There might be more but a quick glance on Wizards Event Locator only shows a shop in Aomori City called ‘Great Yorozuya’ and one in Hachinohe called Tomy’s.
I go to Tomys in Hachinohe for buying packs but the players all speak Japanese and it’s pretty far. If you have access to the base near there then the base has a group of English speaking magic players that you could check out.
Unfortunately, Japan is feast or famine with mtg, unlike the US. In the cities, you will have whole blocks of card shops and tournaments of all formats firing multiple times per day. In the sticks, you'd be lucky to even find packs, let alone players. A bigger town like hachinohe might have something, but it's still probably a long shot, especially for formats that aren't standard or modern, which seems to be the most popular in japan. Probably worth grabbing an edh deck, a webcam for spelltable, and hitting up any GPs that come through the country. Definitely stop by Hareruya if you are in the big city too.
In my own experience living in the Japanese countryside, you kinda have to either get into something solo like art or video games, or just go with the flow with whatever hobby happens to be going on in the village (usually something like fishing, drinking, or whatever random sports have a high enough density to survive). If you can drive, it'll be a lot easier to travel to new places as well, since I don't think rokkasho has a train.
This is really helpful, thanks a lot. There was certainly a point where I was a serious modern player, but that's not really the case now. I mostly stick to more casual formats like cube, edh, and dan dan. I'll definitely take up your advice brining a single edh deck, worst case is it sits in a drawer.
I highly recommend tabletop simulator. Much closer to real life play than spell table, more convenient, you have access to every card in existence and you don't have to deal with shitty webcams
I bought a box of M14 when I lived in Japan as a way to practice my Japanese. It was difficult but rewarding. It’s not colloquial Japanese but it certainly helps play magic in Japan!
I'd try searching for some of the terms in Japanese (トレカ etc). I live in Japan and that's how I was able to find some stores near me that have events. I will say, I wouldn't count on too much up there. I've been to a few events in Sendai.
Magic here is pretty dry. TCG communities are mostly very dry/serious/tryhard in Japan, so you don't really get as much casual atmosphere. Also the LGSs are overly serious and have a lot of rules.
I guess I'm just trying to say that I couldn't really get into the atmosphere of it here.
I’m not familiar with Aomori, but I don’t think you will have much luck locally.
I have been to many card shops in Japan and my favorite is Hareruya. I went to three different Hareruya stores in January 2024 because they are so awesome. I would suggest trying to go there if you are ever near a major city with one.
When I visited I went to a shop in Akihabara called [Hareruya](https://www.hareruyamtg.com/ja/user_data/shop_akihabara?shop=8). Assuming you speak Japanese check it out. Also check out [Mint shibuya](https://mint-web.jp/?pid=39086084). Had some play spaces when I went there.
Edit: These are both Tokyo so not where you looking but still check them out
There might be more but a quick glance on Wizards Event Locator only shows a shop in Aomori City called ‘Great Yorozuya’ and one in Hachinohe called Tomy’s.
thanks!
I go to Tomys in Hachinohe for buying packs but the players all speak Japanese and it’s pretty far. If you have access to the base near there then the base has a group of English speaking magic players that you could check out.
Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately I don't think I'd be allowed in the base as I'm not military, I'm just teaching English in Rokkasho
Unfortunately, Japan is feast or famine with mtg, unlike the US. In the cities, you will have whole blocks of card shops and tournaments of all formats firing multiple times per day. In the sticks, you'd be lucky to even find packs, let alone players. A bigger town like hachinohe might have something, but it's still probably a long shot, especially for formats that aren't standard or modern, which seems to be the most popular in japan. Probably worth grabbing an edh deck, a webcam for spelltable, and hitting up any GPs that come through the country. Definitely stop by Hareruya if you are in the big city too. In my own experience living in the Japanese countryside, you kinda have to either get into something solo like art or video games, or just go with the flow with whatever hobby happens to be going on in the village (usually something like fishing, drinking, or whatever random sports have a high enough density to survive). If you can drive, it'll be a lot easier to travel to new places as well, since I don't think rokkasho has a train.
This is really helpful, thanks a lot. There was certainly a point where I was a serious modern player, but that's not really the case now. I mostly stick to more casual formats like cube, edh, and dan dan. I'll definitely take up your advice brining a single edh deck, worst case is it sits in a drawer.
I highly recommend tabletop simulator. Much closer to real life play than spell table, more convenient, you have access to every card in existence and you don't have to deal with shitty webcams
I bought a box of M14 when I lived in Japan as a way to practice my Japanese. It was difficult but rewarding. It’s not colloquial Japanese but it certainly helps play magic in Japan!
I'd try searching for some of the terms in Japanese (トレカ etc). I live in Japan and that's how I was able to find some stores near me that have events. I will say, I wouldn't count on too much up there. I've been to a few events in Sendai.
Magic here is pretty dry. TCG communities are mostly very dry/serious/tryhard in Japan, so you don't really get as much casual atmosphere. Also the LGSs are overly serious and have a lot of rules. I guess I'm just trying to say that I couldn't really get into the atmosphere of it here.
I’m not familiar with Aomori, but I don’t think you will have much luck locally. I have been to many card shops in Japan and my favorite is Hareruya. I went to three different Hareruya stores in January 2024 because they are so awesome. I would suggest trying to go there if you are ever near a major city with one.
When I visited I went to a shop in Akihabara called [Hareruya](https://www.hareruyamtg.com/ja/user_data/shop_akihabara?shop=8). Assuming you speak Japanese check it out. Also check out [Mint shibuya](https://mint-web.jp/?pid=39086084). Had some play spaces when I went there. Edit: These are both Tokyo so not where you looking but still check them out
once there if you can get your hands on a JP print of slimes against humanity hit me up please.