The Akihabara Japan electronics store master list.

[onsokumaru]

Thank you very much, this is gold 
Now I have to manage to fund a trip to Japan 

[Howardlong]

I just had my second trip to Akihabara this year, and spent about three hours buying random sh!t that seemed like a good idea at the time. I find myself doing two rounds of the same shops. Not sure why, but that’s the way I roll.

I went to the new upstairs in Akizukidenshi, and it certainly is easy to miss unless you knew about this extra floor ahead of time… or were looking for a Maid Cafe.

This is where, among other things, the small but useful array of low end modern test equipment is stored that used to be downstairs. Rigol DHO800/900 scopes, Analog Discovery 2 and 3 and HackRF One are examples that caught my eye, although the wallet stayed shut at this outlet in the end.

A new one for me was the Akiba LED shop, although it’s been around for a while. Not normally my thing, but they ended up about Y10k better off after I bought some Neopixel arrays.

I spent a bit in Maritsa again mostly on breakout boards, but it was Sengoku’s ground floor that I ended up with my biggest spend, about Y21k mostly on M5Stack stuff.

Kids and candy stores.

[lokin4areason]

so glad that these little store or shop fronts are expanding their reach for sourcing avenue(s) of attracting new customer(s)

i cant wait to be there n chequing it out in person . . . . .

[Howardlong]

Be ready for pay in cash, or you'll have to hunt down an ATM. ***

There are plenty of ATMs about, it's just that cash is still king in a lot of Japan.

*** Edit: December 2024 - all but the one man band stores now seem to have contactless and chip+pin machines at their respective checkouts, accepting Visa, Mastercard and Amex.

[Zucca]

Anyone knows where to buy used/not working Roland music devices in JP?

[lokin4areason]

isnt it always 

thxs for the insight n advice

hope that they have plenty of currency exchange(s) around . . . .

[Darkover]

I remeber there was also some kind of electronic flea market on sunday once a month at akiba in the smaller streets. Is it still there or is it history?

Olaf

[Andy Chee]

Anyone knows where to buy used/not working Roland music devices in JP?

I'd investigate the thrift store chain Hard Off, although, the prices in Tokyo stores tend to be on the high-side.  If you're elsewhere around Japan, try and find a nearby Hard Off.

[Howardlong]

I'd investigate the thrift store chain Hard Off, although, the prices in Tokyo stores tend to be on the high-side.  If you're elsewhere around Japan, try and find a nearby Hard Off.

I remember watching that on Youtube a few months ago, I was thinking these would be out of town places, but it looks like there's two of them in Akihabara, so thanks for the tip.

I have another trip back to Tokyo this week, my third this year!

[Andy Chee]

I remember watching that on Youtube a few months ago, I was thinking these would be out of town places, but it looks like there's two of them in Akihabara, so thanks for the tip.

I have another trip back to Tokyo this week, my third this year!

The two Akihabara Hard Offs are pretty small, so if you can, get out of Tokyo. The Hard Off near Haneda airport is huge! (though a tad inconvenient to get to if you’re travelling by public transport).

Also next door to the Akihabara Hard Off is Suragaya, if you’re interested in digging through e-junk.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RuyhKCbLzZ8

[Howardlong]

After my trip this last week, I’m amending my advice regarding carrying cash. While some of the tiny one man bands will probably still be cash only, there are now card machines at the checkouts of all the places I made purchases. These machines support both contactless and chip+pin transactions on card including the usual Visa, Mastercard & Amex.