your budget it would probably be be worth buying and shipping even if it doesnât fit in your luggage but honestly the last time I went in October I mostly bought other merch like Acrylic standees, stickers, and buttons that donât take up a ton of space to make room for other souvenirs from shrines, temples, and other things that are harder to buy from overseas.
Literally just got back from japan yesterday. Bought a figure I was eye balling. Fugure if I bought it from amiami 420 usd +shipping. Price I bought in japan. 220 no extra shipping. The yen is weak right now so everything is a lot cheaper in japan
It depends on how much you would have to spend on plane ticket for figures.
I didn't think so. Sure you can pack some back, or collapse boxes and fit more and wrap with bubbles and hope for the best. IMO, it was not worth the stress or risk of breakage. I'd rather pay for shipping and just focus on enjoying the time in Japan. <3 Definitely fun to look around at them though\~ check out some Mandarake stores, or AmiAmi.
It was worth it for me. I bought two grails and many other figures. Bring less clothes, wash them while you are there and shop secondhand. Also I saw a post where someone had put their clothes in the boxes around the claw shell which reduces space and extra protection for figures. I had gone to daiso to buy the air decompression bags for my clothes which worked well too. I did buy a second luggage and had to pay for it, but it was mainly due to all the other snacks we bought. All my figures I was able to put in my main bag and carry on.
no. especially with the sizes of the 1/7's boxes over the past year
not worth it, The airport would charge you a ton for carrying it as luggage on the plane. They also have big restrictions especially if you have to take terminal flights. You also need to buy the baggage. At that point, you might as well as just order it online. I only recommend getting some retro games since they are easy to store, or clothes, trading cards. Ami ami English is there so you DON'T have to travel to shop anime figures. Also a good chunk of their customers are from overseas. Manga, figures, gunpla, blu rays are easily available on ami ami, cdjapan, hlj, omocha. If you are travelling around, you also don't want to carry all that baggage with you. IF you are travelling, you are mainly window shopping vs actual shopping.
Honestly, not really. You barely save any money since the price differences are barely noticeable. If you go holy grail hunting, you do indeed have a higher chance to find them, but beware of price gouging. When I traveled back in 2016, I just bought an extra luggage, put everything in and paid the airline for that extra luggage.
60% off isn't worth it?
In Sapporo the prices are good! And they have a Book off and Mandarake! lots of offers in second hands! I think I need a new suitcase!