I recently completed a multi-week trip to Japan that included Osaka and Tokyo. A major focus of this trip was plastic model shopping. This “report” is for those that want to shop for sci-fi/mecha/gunpla models in and around those cities and to validate some older shopping content around the web. The situation is fluid for visiting Japan so this information is my experience from November 2022.
Why?
* Japanese kits (Bandai, Kotobukiya, Hasegawa, Wave, Aoshima, Moderoid, etc.) are notably less expensive in Japan even after currency conversion + fees + duty + taxes. Example: Gundam Aerial MSRP is 1300 JPY but could be purchased for much less (1144 JPY).
* Japanese properties beyond Bandai’s offerings are more difficult to find outside Japan. For these, I was mostly focused on Patlabor and Maschinen Krieger kits.
* Many stores offer a foreign tourist tax-free discount (8.45-10% off). Look for the “tax-free” signs. The purchase threshold is usually 5500 JPY in a single combined item purchase. IMO, the threshold is not hard to hit with models. The process differs by store — some will do it electronically at the cashier with just your passport. Some will paste a declaration paper in your passport. Some will have you pay full price and then direct you to a counter on another floor of the store or shopping complex to get a cash refund.
* You want first-hand experience of the vast selection of second-hand kits, especially P-Bandai and other limited / old stuff.
* You plan to visit anyways for more than this
Why not?
* You prefer online shopping on Mandarake, Hobby Link Japan, etc. (which do often have reasonable prices), using “private warehouse” features to reduce the overall cost of shipping, taking some hits on taxes + duties, and don’t mind waiting for small parcel delivery times now that it’s mostly available again.
* A buying spree means dealing with the logistics of handling one or more suitcases full of plastic models. While they are not heavy, they are bulky. If you are buying with the tax-free discount, you are not to open any packages until you leave the country.
General Areas to Visit:
* Akihabara: Very obvious place to visit. However, it’s a sprawl and often crowded even on weekdays since it’s a known popular shopping district for locals and tourists.
* Nakano Broadway: Basically mini-Akihabara in a multi-floor mall complex. It’s just a short train ride from Shinjuku station. Home to many Mandarake stores.
* Den Den Town: Located in Osaka and is comparable to Akihabara without the sprawl and less crowds. I found it easier to locate specific stores.
* There are sometimes specialty shop locations in various other popular shopping/activity districts — i.e. Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya for Tokyo, and Umeda, Shinsaibashi in Osaka.
Specific Stores / Chain notes:
* “Big box” stores like Yodobashi Camera, Yamada Denki: These shops are in the major areas of Tokyo and Osaka. Directories note a specific floor + section for plastic models. Stock is mostly limited to latest new and restocked releases but they often have sections/aisles with older kits that have slower turnover. Prices are often below MSRP, especially if there is an active sale. All of the ones I visited offered the tax-free discount. I particularly liked Joshin Super Kids Land in Osaka with Yamada Denki LABI in Ikebukuro also having a pretty large selection.
* Mandarake: Visit Nakano Broadway, specifically Nakano Special 6 on 4F. [Directory listing.](https://www.mandarake.co.jp/dir/nkn/index-en.html) They also have several other stores around Akihabara, Osaka, etc. The online inventory does not reflect their real-time in-store selection, but browse it in advance to get an idea of which stores carry plamo as some focus on other goods like figures, manga, etc. The standalone locations in other parts of town / Osaka have a broad mix of goods.
* Suruga-ya: Located all over as well. Same deal as Mandarake. In Akihabara, I think only one of the several stores has plastic models ([this one](https://goo.gl/maps/GqVAXek17Cfef5Dt5)) while the rest in this area have other goods. Elsewhere, all have a plastic model section within each location.
* Jungle (Entertainment Hobby, Mecha, etc.): I found one in Akihabara and Den Den Town and think their pricing and selection to be competitive with Suruga-ya and Mandarake. Their new kit selection is also decently large and competitive with big box stores in terms of pricing.
