Exploring the gaming goodness of Soka, Saitama Japan!

[@ShadowPuppet3001]

great video, i like all of the games, but i would have to say good find on the ninja gaiden game

[@RetroReWire]

Ninja Gaiden is awesome! Go ninja, go ninja go! Cheers!

[@toolion3681]

Hi, great video! My friend and I went to Yokohama for gaming hunting yesterday. I bought several boxes of Pokemon games. We used to look for games only around Akihabara, but now we would go to Chiba, Saitama and Shinagawa every week since we have watched your videos. We went to the Surugaya near Yokohama station, another two Surugaya-supported shops in Totsuka, which is 3 stops from Yokomaha station. Finally, we went to a book-off and a book-off Super Bazaar. Yesterday was so wild, and we walked for almost 2 hours to move from one shop to another. Will be going to Minami-sunamachi and Minami-Gyotoku for another around this Tuesday after work, so exciting. Thank you for the great video I will add the shops to my visit list.

[@RetroReWire]

Very cool, I'm glad you're liking the videos. And it sounds like you had an awesome game hunting adventure, even better that you went with a friend! Minami-Gyotoku has a nice Enter-King/Surugaya shop. I recall they had a few Saturn games that I really really want, haha. Happy hunting this Tuesday, cheers!

[@_Username__]

11:13 gorgeous 3ds LL, I just got mine off yahoo Japan auctions for 19500 in RED and in prestine condition CIB

[@blazenslayer]

Love watching these videos so I can see what store has what and if I should head down aha. Nice finds! Especially that North American Just Dance next to Sonic ww

[@RetroReWire]

Glad you're enjoying the vids! Every now and then I see a few NA titles, the most common being Dead Space 1/2 for PS3. Cheers!

[@rebalblazinghard]

very good prices on those games. I started to my google translate to play more on these imports.

[@RetroReWire]

Google translate is a good way to get around the language barrier, both in stores and in games. Cheers!

[@funkyguh]

Nice I’m moving to Saitama next week, going to give this a go!

[@RetroReWire]

Right on, Saitama had a few decent shops. Lots to explore! Cheers!

[@rodrigorocha2935]

I need to go back to Japan ASAP. Your videos are like panacea to me. Great work.

[@RetroReWire]

Haha, cheers!

[@_Username__]

Thank you so much I loved this video, pls keep it like this, slow and thorough

[@RetroReWire]

Glad you liked the video, cheers!

[@ericng5707]

Yeah, the Soka Zest was like that even before they fell under the Surugaya umbrella. It's also a bit of a pain to get to if you're not driving, so I stopped hitting up that store years ago. Looks like whoever's running the place is still maintaining the high prices.

[@RetroReWire]

The walk was brutal due to the heat! It’s def gonna be a very long time until my next visit. Cheers!

[@BeAsT1x5]

This popped up right on time as I'm planning to visit sendai soon

[@RetroReWire]

Very nice! Down the street from this is a Momotaro Kingdom/Surugaya shop, too. I covered that store in a separate video. Happy hunting, cheers!

[@_Username__]

22:24 That is definitely true, I can confirm after multiple years of game hunting within Japan

[@SamuraiNetwork]

I live in Soka, its genuinely the sickest place ever for retro hunts, no tourists come here and the stores have amazing prices and stocked with grails!

[@RetroReWire]

I’ll definitely be back! Cheers!

[@SamuraiNetwork]

I'd strongly recommend it! @@RetroReWire

[@phile6889]

2 weeks with no RR? 😅 Welcome back JJ!

[@RetroReWire]

Haha, cheers! I filmed at a few shops during the break, and I also made some serious progress in Elden Ring! Good times ahead!

[@phile6889]

All good man! From Software can take up some time! Just started playing new Armored Core 6. Grabs you by the you know whats!@@RetroReWire

[@8bitjoystick]

I like how the sound effects that you use bring a distinct audio note to the videos.. I also really enjoy the shots that you have before going to the place that really create a sense of travel. I liked the Super Mario 3 sun, good use of object motion tracking. Are you doing this in Final Cut? You know before I started doing my KZbin channel I would have been all about Final Fantasy 16 but I just don't see myself getting into it because it would take all free time that I have.

[@RetroReWire]

All the tracking is done within Final Cut. It’s a really good editing program! I hear yeah with FF16. For me it’s Elden Ring! I’m closing in on 150 hours, haha. I been playing the game since it released. The end is near, I can feel it my bones. Cheers!

[@petersziraki7672]

Nice You basically completed that Super Mario Bros. level where the sun is trying to kill you :D.

[@8bitjoystick]

Well, the global warming is pretty bad right now

[@RetroReWire]

Haha, it was a close one! The heat is brutal this time of year. Cheers!

