I actually just came back from Japan and went to the Book off in Chiba, and started my way back to Tokyo hitting every other Book Off/Hard Off along the way. Was such an amazing experience seeing a different side to Japan and also basically acting like a local walking around everywhere. My feet definitely hurt but it was so worth it
Wow, this is an awesome video, interesting to see some different places out there. Agree with walking in the middle of nowhere, it's relaxing. Very generous of you to share this with fellow retro game hunters. Not all youtubers are like that... Thank you!
Well done. It's exactly how you would find such shops in your own local area, but for some reason people think it's somehow different or too hard when you go to a different country. Another type worth searching for is toy store, because back in the day it was the neighborhood toy stores in Japan that also sold video games. The only limiting factor is time, so people who only have a few days in Tokyo and can't dedicate a day or two for these train trips are out of luck and will have to be stuck in Tokyo seeing either slim pickings (because so many foreign tourists) or full shelves (because the prices are so ridiculously high). On the other hand, those who have the time and make the effort may be able to find much better deals than what Akihabara will offer. Plus they are more likely to have the experience (riding local train/bus lines, eating at local restaurants, etc.) of seeing a part of Japan that isn't packed with foreign tourists.
Dude, this is such a fun an informative video! Just subscribed and can't wait to dig back through your back catalogue of vids to :D I love the way you highlight the prices and gameplay! That must be a heck of a lot of work, but it goes a long way for making your videos that much more special!
well only 2 minutes into the video and you said 'no car' .. exactly what i was looking for XD together with all the information so thanks for the upcoming 27 minutes :D
Haha I get the struggle, almost all of my videos are done on foot and with public transport from out of central Tokyo (where I live). Can't be paying the crazy parking fees here lol
You're just like me! I love to walk to off stores, I'll be carrying my backpack full of games and sometimes consoles from store to another until it's too heavy then I'm heading back to the hotel to off load and go out again if it's not too late already. God I love hunting in Japan, 3 weeks ago was my 4th hunting visit.
Thanks for all the detail. These videos are very helpful... I'm going to Japan in a few weeks with my family. I have 1 day alone (the family is flying on to China at 6:00AM, and I fly out of Narita at 5:30PM). My hotel is in Ikebukero (where I will be storing my luggage for the day), and I'm trying to find some good locations for some last minute shopping. I'm mostly looking for consoles and handhelds. We are also going to Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagano (and will be stopping in thrift stores along the way)... On my last day, I'm thinking about either heading to Chiba, or west to Hachioji.
Hey man, great content. Thanks for the tips! I'm planning to visit Osaka and Tokyo by the end of the month and go game hunting too. Your content is helping me a lot in terms of giving an idea of what I should expect to find, and also what are the prices as well. Thanks
I DO know scruffy and Jim/MPG on youtube! subbed to both of them so I love me some Japanese hard-off/game hunting videos. I definitely wish I had the funds for a Japan trip for the wife and I! would love to hit up these HARD-OFF locations in person and scoop up some sweet deals. at the moment I just have to get lucky on ebay or amazon for my retro stuff (which does include a few Japanese systems, like my PS2 and Saturn, and a retron-2 without the lockout tabs on the OG SNES!) some of the other mom-and-pop style stores were neat too, like the antiques place?! definitely gonna subscribe to see more.
When u go to book off, hard off; do they only accept cash? What about the major stores in Akihbara? What is the form of payment they accept. First time traveler in Japan and trying to understand how much cash to bring
Nah if you have any major credit card it'll be fine in all Hard Offs and Book Offs. I'd still highly recommend to carry like 10/20k in Cash daily as some smaller stores are still cash only.
i loved renting a car in different areas and hit up the country side ''offs'' renting a car was like 9100yen and a 3000yen for fuel for an entire day of hunting
@@4amLaundry I'll have to check it out! I'm sad I missed out on two pokemon games I was hunting for I shoulda just caved and grabbed em aha now to hunt the eBay 🥲
Bro I appreciate all these videos ure making especially on the retro gamings. Keep on making these type of content and been looking forward for more always!
