Gunpla Shopping GUIDE for Japan - 2023 UPDATE!

[@WeedDigimon]

Excellent guide! Was on my own trip to tokyo back in October, managed to get my hands on some neat kits including an HG Schuzrum Gallus! Looking forward to heading back next year!

[@Marrss____666]

I was in Japan for the 1st time ever earlier in January. I was never really into Gunpla, but went with friends to see the Yokohama factory (it's awesome!) and the base. Once I spent time in the base store I felt like I *had* to by 1st kit there, and I just casually picked up the HG Aerial Rebuild 😅 Now I've built in and it was super fun, so KZbin suggested me this video 😁

[@PauwerPlays]

Nice! Welcome to the gunpla community haha!

[@stranger0226]

It was really disappointing to see all the regular release Gunpla were sold out everywhere when I first visited Japan in March'23 too :( even the famous carry everything Gundam Base Tokyo were the same. Hopefully 1-2 year time we could see the retailers bring back its glory..

[@PauwerPlays]

True. Very disappointing gunpla selection this year. Looks like there is a gunpla shortage haha

[@UltimateGattai]

Even buying gunpla online is difficult, everything is just out of stock, still.

[@bendlance]

Nice finds!! I feel like this a pilgrimage all Gunpla fans need to make in their lifetimes haha

[@PauwerPlays]

Yes! A must visit especially the gundam bases!

[@BlxckFlwxr]

I lik gunpla and monster Hunter

[@lolsaLlama]

Not been to Japan since 2019, but I'm booked up for a 2 week trip this Feb 2024. Going straight to the Yokohama exhibit, so glad it got extended as I really wanted to see it when they announced it way back when. As always I'll take 2 large hard shell suitcases, but most of my clothes will be in my carry on so i can fill my cases with gunpla and figures lol

[@wildfiresmusic]

this was super informative, and feels like the exchange rate to GBP isn't too bad - I found the tax payment part interesting, I shall keep that in mind for my travels! Thanks!

[@billlee2458]

Thanks for telling me the Gundam factory is still in operation... I'm going to see it next month

[@picnicsinspace198]

So kool. I wish I could experience my own adventure in Japan. Looks like a BLAST

[@Makross_82]

I am here right now in akihabara. Your guide was excellent, nakano Broadway is excellent. i was there today, going back tomorrow again for second trip the gundans stores are fantastic on the third floor.

[@PauwerPlays]

Glad it was helpful! I really wish i had the time to go to nakano broadway haha!

[@carlosJV09]

I went to Tokyo from April 29th to May 5th I wanted to go to Gundam base but it had a 3 hour wait line. hopefully next year when I go I can visit.

[@whatchadoinyall9532]

Alot of stores do the same as mandarake. Ed-on does gunpla too, a bit late now though. I'll be headeding to Fukuoka and will check out the 1:1 statue there.

[@PauwerPlays]

Thanks for sharing ed-on man. I hope you enjoy your trip to see the lalaport nu gundam! I'll visit that next time for sure!

[@hachooSiR]

We were in Toykyo between Last week Feb to first week March. Almost everyday we were in Akihabara. Better check the Surugaya chain stores 👍

[@catgirlconnoisseur1024]

I highly recommend Otachu Akihabara. Insane amount of exclusive/rare finds. Picked up PG Zaku for $100 and an official 7-eleven themed kit lol

[@namicarrot198]

Do you know if they have PG Unleashed RX78 there?

[@catgirlconnoisseur1024]

@@namicarrot198 Did not see one when I was there

[@namicarrot198]

ah that's unfortunate, thanks for replying tho, good day to you @@catgirlconnoisseur1024

[@wrddd3914]

@@namicarrot198 The manager at Hyde park NY CVS intentionally let me get injured from being stalked there while working. Workers comp, CVS and Hyde park NY to say the least are being corrupt. It’s either they are fine with a true crime with the manager and the stalker or they are fine with a try to lure you away weirdo creeping on you next. 🎷

[@NightlyFever6]

im going next week! this video is a big help, tysm!

[@PauwerPlays]

Good luck hunting for gunplas bro!

[@darthnihilus9502]

I'm waiting for HG Calibarn Gundam looks like a really cool kit to have

[@PauwerPlays]

Same! Let's hope it won't get sold out right away haha!

[@Magnezone962]

Luckily I found one way behind a stack of other Mercury gunplas in One's Better Living in Canada. I was feeling disappointed in not finding the Aerials but then while looking behind the stacks I saw Calibarn's Variable Rod tip.

[@FenrirMont]

Great video dude!! You why the Gundam Factory is closing???

[@PauwerPlays]

Maybe they will be doing some upgrades or we will get to see a new moving gundam haha!

