Retro Game Store Reviews: Surugaya Kyoto

Kyoto is one of the great cultural capitals of Japan, if not the world, so I never bothered to look for games there on any of my 20+ visits over my life time. Now that I live in Osaka it is a lot easier to get to, and I can take my time looking past all of the touristy stuff. Going there in a retro game hunting capacity I expected them to have a few Book Offs that were overpriced and underwhelming due to all the tourist traffic, and I was correct (FYI the Book Offs are all horribly overpriced and have almost no inventory of games). When I learned there was a Surugaya in town though, I went with cautious optimism.

Kyoto Surugaya

Being located near a heavily traveled foot traffic area in Kyoto, I expected the store to be more along the lines of the one in Akihabara, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The Selection

This Surugaya was one of the smallest I had ever been to, but it was well organized and packed from floor to ceiling with games, accessories, and hardware. They did a great job of using what they had and the result is an optimized selling space with a deceptive amount of inventory. The amount of games they have is the most impressive thing. Almost every game platform is represented, with well-stocked Playstation and Nintendo sections. Even platforms like the Gamecube and Dreamcast, which are usually forgotten at most thrift stores, had a respectable amount of games.

In terms of accessories there wasn’t much, but then again accessories are usually more of an afterthought at Surugaya stores. If they have the space they will include it, otherwise it’s pretty much just filler for empty shelves. As for consoles and handhelds, they had some but not a lot. There was definitely a limit to what could be displayed on the top of shelves in the store and inside the cases. It was a nice mix of hardware, but I feel like you’ll find more consoles at better prices at Hard Offs in Japan than at Surugaya. The same can be said for handhelds. They had a good amount (more than you would probably find at Book Offs), but a lot of it seemed to be special edition and in box handhelds.

The Pricing

The pricing was in line with most Surugaya stores, but the vicinity to a heavily traveled thoroughfare in Kyoto pushed some of the prices up. Overall, I would say the prices were affordable but about 10-15% higher than what you’d find at most Surugayas. Handhelds were especially expensive, such at the 3DS and PS Vitas. Compared to the Book Offs in town, the prices here were much, much better.

Access

While the travel infrastructure of Kyoto is less than optimal, getting to Surugaya isn’t that hard. The store is a straight shot down the street from exit 10 of Kyoto-Kawaramachi station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. You can also take the Keihan Line from Osaka and walk from Gion-Shijo station (about 15-20 minutes), and Shijo station on the subway is also pretty close to where Surugaya is. If you’re coming to Kyoto by bullet train, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting to the area as Kawamachi is one of the most heavily traveled places in the city and pretty much every train has a stop somewhere in the vicinity.

The Verdict

You probably aren’t going to Kyoto for the retro games, but it is nice to know that you can find them in the city after all of the tourist places close around 5pm. While there is a “tourist tax” on pretty much everything in Kyoto to take advantage of all the visitors to the city, Surugaya in Kyoto isn’t that bad (especially when you compare it to places in downtown Tokyo and Osaka). Being located in one of the most popular places in town is definitely a plus since visiting Gion/Kawaramachi lines up with a lot of people’s travel itineraries. While the store is smaller than what Surugaya regulars are used to, you could easily spend 30 minutes to an hour looking through everything they have and you shouldn’t be appalled by their prices either (for the most part).

I’d also like to point out that there is a Furuichi anime goods and game shop about a block away from this on the same street, and that the Nintendo store in Kyoto is also within walking distance. It really is in a good area.

• Selection: 3.5/5
• Pricing: 3.5/5
• Ease of Access: 4.5/5

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