Are those clear game protectors easy to find in Japan? I'm going soon and wondering if I should bring some to my trip or not worry about it and get them over there
Seems like forever ago now but I lived in Sasebo for a couple of years from 2017-2019 adnwas lucky enough to have a car. I would plan a day out and spend hours sometimes digging through bins of stuff in each store along specific routes, all which would have been considered the countryside. Unfortunately, many of those stores' game sections have been depleted and the prices have gone up. I really cherish that time in my life. Hunting was so much fun.
You'd be surprised, it's pretty exaggerated how some places are depleted. It's mostly inner city stores and that's the case with everything, just a busy time. A quick trip outside of the city and there's still plenty to find.
What about the places that used to sell arcade parts and PCBs? Are they still around a lot of more just small shops set up near warehouses but used to get some good things ROM chips boards control panels etc
There are some in Akihabara but they're pretty specific to those things. I have found some arcade/cps2 etc. boards in previous videos but it's not that common I'm thrift stores.
Great video - really informative.... if we make it to Japan we are definitely doing a countryside trip so getting realistic details is great. Especially as you covered the essentials like food, drink & toilets! You got some nice pickups.
Absolutely fantastic video man. You scored some great titles. The overall collection is really coming along. Looking forward to more videos like this in the future.
HaHaHa, 3 miles isn't considered a walkable distance to most North Americans...... although TBF, I did walk 6 miles in 2 hours during the summer at AnimeNEXT because I was too cheap to take an Uber to where I parked.
I totally understand, my home country isn't walkable like this either but that was why i made the video. I wanted to show how safe & easy it is to walk this much and have a fun outdoors day game hunting in Japan :)
Hi 4am laundry this is a exciting video do you think smaller stores have between deals then bigger popular stores? I want another ps vita plz tell me price of a coloured ps vita model 1000 and 2000 lol😂 wow you ride the train early 😮 you walk slow!! If we were walking you have to walk very fast lol I’m a fast walker lol can u take a simple scooter?
@@4amLaundry hehe going to Tokyo in March, thinking if I should just go to the Tokyo Flea market. I don't think I have time to venture out in the country. MY just hope to get lucky in Akihabara.
Good catch but depending on the prefecture you don't have to separate plastics and they separate it at the plant. Notice there wasn't a plastics bin. Some areas do tho so always good to check.
one youtuber i watch, i guess hes around "super nintendo land" in japan wherever that is currently, and says prices are absolutely ridiculous, assuming hes dead center in tourist trap area.
![Japan's Countryside Thrift Stores are AMAZING [Retro Game Hunting!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OrMLRjymdyQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Japan's Countryside Thrift Stores are AMAZING [Retro Game Hunting!]](/img/tr.png)
I actually just came back from Japan and went to the Book off in Chiba, and started my way back to Tokyo hitting every other Book Off/Hard Off along the way. Was such an amazing experience seeing a different side to Japan and also basically acting like a local walking around everywhere. My feet definitely hurt but it was so worth it
Wow, this is an awesome video, interesting to see some different places out there. Agree with walking in the middle of nowhere, it's relaxing. Very generous of you to share this with fellow retro game hunters. Not all youtubers are like that... Thank you!
Please do take us more like this type of game hunting on the countryside. Definitely happy to see better prices outside Tokyo city.
I love that random as thrift store, never really check for games or attempt to go into stores like that haha
Live near Ebisu station that's nice 😉 great video like always, thanks for the share
Love hunting in Japan .. Walking Walking there , love it !!!
Well done. It's exactly how you would find such shops in your own local area, but for some reason people think it's somehow different or too hard when you go to a different country. Another type worth searching for is toy store, because back in the day it was the neighborhood toy stores in Japan that also sold video games.
The only limiting factor is time, so people who only have a few days in Tokyo and can't dedicate a day or two for these train trips are out of luck and will have to be stuck in Tokyo seeing either slim pickings (because so many foreign tourists) or full shelves (because the prices are so ridiculously high). On the other hand, those who have the time and make the effort may be able to find much better deals than what Akihabara will offer. Plus they are more likely to have the experience (riding local train/bus lines, eating at local restaurants, etc.) of seeing a part of Japan that isn't packed with foreign tourists.
I agree, you'd be surprised how many people book a ticket to Japan specifically for Retro Games Hunting these days though!
You are the best. I followed your footsteps and found many games.
Came from Greece for tourism and games and your guide was the best!!!!
Dude, this is such a fun an informative video! Just subscribed and can't wait to dig back through your back catalogue of vids to :D I love the way you highlight the prices and gameplay! That must be a heck of a lot of work, but it goes a long way for making your videos that much more special!
I appreciate it brother 🙏 I made a whole game hunting playlist for that reason :)
It's pretty cool Japan retro game scene is so big.
Perfect time I’ll be in Japan in February for the first time really wanting a GBA
countryside carl out here making bangers as always
Just got back from Japan and bought more than twenty games! Definitely will get more once I go back.
Awesome video man! Cant wait to do hunts like these next year!
You do the same as me. Walking! I need to hit more of the country side places though.
Ain't walking the best?
Bro! That shoutout
Looking forward to them! My 2024 goal is to take this show as far as I can so Nagoya is definitely on the map.
@@4amLaundry Thanks man! Thats a great plan! Looking forward to it and let's meet up sometime this year once Im back!
Hi Adam :) let’s go to Japan im raising money to get to Japan to Gamehunt with u aha 😅😊
@@RetroMomentsyay a video coming soon!!
well only 2 minutes into the video and you said 'no car' .. exactly what i was looking for XD together with all the information so thanks for the upcoming 27 minutes :D
Haha I get the struggle, almost all of my videos are done on foot and with public transport from out of central Tokyo (where I live). Can't be paying the crazy parking fees here lol
You're just like me! I love to walk to off stores, I'll be carrying my backpack full of games and sometimes consoles from store to another until it's too heavy then I'm heading back to the hotel to off load and go out again if it's not too late already. God I love hunting in Japan, 3 weeks ago was my 4th hunting visit.
Nice! I haven't been since 2006, but my friend and I hit several mom n pop shops with great success.
2006! I'm always jealous of people that were here that long ago, finding cool stuff must've been amazing
I got a bunch of games, systems and accessories for super cheap at the hard offs in Chiba this week. Such a good spot for game hunting!
Happy to hear that bro, post it on the Discord!
I used to go to Chiba without considering it an "out of tokyo", I love their bookoffs they almost always have rare stuff
Thank you TH-cam Algorithm for blessing me with this video
🙏
Great video bro! Youve been popping on my feed lately but this is SUB material, great content thank you and good luck hunting 🎉
Thanks, appreciate it!
Your video made me go here!! Saw that first store and remembered it from your video.
I think the original Wonder Swan with Makaimura and Ninja Jajamaru Kun are a must buy.
I agree, stay tuned for the coming videos ;)
Thanks for all the detail. These videos are very helpful... I'm going to Japan in a few weeks with my family. I have 1 day alone (the family is flying on to China at 6:00AM, and I fly out of Narita at 5:30PM). My hotel is in Ikebukero (where I will be storing my luggage for the day), and I'm trying to find some good locations for some last minute shopping. I'm mostly looking for consoles and handhelds. We are also going to Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagano (and will be stopping in thrift stores along the way)... On my last day, I'm thinking about either heading to Chiba, or west to Hachioji.
Where was that $10 boxed Pikachu 64 that was on the thumbnail? lol. Still a cool video, subbed.
Great video papi chulo I’ll be there for 2weeks in September 2024…..
I'm going to Japan next month and this is HUGELY helpful. I already added that hard-off in Chiba to my itinerary! :)
Hope you enjoy!