* Yellow Submarine: Located on 8F in Akihabara Radio Kaikan and a smaller shop in Den Den Town in Osaka. Has an okay selection of mostly second-hand kits but I found more things at Mandarake and Suruga-ya.
* Ami Ami: Located on 4F in Akihabara Radio Kaikan has a good selection of mostly new stuff. They have a small selection of used kits on the opposite side of the floor, mostly P-Bandai kits.
* Volks: Major locations everywhere and definitely has brand-new Five Star Stories kits but also carries more than that.
* The Gundam Base Tokyo: Located on East 7F in Diver City Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. Check the [Gundam Base website](https://www.gundam-base.net/) for entry status of the Tokyo store and if there are any buying restrictions. On busy days, especially weekends, you may require a timed entry ticket like other popular Tokyo stores (i.e. Nintendo Tokyo) — visit the store, get a ticket from the entrance staff, leave and do other things, then come back at the noted time window. If you don’t want to deal with this, try visiting on a weekday, especially Tuesday thru Thursday. It is worth going as a sci-fi/mecha fan not only for the experience but also to see the Unicorn Gundam statue outside the mall. P-Bandai selection is limited to mostly clear versions. You can check for Gundam Base Limited product selection on the website as well.
* The Gundam Base Yokohama Satellite (until March 2023): Come for the moving gundam, leave with the exclusive RX-78F00 kits (1/144, 1/100, SDCS, 1/48 bust, 1/48 full — though I didn’t see this last one). However, many of those kits, particularly the 1/144 and SDCS ones, could be found in the second-hand market with a mark-up. Not hard to visit if you can navigate the Metro Tokyo transit system.
* Kotobukiya stores in Akihabara and Den Den Town have a large selection of their own stuff, but it’s often listed at MSRP and can be found for less in big box stores.
About Pricing:
* Most pricing is sales tax-inclusive unless noted.
* Varies for both brand-new and second-hand kits, like anywhere else. For second-hand, some stores within the same chain will sell for differing prices depending on the local availability and market conditions, as well as the condition of the box.
* The vast majority of second-hand kits are unbuilt and the only “damage,” if any, is to the box. Some stores like Jungle have a grading system for the condition of the box and contents.
* Some second-hand places will list the MSRP in fine print on the kit. You can use this information to determine the mark-up or if the kit is listed at a discount.
* “Buyer beware” applies — second-hand pricing can range from absurd discounts to scalper levels. Do your research on what you believe is fair market value and cross-reference with your local availability and “wish list priority.”
Other Stuff:
* Not technically plastic models, but gashapon machines are everywhere, as are adjacent goods like Gundam Converge (which I don’t have interest in) and Exceed Model series (which I do). It helps to pay attention to the “schedule” of releases as these are time-limited. During my visit, Zeta Head 2 was just released, but there were still several SD Zaku machines and the occasional Zaku Head 9 one. Technically these are not plastic models but they will be located in the second-hand stores. The baseline brand-new price for these is 500 JPY. Some Gashapon items appear limited — for example, I only found the Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC one in The Gundam Base Tokyo.
* The current gundam anime series “The Witch From Mercury” is really popular and some stock is available at big box stores. If you’re lucky, you can catch workers restocking the shelves and grab one of these. Most new stock gunpla has a restriction on the quantity of purchases. The most common policy I witnessed was 1 per kit, up to 3 different kits, per visit. The Gundam Bases had 1 per kit up to 10 different kits. These restrictions didn’t apply to non-Bandai kits and were not at second-hand stores.
* I never found any brand new 7-11 gunpla. The time window is very limited — there was a promotion a couple weeks before I arrived and the product already turned over.
* Look up general shopping guides for tips on how to buy things as a foreigner, including how to ask about the tax-free discount. For example, cashiers always repeat the items to be purchased, and usually confirm the condition of products when second-hand. One kit I found noted an issue with the decal sheet, which was a deal breaker for me. Some general purchasing process understanding (i.e. how to present your credit card and use the payment tray, ending the transaction with an *arigatou gosaimasu* and a slight bow, etc.) goes a long way to smooth things out.
Happy to answer any other questions relating to my experience.