In Tokyo’s exciting district of Akihabara, Super Potato shines as a video game paradise for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Tucked away in a narrow alleyway, the Kitabayashi Building houses retro gems on the third, fourth and fifth floors. This iconic store preserves a vault of retro video games and consoles from the past four decades.
Super Potato opened its first flagship store in Akihabara in the late 1990s colliding with the height of retro gaming culture. It later expanded its chain, opening six locations across Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. The store operates daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., opening an hour earlier on weekends; it’s a short five-minute walk from Akihabara Station’s Electric Town exit.
Third Floor
Upon entering, visitors get their first glance at retro classics starting on the third floor where ancient consoles such as the Famicom, Sega Genesis and Gameboy Advance consoles are stored. This floor is also known as the “Retro Game Hall of Fame” and offers a wide library and variety of video games along its shelves. The walls and shelves are decorated with retro posters and stuffed with Mario and Nintendo characters that further enhance the experience.
Fourth Floor
The next floor up shifts focus to newer retro consoles hosting all things Playstation and early 2000s Nintendo classics. Consoles such as the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and even the PlayStation Vita and PSP can be found on this floor. The classic Wii models and Nintendo DS are also showcased and available to be purchased.
Fifth Floor
The last floor holds a decent collection of classic arcade games that includes many 1990s Capcom games that can be played solo or multiplayer with friends. Although the collection of playable machines is small, there is still a decent library of games to be played. There is even a small Candy Corner towards the right front of the room that has treats and drinks to enjoy with the arcade experience. This floor has great photo opportunities for those wanting to take a picture with ‘Solid Snake’ from Konami’s Metal Gear Solid franchise and Mario.
The pricing among the games and consoles is, however, unfortunately higher compared to stores such as BookOff, Surugaya, or other smaller retro stores. For example, some PlayStation 2 models were ranging over ¥30,000 and higher, (about USD $206) and game cartridges such as the Super Famicom were sitting at ¥4,048 (about USD $28).
However, it is still possible to score good deals during specials and certain times of the year. Cash is also strongly recommended as some stores may not always accept cards.
For gamers and retro lovers Super Potato isn’t just a regular store, it’s a memorable experience. The store serves as a wonderland that blends nostalgia with the thrill of discovery that allows its visitors to wander through the aisles of endless retro classics.
Next time you find yourself in Tokyo’s Akihabara district hunting for that rare Mario cartridge, be sure to take a pitstop at Super Potato to have the ultimate magical retro gaming experience like no other.
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