Hey man, great content. Thanks for the tips! I'm planning to visit Osaka and Tokyo by the end of the month and go game hunting too. Your content is helping me a lot in terms of giving an idea of what I should expect to find, and also what are the prices as well. Thanks
Appreciate it and hope you have an amazing time game hunting in Japan!
A lot of walking but a great score!
Don't know why but hearing your Japanese 9:20 was so exciting hahahah
I DO know scruffy and Jim/MPG on youtube! subbed to both of them so I love me some Japanese hard-off/game hunting videos. I definitely wish I had the funds for a Japan trip for the wife and I! would love to hit up these HARD-OFF locations in person and scoop up some sweet deals. at the moment I just have to get lucky on ebay or amazon for my retro stuff (which does include a few Japanese systems, like my PS2 and Saturn, and a retron-2 without the lockout tabs on the OG SNES!) some of the other mom-and-pop style stores were neat too, like the antiques place?! definitely gonna subscribe to see more.
Welcome aboard bro :)
When u go to book off, hard off; do they only accept cash? What about the major stores in Akihbara?
What is the form of payment they accept.
First time traveler in Japan and trying to understand how much cash to bring
Nah if you have any major credit card it'll be fine in all Hard Offs and Book Offs. I'd still highly recommend to carry like 10/20k in Cash daily as some smaller stores are still cash only.
東京の隣の神奈川県も、横浜よりも西、藤沢辺りまで行くと観光客は減るので掘り出し物があるかもしれません。たまに価格設定を間違えたかのような格安品があったりします。古い週刊少年ジャンプなども売っていたりします。
神奈川は千葉の次に掘り出し物を探すのに私のお気に入りの場所です!
Great video. Subscribed. I don't remember the Eye Toy being on Super Famicom though 🤣
It's a special edition bro 😤
@@4amLaundry 🤣
Flying out there next week! Thanks for the tips!
I wonder why the prices are all fucked up these days? 😂🤣😅
People who have little interest in gaming seeing value in old games solely because prices were rising in the first place.
i loved renting a car in different areas and hit up the country side ''offs'' renting a car was like 9100yen and a 3000yen for fuel for an entire day of hunting
I got a special car version of this video too! Spot on man, gas is super affordable and it expands your game hunting territory so much with a car!
@@4amLaundry I'll have to check it out! I'm sad I missed out on two pokemon games I was hunting for I shoulda just caved and grabbed em aha now to hunt the eBay 🥲
That happens to me like once a week haha, so relatable. Luckily I get to do this often so I can be picky
@@4amLaundry should open up your own resell account ahah
Nice statue at the first store
Bro I appreciate all these videos ure making especially on the retro gamings. Keep on making these type of content and been looking forward for more always!
Are those clear game protectors easy to find in Japan? I'm going soon and wondering if I should bring some to my trip or not worry about it and get them over there
I've never seen them in stored but they're easy to find on Amazon Japan.
Seems like forever ago now but I lived in Sasebo for a couple of years from 2017-2019 adnwas lucky enough to have a car. I would plan a day out and spend hours sometimes digging through bins of stuff in each store along specific routes, all which would have been considered the countryside. Unfortunately, many of those stores' game sections have been depleted and the prices have gone up. I really cherish that time in my life. Hunting was so much fun.
You'd be surprised, it's pretty exaggerated how some places are depleted. It's mostly inner city stores and that's the case with everything, just a busy time.
A quick trip outside of the city and there's still plenty to find.
Outstanding editing
Thank you!
Literally started spamming my brother to buy a New 3DS LL for me since he lives in the country side after seeing these prices 😂
Haha I'm hoping to get one this year as well. Such a cool console that's easily hackable.
You ever thought of doing a series where you take tourist hunting for games?
Loved it!😊
What about the places that used to sell arcade parts and PCBs? Are they still around a lot of more just small shops set up near warehouses but used to get some good things ROM chips boards control panels etc
There are some in Akihabara but they're pretty specific to those things. I have found some arcade/cps2 etc. boards in previous videos but it's not that common I'm thrift stores.
Idk what I expected but this really is an ULTIMATE guide! So much great info in this one.
love the hunting
Fantastic vid!
Great to see a bit more outside the usual areas :D
Great video - really informative.... if we make it to Japan we are definitely doing a countryside trip so getting realistic details is great. Especially as you covered the essentials like food, drink & toilets! You got some nice pickups.
Thanks man I enjoyed this vid so much
Absolutely fantastic video man. You scored some great titles. The overall collection is really coming along. Looking forward to more videos like this in the future.
Great video man, I don't know why but the way this was edited and filmed reminded me of how I first felt when I watched you!
Thumbnail jebaited me thinking this is some hot guy
"artists interpretation"
Amazing
What about Sega Master System, are there any consoles, accessories, games?
Yeah but it was called the Sega Mark III over here, I was never big into Sega stuff but I'll be sure to show some of it the coming videos.
Dope vid man i wanna go japan now😂
HaHaHa, 3 miles isn't considered a walkable distance to most North Americans...... although TBF, I did walk 6 miles in 2 hours during the summer at AnimeNEXT because I was too cheap to take an Uber to where I parked.
I totally understand, my home country isn't walkable like this either but that was why i made the video. I wanted to show how safe & easy it is to walk this much and have a fun outdoors day game hunting in Japan :)
Need some flea market video
You right it's been too long.
Hi 4am laundry this is a exciting video do you think smaller stores have between deals then bigger popular stores? I want another ps vita plz tell me price of a coloured ps vita model 1000 and 2000 lol😂 wow you ride the train early 😮 you walk slow!! If we were walking you have to walk very fast lol I’m a fast walker lol can u take a simple scooter?
Where's the $10 Pikachu N64 from the thumbnail?
18:52 OMG this scene makes my eyes tear up
What is the lowest price N64 console in the junk have you found?
Lowest I think like 800-1000 yen? But it was in a really bad condition so I passed lol
@@4amLaundry hehe going to Tokyo in March, thinking if I should just go to the Tokyo Flea market. I don't think I have time to venture out in the country. MY just hope to get lucky in Akihabara.
The american stuff could have come from the bases. I live in the inaka, besides hard off, we don't have used stores like that.
I'd agree but I don't think there's any bases nearby that area. Who knows tho there's Americans living all over Japan so it's possible.
@@4amLaundry no, but there are a lot of bases in the kanto region. I never see any of that stuff on the west coast.
7:51 there is a dragon quest
as a tourist wanting to go to these places is speaking japanese necessary? or would a google translator will b sufficient?
Nah you're fine 99% of the time. In the other 1% Google translate does wonders lol
@@4amLaundry Alright now I'm really excited to explore these places, thank you, very informative video
21:37 hahaha I got this for 550 from another hardoff at Toda
How much for ps5 used once😊
Do you collect Gran Turismo PS1 , PS 2 , PS 3 , PS 4 & PS 5 games ?
Yeah man I have all of them
It hurts me that you left dbz. 😢 it was right there 😭🤣🤣
I have most DBZ games out there haha
Leuke video 👍
Прикольно. Я тоже так хочу походить по магазинам)
Is it hard to do if you only speak English? What % can speak English? 😅
I see boss coffee here in California
bro really put plastic in the combustible bin
Good catch but depending on the prefecture you don't have to separate plastics and they separate it at the plant. Notice there wasn't a plastics bin.
Some areas do tho so always good to check.
@@4amLaundry haha I was mostly fucking with you. I've been binging your videos, really like the editing. Wouldn't mind seeing some toys :P
No worries it was a good point to bring up regardless haha, I'll try to thanks!
one youtuber i watch, i guess hes around "super nintendo land" in japan wherever that is currently, and says prices are absolutely ridiculous, assuming hes dead center in tourist trap area.
If only these were the North American versions
stop scalper you ruine japan
😀