I'm goin on a Tokyo/Kyoto/HK trip near the end of the month. I'm trying to find a thread on stores I will regret if I do not visit... but I can't find one. Anyone have suggestions (or a link to such a thread)?

So far I have:

-Secret Base (I think I read that it is hard to find... now i can't find that thread, any tips on how to find it?)
-Bounty x Hunter
-One Up
-Original Fake
-Thrashout
-Mandarake - Nakano (are any of the other ones worth looking for?)

And I guess in HK I go in the Mong Kok area?

If you have any suggestions on where to get the best okonomiyaki, that would be appreciated too.

In the back of one of the more recent S7s is a good map of Nakano Broadway. Definitely worth a walk through. Lots of different shops/stalls. I'd also spring for "Cruising the Anime City" by Patrick Macias. Lots of good info in it.

Not much toy shopping in Kyoto, but there's plenty of other things to keep you busy. The train station alone is worth half a day.

nakano broadway is out of control. pace yourself.

regarding secret base. I couldnt find it for a while(even with directions). Actually I walked to another toy shop and asked if they could direct me. The guy working there actually walked me there. I'm sure someone here can give you directions from meiji-dori.

theres also a mess of shops in akihabara.

I only scratched the surface of Nakano Broadway since I had limited time. There is also another good vintage store near Nakano Broadway, again from the back of the same S7 ish (I'll see if I can't dig it out tonight). I wasn't too impressed by Akihabara. There was "Golden Age Toys" I think it was, which was good (they sell alot of stuff on YJP!)...good source for Marmits. Otherwise, just lots of gachapon and people-watching. Also, if you're in Harajuku, there are a few little toy shops down some of the side streets, one of which Frank had mentioned before that only allows pedestrians.

ok. thanks for the tips... i don't think i have that ish of S7, maybe i will go look for it. unfortunately, i will be in kyoto for one day... not really there to shop.

i just hope i don't waste half a day looking for the base of secrets.

kyoto station is amazing with all the shops and malls! i stayed in hotel grandvia in the station, it was convenient.


original fake is some next level toy shits. go there.

You can also try mandrake in Shibuya and Akihabara, sometimes they have good stuff, it depends on your luck. One-up has two store in nakano, they have quite a bit of SB stuff, but some can be quite costly. Akihabara can be quite messy, some of the shops are located at the upper floors. As for Secret Base, you can take a right turn into a small road before Kiddyland, it is located on the 3rd or 4th floor of one of the building, so keep a lookout upwards. Its a maze out there, enjoy your toy hunting.

if your going to thrashout you should go to turbosonic too.....its a vintage boombox store ran by a couple....super sick place...just right down the street too!

I guess it lives up to its name, then.

the kick in the ass was when they asked for the password.