[@aivanjohncaimol5789]

Just went there this month, it was a shame though that I haven't had the chance to visit most of these stores. Although my priority was the Tamashii Nations Store just across Akihabara station, even there I felt the limited selection and stocks they have on display. What's also worth checking out is the 7th floor of Heaven's Gate/Ichigo building in front of Aki station where Maid Dreamin Cafe is also, they have wider selection and rare finds like the GundamxNike SB and some Premium Bandai kits but they are more expensive than regular retail though.

[@johnbailey2933]

Nice video. I was in Japan (including Yokohama's RX-78-02 Gundam Dock). Same experience, awesome exhibition, but store was bare. I Agee with your assessment of places like BIC camera, and huge inventories of Gunplay, but lacking in high end (MG) and more popular kits. Not sure that prices are significantly better than careful online shopping. I look forward to going back later this year.

[@PauwerPlays]

Ohh i have no experience buying online in shops like hlj. I heard you have to buy in bulk so that the shipping will be worth it haha. Enjoy japan when you go back bro! Hopefully there will be more gunplas by then haha

[@BRUCETENTHOUSAND]

8:02 hah that guy is super nice. He was working the tax free counter when I was there last time and we talked for a bit in Japanese.

[@cameroncorrosive925]

i feel like this is a good trip lol. then again my big local market has like 2 MG, 2 RG, and a handful of HG kits lol. its pretty lame. wish I could take the trip to Japan, and maybe find some older kits.

[@cccatch-js8xb]

Hong Kong is my go-to destination if I'm looking for masters or even the occasional perfects. If pricing isn't a issue for you, I usually head to Wonderland Toys and they have branches all over the city.

[@princetrumz]

Thanks for this, I'll take this guide in mind. Hopefully not much is sold out when i visit 😆

[@rocksdxebec3406]

Triple Yes my dude to that intro, I only went to Japan to buy gunpla hahahaha

[@PauwerPlays]

Gunpla fans' main purpose for going to japan 😂

[@timr.2257]

This video was pretty good other than your MHN content 😂 Would love to see more of this in the future xD

[@kimfunclara3826]

I went to Japan last May to look for an MGEX Strike Freedom, however, its sold out even in the Gundam Base Odaiba and Gundam Factory in Yokohama. I tried my luck in Akihabara but the prices are way too steep. I'm planning to return soon and try my luck once more. I hope you get your Aerial Rebuild soon!

[@PauwerPlays]

Thanks man! Hope you find your MGEX strike freedom too at a reasonable price! :)

[@stuckontherock6715]

Went there March 1 to 10 this year. I knew I had to go direct to Gundam base at odaiba. Was able to pick up aerial rebuild in Korea Gundam base. Well that's my advise go direct to the source

[@Iymarra]

Planning on heading to gundam base in november....wonder how big a case I'd need to get a PG home...

[@poketrnraik]

Went to Akihabara last July 2. I only had half a day. regrets man. wish I could have had a full day.

[@PauwerPlays]

Yeah, you really need a day or two to explore the whole of akihabara hunting for gunpla

[@noisforreal]

I am going to Japan next month and I really wish I could find the MGSD Freedom😢

[@MPBones11]

I was just there in June 2023. And I could notice a big lack of kits. My best and only hauls were from Gundam Base Tokyo. Another place to check that was close to there is Toys R Us. At the time I went, their selection was pretty sparse. When I was stationed in Japan in the early 2000’s. There were Gundam Kits everywhere.

[@Jadgpanzerkw]

That’s the same with me and my dad

[@harrisonchr]

I was in Tokyo in Nov 2022, and I was a bit disappointed with the selection at Gundam Base. Sure they had a lot of kits but the selection was limited. As for the Gundam Factory, it was amazing to see at night. I'll be honest I found a lot more kits in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. I still can't wait to go back to Tokyo. On a side note, I was also disappointed that the Unicorn Gundam was under maintenance.

[@vftw6086]

Thank you for your informative video! I'm looking for the PG Unicorn Perfectibility - do you think the Mandarake will have it?

[@PauwerPlays]

Mandarake is kinda hit or miss. You never know what they have in their store but you can always check them :)

[@toughspringrolls]

Almost every MG are sold out online as well. Items had been sitting on the cart for months already.

[@Tattoozilla]

Where would you recommend for PGs ? Heading to Japan next week to stock up.

[@bountyhunter5529]

Is there a MG Virtue there in Yodobashi Akiba or what available MG did you saw there?

[@RezaQin]

Wish I could find a gunpla shop here in Houston.

[@HeyAJ27]

ahhhhh Japan.... I still miss ALL OF IT! HAHAHAHA!

[@khairulanwar2877]

I'm searching for HG kits from gundam seed and gundam 00 which store is suitable for this kind of kits?

