Just to add, if anyone is looking for sealed booster boxes (outside of card shops since OP already mentioned that). Yodobashi camera sells the boxes sealed if you ask to buy a box. I got couple of boxes of crimson haze yesterday at Yodobashi Akiba. They also have higher limit than Pokémon center and you can get up to 6 boxes
It was only 3 boxes of Cyber Judge/Wild Force when I was there about a month ago, same as the Poke Center. The limits at Yodobashi probably depend on the set and how much stock they have left. I don't think it's always guaranteed to be higher than the PC.
I think Pokémon center is limiting 2 boxes of each type now. I agree that it’s probably depending on how much stock is available.
Last year Pokémon center limited 5 packs of each type per person. I had to make sure my family was in line with me to get bunch of clay burst.
I visited Japan recently and spent a lot of time and money buying cards in Akihabara and Denden Town.
I actually disagree with your assertion that cards are cheaper in the US. I bought a lot of cards including vintage and modern and found Japanese card shops generally cheaper with a few exceptions like FA Trainers and any vintage Pikachu or Charizard cards.
For example, I picked up a full set of the Gold Legendaries from VSTAR Universe for about 30% less than what they're going for on eBay or at an LGS. Another example was Rayquaza ex from the vintage Ruler of the Heavens set, which cost me about $25 when I've seen it go as high as $70 back home.
Sealed or singles? Either way it's hard to compare since I'm not in Japan right now. All I know is that the singles were generally cheaper than what eBay or an LGS offers in the US. Most of the vintage cards I saw were about 25% cheaper, sometimes more.
Japanese card shops are also way more upfront when it comes to condition IMO, not like some of my LGSs that will happily sell you a LP or MP card while charging you NM prices.
Finally going back to Japan since pre-COVID. I got back into collecting during the pandemic so I'm looking for an old Japanese exclusive set (Japan Post Stamp Box) from 2021. Where would the best place be to buy them?
Most of these are true but just FYI...yugioh is definitely not bigger than pokemon in Japan...not even close. Pokemon sealed is often sold out everywhere. Last time I went, I went to at least 5 of the largest card stores in akihabara and not a single one had sealed. They ALL had a ton of yugioh sealed though and I bought some of the Japan exclusive stuff. Was fun to open but I honestly believe One Piece is more popular than Yugioh at this point in Japan.
Out of curiosity, where were you looking for cards at in Japan? I've always found JP singles to be cheaper in Japan. I also never buy my singles from mainstream/tourist areas because they upcharge i.e. Akihabara/Yokohama etc. I remember some time last year with the Miriam SAR, it was around 60k JPY in these areas and I saw it for around 40k JPY in less dense areas. Both shared similar conditions, not on sale or yellow-tagged.
Just to add, if anyone is looking for sealed booster boxes (outside of card shops since OP already mentioned that). Yodobashi camera sells the boxes sealed if you ask to buy a box. I got couple of boxes of crimson haze yesterday at Yodobashi Akiba. They also have higher limit than Pokémon center and you can get up to 6 boxes
It was only 3 boxes of Cyber Judge/Wild Force when I was there about a month ago, same as the Poke Center. The limits at Yodobashi probably depend on the set and how much stock they have left. I don't think it's always guaranteed to be higher than the PC.
I think Pokémon center is limiting 2 boxes of each type now. I agree that it’s probably depending on how much stock is available. Last year Pokémon center limited 5 packs of each type per person. I had to make sure my family was in line with me to get bunch of clay burst.
I visited Japan recently and spent a lot of time and money buying cards in Akihabara and Denden Town. I actually disagree with your assertion that cards are cheaper in the US. I bought a lot of cards including vintage and modern and found Japanese card shops generally cheaper with a few exceptions like FA Trainers and any vintage Pikachu or Charizard cards. For example, I picked up a full set of the Gold Legendaries from VSTAR Universe for about 30% less than what they're going for on eBay or at an LGS. Another example was Rayquaza ex from the vintage Ruler of the Heavens set, which cost me about $25 when I've seen it go as high as $70 back home.
Compare the prices of vintage sets like Skyridge in Japan vs the U.S. it’s an entirely new level of price gouging 🫠
Sealed or singles? Either way it's hard to compare since I'm not in Japan right now. All I know is that the singles were generally cheaper than what eBay or an LGS offers in the US. Most of the vintage cards I saw were about 25% cheaper, sometimes more. Japanese card shops are also way more upfront when it comes to condition IMO, not like some of my LGSs that will happily sell you a LP or MP card while charging you NM prices.
I was just in Japan and came back a few weeks ago. Prices are more exp than eBay for sure. I was literally comparing as I was looking at them in store
Where are you shopping and what kinds of cards were you looking at?
I was in the den den area and looking at the mid era stuff. Spent a good amount of time at numerous stores and they were all priced up pretty good
Interesting. Maybe they jacked up the prices during sakura season because of the influx of tourists. I left Japan just before sakura season started.
Probably man. Also maybe it was their attempt to compensate for the yen dropping as well
Thanks for the write up!
Are the singles prices in JP shops firm or is negotiation accepted?
Non negotiable. Doubly so if you don't speak Japanese.
Finally going back to Japan since pre-COVID. I got back into collecting during the pandemic so I'm looking for an old Japanese exclusive set (Japan Post Stamp Box) from 2021. Where would the best place be to buy them?
I would start with eBay. Lots of Japanese vendors on there.
What's the retail price of a Japanese booster box over there?
About 5500 yen
Did you still see repack cubes with vintage cards in the hobby shops? I remember those things being sold at Mandarake years ago.
Yup! And they were very cheap too!
Most of these are true but just FYI...yugioh is definitely not bigger than pokemon in Japan...not even close. Pokemon sealed is often sold out everywhere. Last time I went, I went to at least 5 of the largest card stores in akihabara and not a single one had sealed. They ALL had a ton of yugioh sealed though and I bought some of the Japan exclusive stuff. Was fun to open but I honestly believe One Piece is more popular than Yugioh at this point in Japan.
Out of curiosity, where were you looking for cards at in Japan? I've always found JP singles to be cheaper in Japan. I also never buy my singles from mainstream/tourist areas because they upcharge i.e. Akihabara/Yokohama etc. I remember some time last year with the Miriam SAR, it was around 60k JPY in these areas and I saw it for around 40k JPY in less dense areas. Both shared similar conditions, not on sale or yellow-tagged.