@thsigma Thanks for tagging!
If you’re looking for general advice and an idea of what to expect, check out these threads:
In general, most card prices are comparable to what you’ll find on Mercari or eBay, so don’t expect to stumble across too many deals. However, what you can look forward to is a wide variety of cards. You’ll likely see plenty of rare cards and find modern packs at retail prices.
Here are some shops I’d recommend checking out:
Osaka:
Definitely take a walk through Den Den Town and explore the different card shops—it’s basically Osaka’s version of Akihabara.
Interesting shops to visit:
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Pureizu Osakanipponbashi Honten They have fair prices and are very strict when it comes to grading high-end cards. Sometimes, what they label as “damaged” could actually grade as a PSA 10!
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Card labo Osaka-nipponbashi This store has an incredible selection of vintage cards—probably the largest in Osaka. It’s a blast to browse through their inventory.
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レカSunrise used to offer some crazy deals back in 2023. Nowadays, it’s more of a gamble, but it’s still definitely worth a visit.
Tokyo:
Definitely go to Akihabara and nakano Broadway it’s definitely worth to browse the areas there not just for cards but so browse and experience a very unique vibe you will find rarely anywhere else in the world.
For shops I would recommend:
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Amenity dream has good prices for Modern boxes
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Hareruya 2 is a hit or miss. They have a high turnover and almost different inventory every day. You can find super good prices or just overpriced crap. But definitely worth to check out
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福福トレカ秋葉原遊戯王コレクション専門店 is an interesting little shop with a lot of rare and vintage cards
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Magi Shops are always a great place to browse. They often have some of the rarest cards in the game.
For non Pokemon things it’s definitely worth to take a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka. If it’s your first time in Japan it’s a must see, even tho the main attractions there are really overcrowded by tourist since the Japan hype started 2-3 years ago. So try to explore the city a bit and go off the beaten paths.
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Go to at least one or two izakaya and experience the drinking culture in japan. It’s similar yet different.
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Osaka is famous for its food so try to eat a different dish there for every meal.
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If you like activities definitely go for a spo-cha also called Round1. These things are super fun an have everything from arcade games to bubble football and oversized Tennis.
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If you’re looking to eat a specific dish or visit a particular type of restaurant, don’t search for the English word. Use Google Translate to find the Japanese name and search for that instead. Alternatively, use the icon menu on Google Maps to search visually—it works surprisingly well.
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Hot Take #1:
If you’re planning to try ramen, I’d recommend skipping Ichiran. The wait is usually 50 minutes, and it’s not significantly better than other local vendors. Instead, opt for a small, local restaurant—these often provide a much more authentic and enjoyable experience. -
Hot Take #2:
Give Mos Burger a try! -
Lastly, make sure to get a Suica card at the airport. If you have an iPhone, you can even download the card directly onto your phone. You can charge the card and use it for all railways, as well as for payments at many shops and vending machines.