The 193rd Card Shop
Trading card shops in Japan are experiencing an unheard of renaissance. In the last few years, the increase in Magic the Gathering’s popularity, along with the sheer number of card games being released in Japan such as Vanguard, has caused an increase in the number of stores in the Nagoya area. Ladies and Gentlemen, today I bring you the 193rd card game shop in Nagoya:
Trading Card Game Shop 193
Okay, so this isn’t really the 193rd Card Game Shop in Nagoya (it’s actually close to about 25 right now, with about 14 of them catering to Magic the Gathering as well as other games). The name of this shop, as you can see in the picture, is Trading Card Game Shop 193. I came across it accidentally the other day as I was out near Nagoya station looking for a jeans shop that I had been told about by my girlfriend. As we walked there from Nagoya station, I was shocked to find yet another card shop here in Nagoya. It raises the total of MTG friendly shops in the immediate Nagoya station area to 4 (the others are C-labo, Hobby Station Mei Eki, and Hobby Station Sasasahima). This is great for all of you that live close to Nagoya and want to play cards, but find it difficult to make it out to places like Ozone or Osu.
Inside TCG Shop 193
The inside of TCGS 193 is pretty spacious. As you can see in the photo to the left, they have their cards in cases on the wall and in the middle of the store. Behind the counter you will find find booster packs of various card games, with a few being Magic the Gathering. It seems like they don’t carry a large amount of MTG packs, but their prices are in line with the rest of city at around 300-320 yen a pack. They have a decent selection of Vanguard and Yugi-Oh cards if that’s your thing. They also have a nice game space at the back of the store and when I visited, it smelled relatively B.O. free (or so my girlfriend said). As far as what formats they offer at the store, it seems like they have a little bit for everybody.
Every Friday TCGS 193 has a booster draft at their shop, Saturday’s is usually Legacy, and on Sundays they have Modern format matches. This being my first time in the shop, I can’t vouch for how many show up to each event, but I’m guessing there are a few. At the moment, the only other place that does Legacy consistently is Dvantage near Kamimaezu station. As for modern, there are quite a few places that offer it now that Modern Masters is out, so check out Wizards of the Coast’s event locator to see who offers it.
MTG cards at TCGS 193
There’s a decent amount of single cards for sale in their 2 cases at TCGS 193, and the prices aren’t that bad either. They aren’t a total rip off, but they aren’t exactly a bargain either. I think prices will be a little cheaper than at Hobby Station, but don’t take my word for it. If you’re out in the Nagoya station area shopping for cards, this is where you should go to compare prices. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Hobby Station and C-labo, so it’s not too far out of the way.
They buy cards just like any other shop (some kind of ID is needed: passport, foreigner card, etc, they all work), but they don’t have a list posted anywhere of what they need. Rather they have place holders in the cases with the amount of money they’ll pay for said card.
Directions and Info
Speaking of directions, there are two ways to get to TCGS 193. Before I give you a convoluted explanation, visit their blog at http://blog.livedoor.jp/meieki_193shop/. They have a map that shows exactly where it is and if you use that you can just put it into your smart phone and find it that way. If you have difficulty reading that map, here are the two ways to get there.
- From Nagoya station, take the Sakura Dori Line (Red line) to Nakamura Kuyakusho station. It’s the first station on the Sakura Dori line. I believe I took exit #2 or #1, so when you get there go up to street level. This should be Taiko Dori street. From there, you want to start walking back towards Nagoya station again (ask somebody if you aren’t sure where it is). Stay on the left side of the street, and after a 5-7 minute walk, you should see the shop sign like in my first picture. This is by far the most direct route.
- If you want, you can also walk from Nagoya station, although it’s about a 10-15 minute walk from there. Just as you were to go to Hobby Station Mei Eki or C-labo, go out the Taiko Dori side (where Bic Camera and Tsutaya are). Cross the street so that Bic Camera is in front of you, then take a left and keep walking straight. You’ll pass a Denny’s, and a Mini Stop (which should be on the left side of the road). After the intersection with the Mini Stop, continue walking straight. You should come across a large intersection and the TEVA building should be across the street from you. Instead of crossing, turn right and walk straight for about 5 blocks. This will take you along Taiko Dori street and after about 5-7 minutes you should see the shop on your right side.
I hope that those directions are too bad. If they are, please check out the link to their blog and just look at their map and use my directions to supplement it. If you have any questions about this shop or anything else, please be sure to comment below. I can’t believe this one slipped underneath my radar for so long! After checking WOTC website again, it seems like I still have 1-2 stores to check out before I can say that Nagoya is totally covered. Thanks for reading and next week I’ll be starting M14 coverage! Until then, enjoy playing the new Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 game and be sure to stop by this weekend!