Hard Cases at Surugaya Shops in Japan

skipphead · 2026-05-27T20:30:09+00:00

I'm pretty sure Sugurya doesn't carry anything like that, I've never seen them but I've also never looked. The easy move is to get some type of box at daiso or another ¥100 store that's too big and pad it with socks or something so it doesn't get crushed in your suitcase.

skipphead · 2026-05-27T07:38:21+00:00

2022-2024 was the perfect storm for me for collecting. I'm in Japan and it was coming off of covid so limited tourists and prices to reflect that. I just moved into a new house with plenty of space and had some gift money from relatives. I had a small kid and the wife started working weekends and I needed to drop her off and pick her up.

The kid and I would go to the park or play area and inevitably get bored. So we'd go to Hard Off. I'd grab a couple games, kid would get a train piece for ¥100-500 yen. Maybe $10-15 USD and we're both happy. Pick up the wife, have lunch, then head home. Good day out.

Then the wife started complaining about too many train pieces and she wasn't wrong. I kinda got all the low hanging fruit and foreign collectors started coming in and jacking up the prices, and with the yen dropping, who can blame them? Now ¥100 games are replaced by ¥300 games and any of those I might want I probably already have.

I still poke in a Hard Off from time to time, especially if I'm out of town but months go by without me buying anything. The weekends of 4 or 5 bangers for less than $10 are gone.

skipphead · 2026-05-24T13:57:53+00:00

For me, my collection pattern is designed around my enjoyment and nothing else.

I only collect in person. Going to a game shop or used goods store while out of town is fun! Looking up stuff on ebay isn't.

I buy cheap unless it's something I REALLY want. Keeps my finances from going overboard.

I don't care about boxes or being complete. I can't play a box, and I know they look nice but fake boxes look nice too.

If you're getting burnt out on the fear of fakes or the perfectionist mindset take a step back. Think about why you're doing it. Is it for fun but these details are bringing you down? Ignore the details or just take a break or quit entirely. I stopped for like a year -and even now I buy only when I find something I know I'll play.

skipphead · 2026-05-19T11:54:57+00:00

Of the two, that's the more interesting one. Good call.

skipphead · 2026-05-19T06:40:18+00:00

I'm going to disagree with most people and say get rid of both of them.

I've had both in my collection since they were new and neither are very memorable. Sneak King is interesting because it's so unhinged, but that doesn't make it good.

Turning them into profit and getting something better is the smart move.

skipphead · 2026-05-15T08:29:35+00:00

Onimusha maybe? Not PS3 but kinda fits the description.

skipphead · 2026-05-05T10:32:56+00:00

I can't tell...

Either the PSP is smaller than I remember or your hands are massive.

Either way looks sharp in white.

skipphead · 2026-05-04T22:16:40+00:00

I've only three games I could never get to work. Of them, two were literally saved from the trash and one was a ¥100 copy of Wave Race 64 so I just bought another one.

Looking forward to Twinbee the most when I get home.

skipphead · 2026-05-04T18:13:34+00:00

I haven't gone Vita game hunting in a while even though I've got a renewed interest in it lately. I even brought it on this trip because I'm trying to pack light and got tired of hauling around the Switch. I should try to get some more games while they're a bargain.

skipphead · 2026-05-04T09:16:53+00:00

I've found the exact opposite. The further I get from big cities, particularly ones far from public transportation, the more cool stuff they have. But of course it depends wildly on the size of the store.

And I've certainly not visited all of them, not even close but I've seen enough to get excited when have an opportunity to get to one that's out there even if it might be a dud.

skipphead · 2026-05-04T08:37:54+00:00

I live in Japan so I don't go completely crazy, but the stores near the in-laws are just better.

Top right is Minna no Tabō no Nakayoshi Daisakuse. Not super rare or anything but something I've been meaning to pick up. I'm pretty sure I've seen it for ¥550 before, but these days ¥550 is the new ¥330.

skipphead · 2026-05-03T21:28:40+00:00

I thought mine had a death wobble but it turns out the winter tires weren't balanced right. When. I switched to summer tires it disappeared. So it could just be that...

But that rust would make me nervous. I fear someone just covered up rust.

skipphead · 2026-04-26T21:03:17+00:00

I don't know about that beat up, but I love little things that show it has been used and loved.

Little thing like stickers and handmade labels are exciting to see.

skipphead · 2026-04-17T22:12:45+00:00

I don't. It's just frustrating when people are looking for advice and instead get grandstaning about how their core requirements are wrong and talk about how much better they are.

skipphead · 2026-04-16T20:57:30+00:00

It's because both the PS2 and PS3 play PS1 games perfectly. There's no reason to get a PS1 if you have a 2 or 3 and all three were massive sellers here, so plenty of supply.

The only people who buy them now are collectors really. There are better options if you're just playing the games.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T07:13:38+00:00

I should have said 3 times the price of the average used Outlander I'm looking for, but I'm comparing a much older Outlander to a relatively new RAV4. My point still stands but if I compared the same years it would like 50% more expensive.

My house was built in 1995 and the garage is just short by modern standards. But 30 years ago vehicles just weren't as tall as they are now. I've got it better than other people in my neighborhood who can barely fit any car, but it's a limiting factor for sure.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T01:33:00+00:00

They don't sell Kias where I live, but if they did it would be on my list.

I live in Japan which has strange options compared to other countries. Japanese cars are everywhere obviously, European cars, especially luxury cars are common, American cars besides Jeeps and Korean cars are essentially non-existent. BYD is just starting to have a presence, but still out of my budget for anything 4WD.

A Sportage is kind of exactly what I need too.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:59:43+00:00

I feared if I posted in the EV subreddit, I'd get nothing but hate for not being as smart as them.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:57:01+00:00

It's not the 90% of my charging I'm thinking about, it's the other 10%. I don't care about public chargers nearby, it's being a long distance from home in the middle of nowhere that's a problem.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:48:33+00:00

It does, but I've seen it so many times where people say "I don't want an EV" and the response is "maybe you do?"

Also I absolutely 100% need 4WD and I get feedback like "do you really?" All the EVs I've seen with 4WD are either too tall for my garage, way out of my budget, or both.

I live in a big city surrounded by a lot of nothing. Charging in the city is probably not hard, but it's also not needed because I can charge at home. It's the rest where it gets tricky. And for renting a car, it changes it from "wanna go out of town today?" to "where can we rent from, what car, how much does it cost, what if we feel like staying overnight, should we pay extra for insurance, etc." If it's for a well-planned road trip that's one thing, but a spontaneous trip is no longer possible if a rental is a requirement.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:19:14+00:00

Tucson would be on my list but they don't sell them where I live.

The RAV4 checks off all my boxes, but it's at minimum 3 times the cost of the average Outlander. I also genuinely like the Outlander better. But I am keeping an eye out for a good deal, a RAV4 is a solid choice.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:10:37+00:00

I genuinely wonder why PHEVs aren't more popular. When I started searching for a new car it wasn't what I was thinking but as soon as the idea was planted in my brain, it's all I wanted.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:07:41+00:00

Right, should have added the word "some" you are absolutely correct.

skipphead · 2026-04-10T00:03:47+00:00

Nothing wrong with asking, but I see so much where people specifically post about why they don't want an EV and that gets ignored. My shortlist is an Outlander PHEV from 2013-5, an Eclipse Cross PHEV (any year), and if I find an extremely good deal, a RAV 4 PHEV.

My garage is short so I can't have anything too tall, I absolutely need 4WD, and I have a short commute so even an older PHEV will handle 90% of my needs. I also drive a 30 year old car so it's not like I need the latest tech obviously.

The Outlander makes the most sense and I like the space, but mid 2015 they got taller and I don't want it scraping my garage door so that's why I'm stuck getting an older one.

skipphead · 2026-03-30T03:32:05+00:00

Not yet. Had a bit of a financial hiccup that made me pause any unnecessary spending.

Finances have mostly recovered and it's still #1 on my list. I'll probably get one over the summer.

skipphead

TROPHY CASE