Short Toy Hunting Trip in Osaka (Part 2)

Its time for the Mandarakes in Osaka….

These are not as straight forward as Jungle or Hero Gangu in my view…so first get the address from the Mandarake Website here….We are going to Mandarake Shinshibashi Grand Chaos Store first…

a little tip: If you do not have a data plan in japan and using only WiFi in your hotel, input the address of your destination into google maps when you have WiFi…set off for your destination. as you are approaching the destination, activate google maps and you can see how far you are from your destination and you can navigate your way using google map. Google map takes your location fro your mobile signal, you will not have directions but its like a digital map with your live location.

Ok, now for Mandrake Grand Chaos….

This is the building with Bowling pin at the top.

from hero gangu, walk in the direction towards Jungle…walk until you reach a big river, once you cross the river, turn left and walk til you pass the Gilco man, until you reach a bridge for vehicles and you turn rightist's difficult to explain from here and you would have to have the map at hand or google map to navigate your way there….Note that you will see a building with a bowling pin before the river…THAT IS NOT THE BUILDING TO HEAD FOR..its has to be after the river...

Along the road towards Mandarake Grand Chaos…see the blue lights?

Yeah!!! Mandarake Grand Chaos Shop Front!

The G1 shelf…D-50 Takara Motormaster spotted!!

The D-50 Motormaster and a very nice Chromdome...

There's a Diaclone Sideswipe, one of the Diaclones i'm looking for…but too bad the box is missing a side flap and the styrofoam insert is pretty chewed up. 

Next, Mandarake Umeda Store…get the address here.

For this sure i can't really remember the directions, you really have to depend on the map and ask around…Use google map would due the best,,,

this is the look as i approach Mandarake…watch out for the big red signage with white words, it's possible that you may miss it amongst all the colorful shop sign ages and all...

 

This is the Mandarake Umeda shop front...

G1, G1 and G1…very expensive Takara Swoop spotted…heard its been there for a long time…looking at the price, it will still be there for abit...

Nice Liokaiser giftset spotted as well...

A not for sale Optimus Prime non-transferable figure..

Some cause for concern over here….i was quite surprised to find a complete set of Hasbro Dinobots there…and at a affordable price for the entire set…but after taking a closer look, they are KOs!!

to think that Mandarake carries KOs!!

As G1 collectors, it is very important that we do our research on KOs….fortunately i have done mine…a simple verification, Original Swoop would have the rub sign visible…Original Snarl would have the black box (with transformers wording) and the yellow box (with "Snarl")aligned…

You would not have been able to see the perforated line on the card back for Original Sludge...

Grimlock is the Dinobot BOMMANDER?!! Not!!

This, however, is original…but the price….

Came across Guest books where customers/shoppers can leave their signatures and messages on the books…at least 20 books spotted and all are with super drawings and sketches…i guess lots of artists are collectors and lots of collectors are artists!! here's a few shots of the pages i browsed...

and i also chanced upon a Mandarake magazine….flipped through and spotted a Diaclone Lucky draw Streak? Prowl? realized it would be placed on auction at Yahoo Japan by Mandarake….i shudder at what would be the closing price...

Ok, thats' all i have for Osaka Toy Hunting…hope my 5 cents worth of pictures and comments can help some other collectors in their quest!

Short Toy Hunting Trip in Osaka (Part 1)

Had an opportunity to go on a short toy hunting trip in Osaka (and for food as well of course!)

Probably my first toy hunting trip in Osaka, so had to use the guide on my good friend, Heroic Decepticon's blog.

Took some photos to complement his explanation on "How to get there"…so this is not a comprehensive guide, just some additional pictures and short explanation…go read his guide first and come here for the pictures which he didn't put up…go go go

This is the picture of the big Taito signage/building. you cannot miss it after you come out of takashimaya and pass the Muji/tower records building…walk into the road between the Taito building and the building with the orange Daiso "D.D Square" signage and you will come to….

the beige neo-classical syle 6-7 story building which was mentioned….turn right and walk down the road and you will get to….

Entertainment Jungle!

Another view of the shop front from opposite side of the road (DenDen Town)

I'm there only for G1 Transformers, so i will show only the G1s which is located at the second floor of Jungle…And do note that these are what they have as of early September 2015 when i was there...

Loose Lucky draw Movie Optimus Prime, seriously i don't know which version this is…but it's really nice...

Next up, Hero Gangu…from Jungle, walk pass Hotel Hillarys and you will see Hero Gangu…yes, its that easy and less than 2 minutes walk...

see? Hero Gangu is just next to Hotel Hillarys with just a road in between...

Similar to Jungle, the Transformers stuffs are on the second floor…

Hero Gangu has not only toys but other collectibles as well…like Laser Discs, DVDs, books and comics, you just need to ask them and they will reveal their "hidden" stash…

1984 goodness…too bad the boxes for the cars are in a bad condition...

Decepticons...

some stuffs "hidden" at the top of the shelves...

there's this PVC Unicron and its prototype….looks cool but not for sale…not to mention the mail away Ratchet too….

that's all for part 1….the Osaka Mandarakes in part 2...

Hong Kong Toy Hunting

Yup, was in Hong Kong a about 5 days last week, of course managed to free up some time for toy hunting...didn't know alot of places to hunt...so went back to the place where my buddy showed me....In's Point. Its very near to the MTR Yau Ma Tei Station Exit A2....Less than a minute's walk from the exit.

Walked around the building...basically the shops on the 1st and 2nd floor sells collectibles, mainly toys...here's some Hot Toys ( 12" figures)

The highly coveted Iron Man Mark I...but will not be anymore once its reissued!! Hahaha

One of the few if not the only shop that has Transformers Vintage...Nice Superion Giftset, Vintage Kabayas, Scorponok...

Fortress Maximus C-114, Piranacon giftset, some pretenders....the empty space in front of Fortress Maximus previously stood what i bought...hehehe

D-311 Black Zarak, 02 x Victory Saber giftsets, God Ginrai, some lucky draw stuff...

Walking further led me to this! Thundercats Sword Of Omens!! Have been wanting this since young! Asked the price and found out that they brought in this from Europe then they customised the lights and did some repaint to it...the costs was too unjustifiable for me to buy...so gave up...anyway, i came back to Singapore and bought one of ebay...hehehe

After In's point, on another day, went over to Toys R Us....tons of Dragon year Ultimate Optimus prime....

special items counter carries, Encore Twincast/Soundblaster, Commenmorative Rodimus Prime/Sideswipe.

Another corner hides Encore Devastator, MP-10 Convoy, Henkei Rodimus, Disney label Mickey mouse...

Not impressive at all...and the prices area really crappy...you can forget toys R us if you're looking for reasonably priced transformers...

Went back to In's point after Toys R Us and wallah...they have new vintages!

C-306 RoadKing (dont know if i got the number right), C-112 Autobot Clones, black animated optimus prime...

C-131 Raiden Giftset!!

Last day, went to Sham Sui Po for a meal...along the streets were lined with shops selling toys and lotsa KO transformers...

Well, that's all for me this round...if you need to know where exactly is In's point, i'd be glad to guide...just gimme a holla...next up, my hauls in Hong Kong...