Ultraman World M78 Toy and Goods Shop (Osaka, Japan)

Ultraman World M78 is the name of the official Tsubaraya Production shops that sell all sorts of goods from the Ultraman series. Well-stocked shelves hold clothes, toys, and everything in between.

There are a number of M78 shops throughout Japan. I believe the Osaka branch is quite new, having just opened in March. It's located on the B1 level of a shopping mall near Umeda station.  Here are the details:

Tel: 06-6375-2778
Address: 大阪府大阪市北区芝田1-1-3阪急三番街北館B1F
Shopping Mall Location: Click here
Website (for all the M78 stores): Click here
Hours: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Here's a video I shot of the store:

Paradise Toy Store (new location) - Taipei, Taiwan

Paradise, a staple of the Taiwan toy scene, has moved locations since I last visited. Here's a look at the new location and the kinds of things they sell, including photos and a walk-through video. First, the shop details:

Website: http://www.paradisetoyland.com/
Tel: 02-2776-6224
Address: 台北市敦化南路一段161巷75號1F (No. 75, Lane 161, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei 106, Taiwan)
Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Map to store: Google Map
Hours: Daily 1:30-10:00 PM

Video:

Shop photos:

 More after the jump:

Joy Hobby Toy Store in Seoul, Korea

 

South Korea isn't well known for its toy shops, but there are some with nice selections. If you're into modern toys and are on the lookout in Seoul, the Joy Hobby store has a pretty good variety, especially for Gundam model kits and model building supplies.

Joy Hobby is located on the basement level of the Technomart shopping plaza. To get there, take the subway to Gangbyeon station. The mall is right next to the station.

Joy Hobby has a website, but it's all in Korean.


Here's a video I shot of the store:

So long, Omuraisu

Tokyo is about to lose another toy world icon. After 30 years in business, Omuraisu, the last great toy shop in the Shimokitazawa district in Tokyo, is set to close its doors. April will be its final month.

Over the years, Omuraisu, with its friendly, smiling owner, has been a must-visit location for hardcore toy hounds. The shop has carried all the Showa era favorites, from sofubi to tin toys to chogokin and candy toy premiums.

But the last few years have been very hard for shops like this. Though the number of foreign visitors is at record highs, toy travelers gravitate to high-traffic areas like Akihabara and Nakano.

Tokyo's modern toy shops are well run, but they're clean and glitzy. You don't get the same digging for treasure experience like you do with these old shops. Seasoned toy hunters will know what I'm talking about.

More shop shots after the jump:

Monster Taipei - Japanese and US Toy Store in Taipei, Taiwan

Monster Taipei is a well known toy shop in Taipei. It's been around for more than 15 years. First up, here's the store info:

English Address: 1F, No. 46, Lane 51, Sec. 1, Da-An Rd, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Chinese Address: 106 台北市 大安路一段51巷46號1樓
Google Map to location: Click Here
Phone: +886-2-2740-2428
Facebook: Monster Taipei

The store's original location was in the Ding Hao department store on Zhong Xiao East Road. (Well, technically the owner had a small shop before that on Xin Yi East Road, back in the mid-1990s.) Monster Taipei later expanded to a second nearby location in the mid-2000s. That was called Monster Gear, and it focused on clothing.

Side note: The shop that was previously in the Monster Gear space was called Pixie. It was run by toy designer Mark Chang, who made a cool toy called So What. Taiwan megastar Jay Chou (周杰倫) even designed a version of the toy.

The Monster Taipei Ding Hao location closed in 2014 or 2015, I think. Then Monster Gear and Monster Taipei combined in the Monster Gear location, which I visited recently.

Here's a video I shot of the store:

More still photos after the jump:

Chojin Hakaba – Kinnikuman Specialty Shop in Tokyo

Just a few weeks ago, a new shop – Chojin Hakaba (which translates into  “Superhero Graveyard”) – opened in Nakano Broadway. The shop doubles as a Kinnikuman specialty store and an art gallery.

 Here are the shop details:

Address: Nakano 5-52-15, Nakano-ku, Tokyo  164-0001, Japan

Tel: 03-5318-9221

Facebook: chojinhakaba

It’s on the third floor of the Nakano Broadway mall.

Toy Showcase

Chojin Graveyard (a name mixing Japanese and English which the store also goes by) has some toys, but the focus is currently on lifestyle goods like T-shirts, bags, hats, skate decks, and cell phone cases. I asked, and it sounds like they are planning to have more Kinnikuman toys down the line, possibly from Five Star Toys and hopefully others.

Here’s a video I shot of the store:

Ora Ora - Vintage Toy Shop in Taipei, Taiwan

There was a time when Taipei was chock full of shops selling toys from the USA. In the 2000s, with the release of Star Wars: Episode One, there were dozens of stores carrying everything from Star Wars to Spawn to super hero toys.

The boom gradually fizzled out as interests changed and more activity moved online. By the end of the decade, only a small number of specialty shops remained open. And so it's great to see a fairly new shop like Ora Ora (オラ オラ) plant its flag and spread the vintage love.