[@TheCuriousAsian]

Hello! Can you make an PSP/PSP vita episode soon? Love your content.

[@RetroReWire]

That sounds like a good idea! I love them Sony portables, cheers!

[@AndreFenrir]

That bookoff had some pretty good prices. JJ, do you collect limited/special edition games from current gen? Great vid as aways!

[@RetroReWire]

I have a few current gen limited and special edition releases. The majority of them are for Switch, and a few for X1. I also play a lot of current gen games with Elden Ring taking up most of my playtime. How about yourself?

[@AndreFenrir]

​​@@RetroReWirehere in Brazil we don't often get limited/special edition, and when we do, it's ridiculous expensive. So, every time that I go to Japan, I bring with me 3 or 4.

[@RetroReWire]

It seems that Brazil has always had a history of crazy high prices. Is that true from your experience?@@AndreFenrir

[@_Username__]

God this DSi LL color is gorgeous 11:35

[@UltraPoyoColt]

Hello again, friendo! Been a while since I’ve watched one of your videos, and they’re as good as ever! (What are the Retro Rewire game tours all about? I’m interested!)

[@RetroReWire]

Cheers and welcome back! I offer a game tour service of Akihabara and other areas of japan. Send me a message on Facebook for more info, cheers! facebook.com/RetroRewire

[@Deep_wolf]

In my place it's nearly impossible to find CIB games, so I just printed out boxes and put loose carts in it. Prolly saved $1000 USD or so, haha. But if I ever get to Japan, I'll def go for original stuff.

[@RetroReWire]

Making custom boxes is a fun project. Old rental boxes/cases make for a good alternative, too. Cheers!

[@atomiswave1971]

After a week in japan game hunting I'm glad to be leaving. It's very hot in Japan right now and there nowhere to sit. I gave up on hard off because a lot of my wants were super premium. I found a nice Gradius 2 FC at Momotoro Kingdom. I found a really nice ps2 controller in blue for Y490. What struck me is that I couldn't find FC Mario games anywhere in the box. Or Spartan X. I spent Y200000 though. So I didn't go home empty handed.

[@RetroReWire]

Haha, my man it’s super hot out! And you’re right, often there isn’t anywhere to sit. The Mario FC games blew up in popularity. I don’t often see them anymore CIB. Loose carts is another story. What was your best/fave pickup?

[@atomiswave1971]

@@RetroReWire I bought battle mobile, Spriggan powered on Sfc from mandarake. Both were nigh on perfect condition. I got a brand new kirby FC from friends along with a brand new ninja spirits pce. I bought 2 pce controllers for my analogue duo when it comes out. Wani wani world, shinobi, super hang on MD. About 10 FC games CIB. A ps2 controller, a sfc cap on sf2 controllerm. I'm sure there is more. Working from a pre defined list is difficult. I got 50 percent of my list. My highest priority doremi fantasy escaped me though.

[@RetroReWire]

Mandarake! I'll be dropping a video on them soonish. Bummer about Doremi Fantasy, but you got a load of goods! I really want a copy of Ninja Spirits. How many shops did you visit? Was there a standout shop? @@atomiswave1971

[@atomiswave1971]

@@RetroReWire trader useless for me, mandarake had 4 items I wanted in the condition I wanted, friends - I gave my phone to her and let her scroll and do the hunting, she got me a brand new ninja spirits from behind the counter along with the brand new kirby. They were higher priced than what you find though. Friends was empty and I was the only one there. After Momotoro Kingdom we didn't do any of the other out of town bits due to heat exhaustion and confusing Google maps taking us on buses and such. I was drbeched in sweat after 1 hour and done 10000 steps by 3pm abf probably done another 10000 after that In 35c. My feet told me to use ebay next time. Whatever proton pills you're taking doing these hunts I need some. Half of my haul I got in Osaka. Due to the spines in Japanese I went into super potato and asked for them to find me stuff. Game revival nothing.. I couldn't even find a Tetris boxed for famicom. Unbelievable

[@atomiswave1971]

@@RetroReWire friends had another ninja spirits behind counter. Think it was Y11000

[@_Username__]

When it comes to consoles, I found that the ones on yahoo Japan auctions and mercari websites are noticeably cheaper than the ones in the physical stores of hardoffs/booksoffs/surugaya, and trust me I went to a LOT of those physical stores.

[@RetroReWire]

Absolutely, even sellers on Amazon Japan sometimes beat physical store prices. Mercari and the like are very good online options.

[@_Username__]

WHOAAAA 1:03 ♥

[@dotsMarc]

Saturn wise, if the spine isnt outside the game does it mean its not inside the case? Great video trip!

[@RetroReWire]

It depends on the store. Trader and Mandarake are really good about the spine cards. Surugaya can sometimes leave the spine card inside the case. You can typically see it inside by looking at the top of the case. Cheers!

[@RetroMoments]

40.000 yen for an AES console is good. Hard to find it cheaper nowadays... I also really like playing AOF2, despite its difficult level. And Star Gladiator is awesome! Got it in the Junk for 100 yen!

[@RetroReWire]

The new norm for an AES with one stick and cables seems to be around the ¥50,000 mark, more with a box. I like various aspects of AOF2, but golly is it tough. The NG memory card I bought has a save at the extra box, Geese Howard, and It's sooo hard! Haha, cheers!

[@machado5765]

You mentioned that this is Tokyo area. Kind of expensive when comparing to other videos I see. From your experience where do I can get more for my bucks? Between Osaka/Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, which one has the best prices?

[@RetroReWire]

Transportation costs are something to consider, that bill adds up quick haha! The cost of the JR rail pass for tourists will also be going up in the fall time, just FYI. I haven't been game hunting in Hiroshima yet, hopefully one day. I've scored the best deals from the Kanto (Tokyo) area. It's also the area that I live in, so naturally I spend most of my hunting time here. I think you're doing the right thing by comparing prices from various videos. It can be the key to answering your question. The Chubu region of Japan seems to be a worthy spot for game hunting, too. Cheers!

[@fazares]

good stuff and average prices with the discount mark

[@RetroReWire]

I felt the same in regard to pricing. The inventory was pretty good. I’m still thinking about that Keio 2 on Saturn, haha! Cheers!

[@RW-ij1ci]

As a retro gamer from the USA who lives over in South Korea, I'm always extremally jealous of the gaming scene in Japan. South Korea has better PC rooms to play games, but almost next to nothing retro game wise... It's probably a good thing for me though, cause I'd be broke living there :P

[@RetroReWire]

I will definitely visit South Korea one day! How is the current gen gaming scene? I imagine Nintendo has a decent presence in SK?

[@reddinosaur7]

have you come across time crisis and the gun cons?

[@RetroReWire]

Yes! In fact, they'll be featured in the next episode. Cheers!

[@_Username__]

26:43 that is a FINE price for the RED PS3 slim

[@etiennebond1]

Do you recommend Soka or Omiya please ?

[@RetroReWire]

Omiya is more accessible, I feel. The Surugaya is also stacked! There is also a Book Off Plus. And there are loads more of food options, haha!

[@AngeloMontagnese]

what would you say is best place you went to for games location wise/price

[@RetroReWire]

Pre-pandemic I would say Trader in Akihabara. It was a good balance between location, price and stock. Nowadays it’s best to hit up multiple shops. Cheers!

[@AngeloMontagnese]

@@RetroReWire thanks, love the videos btw!

[@toyhunt6268]

You get a 10 percent discount on your purchase as a whole correct if you show your passport?

[@RetroReWire]

Select shops offer tax-free (10%) shopping to tourists. Have your passport handy! Cheers!

[@Rossbrian1]

Whatever you're recording on in the store, the refresh rate is off a tad

[@RetroReWire]

Yeah, the fluorescent tubes were triggering my iPhone. I finally got my new camera, so ill have manual control and 6k open gate, hehe!

[@antoineperichon]

First time, I saw a Neo Geo AES loose but with the manual ! The price is ok btw.

[@RetroReWire]

I paid ¥38,000 for mine, so the one in this video is not far off. Mine also included a manual with a pro controller and all cables. Cheers!

[@_Username__]

13:20 Yeah I always felt surugaya is a bit pricier than hardoffs/bookoffs

[@juanbalbin4628]

How far is from the train station? Prices are high as hell, the demand is high & with a weak yen it sucks.

[@_Username__]

25:20 WHOAAAA Vita TV for a 32000 hahahahahahahahahahahaha, I SAW that thing for a 25000 in a Hardoff, these people are CRAZY

[@svgatk]

does the goat respond?

[@RetroReWire]

Cheers!

[@_Username__]

OMG 7:22 you're actually dead crazy, 17K for this, Allah Akbar !

[@RetroReWire]

Buy, sell, and trade are they keys to this gaming madness. Haha

[@GrizzlyJRofficial]

I hate store that have "discounts" on already inflated prices lol

[@RetroReWire]

Mario 64 was one of the bigger offenders, haha. Cheers!

[@_Username__]

Who would pay 4200 for a loose Mario Odyssey ?!!! 17:34

[@RetroReWire]

Haha!

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

Those Vitas were cheap!

[@RetroReWire]

Long live the PS Vita! I'll be featuring more sweet Vita machines in upcoming videos, stay tuned. Cheers!