Japan/Singapore trip - Need help on places to shop/visit

just get over to akihabara.

a shop called super potato carries neo geo cart systems. they run from 15,000 to 20,000 yen generally. i've seen games from 500 yen to 80,000. samurai spirits should be a decent price, but dont expect a copy of metal slug (any one of them).

as for laptops, i havent kept up on them. some folks have been big fans of the libretto, but there are plenty of small laptops on the market. just dont expect any power. pc prices are terrible here, so just go into a yodobashi camera or something. there is a cool shop in akihabara, but since they deal with gaming rigs, smaller, lighter machines aren't likely to show up there.

random goodies can be found anywhere. if you have a ps3 and want to use ps2 controllers, you can pick up the elecom adapter for about 1250 yen.

check one of my other posts for info on some aki stores.

Don't expect much in the way of electronics or video game shopping in Singapore. People vacation there mostly for the shopping (clothes), and the nightlife.

Your best bet for general shopping would be Orchard Road (Downtown). If you still want to see electronics, there's a couple of IT malls, Funan Center, and Sim Lim Square. Tell the cab driver those locations and he'll know where to go.

Yeah, I've been to Sim Lim before, back when it was the place to get pirated software, before the govt started cracking down on it years ago. The only thing that I might look for in Singapore would be some small computer/electronic gadget stuff if I can find stuff for a good price. I'm going to Singapore for the Chili Crabs at East Coast Park, last time I ate there 5 years ago, it was the best meal I've ever had in my life.

Do most stores in Akihabara take credit cards or should I plan on spending cash? Will I get a better deal paying cash vs credit cards?

Some of the larger stores in Akihabra take credit cards (Yodobashi Camera), but the most part, Japan is very much a cash country. Bring cash with you and exchange it at the airport, or use an ATM machine at one of the numerous Post Offices or at a Citi Bank location. Most ATMs in Japan don't take American/International ATM cards so keep an eye out for one of the places I mentioned. I think there is a Citi Bank machine near the train station in Akihabara, but I can't remember for sure.

I was in Japan last summer for my honeymoon and both my wife and I carried around tons of cash and never had a problem. We used our credit card at places that took it (hotel, Ghibli Museum, DisneySea, Yodobashi), but for the most part be ready to use cash for all transactions.

As for a cash vs., credit discount, I don't remember that being offered anywhere, seeing how Japan is pro-cash and still reluctant to embrace credit cards like the West.

I would not recommend exchanging all your money for Japan at the airport. They normally give you an awful exchange rate, and if you just get out what you need, most large department stores (and hotels, if you're staying at them) will exchange your money with a much better rate.

I'm travelling to Japan mid-May and considering picking up a PS3 while there (that's assuming they're cheaper!). Over here in the UK, there seems to be a plentiful supply of them available almost everywhere - is it the same in Japan or is it like the DS and I'll have trouble finding one?

I'll be going to Akihabra while in Tokyo, but will also be visiting Kyoto - is there an area similiar to Akihabra there too?

Thanks

[quote name='FatGit_UK']I'll be going to Akihabra while in Tokyo, but will also be visiting Kyoto - is there an area similiar to Akihabra there too?[/quote]
There isn't an electronics shopping district in Kyoto like Akihabara in Tokyo. I found two Sofmaps (one near Kyoto Station and one downtown) and a Gamers (terrible selection of overpriced games) but that was about it. Four hours in Akihabara was enough time for me to snag everything I wanted (PS2 and DS games).

edit: I spoke too soon! A little internet searching on my part dug up this:

"There's one in Kyoto on Teramachi douri, south of Shijo which is still going. If it wasn't for the fact that most of their stock was Playstation games I'm sure it would have disappeared ages ago."

"Oh yes, that area on Teramachi. I always considered that area to be the little Den-Den Town of Kyoto. I enjoy taking people there if they weren't already in the know about it."

"Teramachi, south of Shijo... it's been a small electronics district for over 30 years. It's actually pretty good for picking up built-to-order PCs and the like. (I just got a 3.2ghz p4, 915 system with a gig of ram and sata 160gb hard disk for about 9 man, all custom ordered). It's nothing compared to Denden town but it does the job and has pretty much everything you might need; probably about 20 shops in total ranging from hard core DIY electronics to washing machines."

Shijo is a main street in downtown Kyoto.

We walked around Teramachi shopping arcade, but I don't remember seeing a lot of electronics/game shops this past July.

Thanks distantmantra, will keep an eye out and post back here if I manage to find anything!