[@PauwerPlays]

Most stores have HG kits. Best to visit if recent release is Bic camera or yodobashi. if older and rare release then mandarake

[@khairulanwar2877]

@@PauwerPlays it it's hard to find HG 00 raiser gn sword 3? Gimme the price range....I want to visit Japan next year

[@Josh-rd5dw]

Hey I'm planning to go to Japan to get pg rx-78-2. Do most of the stores you mentioned sell perfect grades? I watched the vid mentioning MG, HG, but not PG.

[@justintaneo6414]

gundam factory yokohama or gundam dock tower? Which one is more worth while?

[@PauwerPlays]

The dock tower is inside the gundam factory yokohama. You need to buy a ticket to enter the gundam factory first before you can go up the dock tower. I think seeing the moving gundam up close is worth it.

[@tuanphamnguyenminh7119]

It is easy to understand, I went to Odaiba , they sold Wing Zero custom ver Ka then next day it completely change to Zeta ver Ka😂

[@hitori_gurashi]

went to Diver City and im disappointed to find out that Mg Freedom 2.0 is already sold out, restock is unknown 😢

[@PauwerPlays]

that is so sad. Gunpla shortage is real

[@msc2788]

Is the gundam statue we can see in osaka?

[@PauwerPlays]

The moving gundam is in Yokohama. The transforming unicorn is in divers city.

[@fii6600]

they sell Aerial rebuild on my countries but the price is 35$

[@PauwerPlays]

That's very expensive dude :o

[@ntminh_]

Which store in tokyo should i go for shopping ? im looking for PG kits. Ty

[@veritas4733]

Did you spot any Barbatos Lupus Rex 1/100?

[@PauwerPlays]

No sadly

[@B.K557]

11:37 noooo i would be there in May

[@DaveDFX]

I went to Tokyo I'm July 10 to 20. Went to all the places you visited and same as you.. many kits not available. Mg RG kits were hard to find. Also other lines too like Evangelion, macross etc. Quite disappointing. Went there pre pandemic and things were very different and it had tons of selection . Yokohoma shop was really lacking. Why display all the kits and you can't buy any of them. Mostly factory exclusives like you mentioned . Odaiba was kind of the same but had more selections however the selections were not good.

[@xavrille4849]

where do you buy 2nd hand built kits in tokyo?

[@3zzy_2pz]

Hi! Can you suggest a place where i can buy cheap metal build gundam that were already released?

[@grotesquecat]

is it any better now? I heard because the yen is weak and bandai make more money selling overseas

[@PauwerPlays]

They might be more rare this time since demand overseas will be greater

[@TheLozfan123]

Gundam Base isn’t closing anytime soon right?

[@PauwerPlays]

Its closing next year march 2024

[@TheLozfan123]

@@PauwerPlays I thought that was Gundam Factory, is it the same place or are they both closing

[@abe7043]

saw any mg the 0?

[@jaaaaysselam3372]

how much did you pay for the aerial at yodobashi?

[@gundamgirlsgeneration1398]

$1

[@jaaaaysselam3372]

@@gundamgirlsgeneration1398 I'll pay you $1.50 for your aerial

[@GojoRamsay888]

Does the manual inside comes in English language?

[@khairulanwar2877]

Depends on models....some hv and some don't

[@bririe5296]

Hi Ikaw ba yang sa reddit?

[@PauwerPlays]

@@bririe5296 hindi sir. Wala akong na post sa reddit

[@bririe5296]

@@PauwerPlays ahh ok2 sir, may nakita kasi ako may same thumbnail ng video nato baka may nagshare dun sa thread..

[@TopQualitys]

how did you get your gundams back did u ship them from japan to your country or did you have it go with you on a plane im going sometime in october and was wondering i wanna get like over 10 kits

[@PauwerPlays]

I just stuffed them in my luggage. You can get a big box and pay for additional check in baggage

[@SWZGAMING.]

Did any of the places you went to have English speaking workers?

[@PauwerPlays]

They understood some english. It's better to bring pictures of the kits you want and show them

[@SWZGAMING.]

Ok thx.

[@Andrei-ld3gw]

Time stamps pls

[@Bloodworia]

Gundam base is arguably the worst shop to find stuff. Their stock is absolute garbage. Trader in Akihabara was also good. Also the specialist gundam shop 7th floor.

[@ChefKevinShow]

How much was the tax return?

[@PauwerPlays]

10% :)

[@phatpham1442]

Can I ask if the Gundam Base is tax free or not?

[@PauwerPlays]

Unfortunately gundam base stores are not tax free

[@baconator6833]

It is tax free now. But you have to oay full price 1st. Theb have it discounted on the 1st floor