To The End Of The Galaxy: Nagoya Kansatsu Nikki

Shachihoko atop Nagoya Castle

We arrived in Nagoya on the week before the World Cosplay Summit, and if it didn't overlap with Wonder Festival I might have stayed for it, but such is life.

I saw most of the famous tourist spots on my last visit, and this time I wanted to make sure to check out all the places in Osu Shopping District that were closed the last time I came.

Joshin Super Kids Land

Many of the stores are on Akamon-dori at the north end of the shopping district.

Akamon-dori

Jungle

Devilman in Jungle

Gee!STORE

Yatogame-chan display in WonderGOO

Yatogame-chan goods in WonderGOO

Nagoya has several Animate locations, but the one closest to Osu is located on the fourth floor of the East Building of the PARCO department store just northeast of the Osu Shopping District.

PARCO West Building

Yatogame-chan display

Just to the south of PARCO is a VOLKS Store on the second floor of the Nakakoma Building.

It was like a compact version of the larger VOLKS Hobby Square with everything on a single floor.

I bought several books and some hobby tools here, but things ended up badly later on the trip back to the U.S.

The tools were confiscated during security screening at Narita Airport, but when the screener takes the items and makes a cute apologetic pose how can you get mad?

It was also my fault for just throwing the tools into a model box and forgetting about them prior to putting the box into my carry-on bag.

The TSA however is another matter. They performed a physical search of our check-in bags in Honolulu, and didn't screw the cap of a bottle of liquid face cleanser all the way closed. They didn't fully seal the ziploc bag it was in either, and the contents drenched my suitcase and soaked many of the books inside (even though I wrapped them in plastic bags).

I sent them a complaint e-mail asking them to be more careful and to improve their training. In response, I received a canned reply saying that they appreciated my comments, and that I should look to the airline if I wanted any sort of reimbursement. Not cute, and not apologetic.

The best bargains to be found were at Book-Off and Hobby-Off. They are a lot cheaper than specialty anime stores, but selection is limited and you obviously need to be fine with second hand items.

There was a Hobby-Off just one building over from the hotel we were staying at, and I was able to get a number of discounted items at ridiculously low prices.

Nishiki-dori x Chojamachi-dori

Bins of loose toys for ¥54

Bins of used video games for ¥100

Also not far away was a Book-Off Super Bazaar on the 8th floor of the SKYLE Mall.

SKYLE Mall

In addition to the used books, media, and clothing, the store carried some electronics, diecast models, plastic models, figures, and trading cards.

Diecast vehicles

Plastic models

Figures

Prize figures

Just across the street from the Book-Off is the Sunshine Sakae Mall which is the location of the SKE48 Theater.

Sunshine Sakae

SKE48 Theater

Being in Nagoya, we had to get the morning service at Komeda's Coffee.

Large Shiro-Noir for two.

We also had to eat at Sugakiya. The food is nothing remarkable, but it's cheap. Their signature spork has a version sold by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.