Ora Ora gets its name from the Japanese manga JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. However, the shop specializes in US toys.

You can find all kinds of cool stuff at Ora Ora, including action figures, plush, cars, and a lot more.

 

Here are the shop details:

Address: 台北市大安區泰順街50巷19號1樓
Map: Click here
Phone number: 02 2367 1213
Facebook page: Click here

Here's a walk-through video I made:



The shop owners are really friendly, and they love toys. Ora Ora is in the Shi Da University area, which is great for browsing through boutiques, not to mention trying Taiwan's amazing street food, tea drinks, and desserts.

Thanks for reading, and if you're in the area, have a great time at Ora Ora!

Vintage Video Game Store in Nagoya, Japan - Super Potato (store visit and video)

Super Potato is one of Japan's leading video games stores, with outlets in several cities across the country. A while ago, I visited one of their stores in Osaka. Recently I went to their Nagoya branch, where I took photos and shot a walk-through video.

The shop carries video games, consoles, and accessories for the leading systems from the last few decades. They have an impressive range to choose from.

First up, here are the store details:

Address: 〒460-0011  愛知県名古屋市中区大須３丁目１１−３０
Map: Click here
Phone number:052-261-3005
Hours: 10:00-20:00 (open every day)

Here's a video I shot:



Finally, here are some still photos of the store:

 More after the jump:

New Medicom Store Pics

Fresh pics from Medicom's flagship Project 1/6 store in Shibuya.

 More after the jump:

Syntrend Toy, Video Game, and Hobby Mall in Taipei, Taiwan

Very recently, a new mall, called Syntrend, opened in Taipei. It's right next to Taiwan's most famous computer mall - Guang Hua Market.

Syntrend Mall

The 6th floor of Syntrend Mall is dedicated to toys, video games, model building, and other hobbies. There's a nice variety, including US, Japanese, and other goods.

First up, some location details:

Chinese Address:  台北市中正區市民大道三段2號
English Address: No. 2, Civic Blvd, Section 3, Zhong Zheng District, Taipei
Map: Click here for a Google Map

Here are a bunch of pics of what you might see when shopping there:

 More after the jump:

Treasure Chest Antique Shop - Seoul, Korea

One of the best things that can happen to you in a new place is you can get lost. Or at least you can make your way through side streets and alleyways, following your wits and sense of direction instead of a dot on a screen. After all, when you get off the beaten path, you never know what you will find!

Recently in Seoul, I had such an experience while searching for the Hwanghok-dong flea market. I was walking down a riverside street that was lined with shops selling pipes and sink fittings, when I saw an unusual mural on the side of a building. Then I spotted a dark stairwell that could have been the portal to a furry love den for all I knew (which would have led to an entirely different blog post).

I took a closer look and noticed it was the entrance to an antique store. It was dimly lit, and I'm no fan of steep stairs, but I took a shot and headed down. And then - WOW!  I found myself inside the cavernous Treasure Chest. It was like going into the Tardis and losing your sense of space and time. Hands down, this unlikely space at the bottom of a dark stairwell is the best western antique shop I've seen in Asia.

Admittedly, outside of vintage toys and collectibles, I'm not much of an antiquer. It's a hobby that calls for a different skill set and knowledge base. But though I may not collect old phones, helmets, and cameras, I can definitely appreciate them. The Treasure Chest was an exciting shop, so I took some shots to share.

 More after the jump:

Yokohama Collectors Mall

If you're in downtown Yohohama, which is a nice place to walk around with a European feel, you might think about checking out the Yokohama Collectors Mall. It's in the basement of a building called the Silk Center.

It's got a bunch of little booths rented by different folks. So there's an eclectic mix of toys and other retro goods - mostly with a Western bent.

Details:

Website: http://www.usd.co.jp/collectorsmallmenu.htm
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:00-6:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-7:00, Sunday + Holidays: 11:00-6:00
Closed: Wednesdays
Address: 〒231-0023　横浜市中区山下町1番地
シルクセンターM1F
Phone number:  ０４５－６５１－０９５１
Map: Click here for a Google Map

More after the jump:

Toy Planet

Toy Planet is a chain of "recycle" (the most commonly used term in Japan for used goods) shops in Japan. In addition to toys, they sell used books, video games, and other items, mostly for kids in the K-12 crowd.

You can find some very affordable toys - even in the 100 yen range. There are both loose and boxed toys to choose from.

I've been to a couple of their locations. I'd say that in general Toy Planet is geared towards toys that kids can play with, as opposed to, say, Mandarake, which is more geared towards collectors.

More pics from the store:

 More after the jump:

New from Secret Base: Pushead + Store Pics

Released today at Secret Base: siameseORM

 More after the jump:

Medicom Store Pics

Be@rbrick Transformers!

Pics I recently shot at the Medicom Project 1/6 shop in Shibuya.

 More after the jump: