"I don't know where to start! I'm so excited" blurted out in an enclave of retro gaming memorabilia, and a phrase which saved me from my own funk in a number of ways. Japanese store Super Potato has a certain uplifting effect on most of the people who visit – be it one of their many branches or the mainstay stores in Tokyo or Osaka – it's weird how a chance meeting can make you self-examine to such an extent.
This was the result of bumping into a middle-eastern retro gamer in the renowned retro game Mecca in Akihabara. In silent and instant reflection, in the face of pure exhilaration and excitement, it made me realise how disconnected I'd become with the scene. Something I'd over many years come to take for granted held a different appeal for this visitor and, rather than play the clichéd "I've been here for X years and it was better then", it made me reflect on the fact that I had become horrifically jaded.
Super Potato has its detractors – that's for sure – and in some cases the reasons are partially sound; unboxed games are priced extremely high, some of the more "novelty" items tend to command extraordinary high prices (we are discussing items such as Mario-branded Golf Shoes here though – so not your usual items), and – not a Super Potato specific trend by any stretch of the imagination – the very high prices of very rare retro items. In truth, the single most annoying facet of many retro gaming/collecting outlets is that some items are flagged as "not for sale" and remain tantalisingly out of reach. However, that still means that said items are there for examination and, as collectors, we should still be thankful for that at the very least.
It's not uncommon for Super Potato to receive bad press from local gamers. "It's too superficial", "the prices are too high", "they are pandering to a certain crowd" – these are common attacks levelled at the store. However, in the main, this ignores a lot of what sets Super Potato apart from similar stores. Super Potato is more an experience than an actual store; from the initial viewing of the façade, we have clear references to its retro roots: Mario, Pac-Man and other pixel art icons adorn the exterior while constantly piped chip-tune music entices you inwards.
The journey to the store itself is as reversely stark as the store itself; an unassuming brick-lined corridor leading to an initially glum staircase to the third floor, or an elevator. In a "Chose your own adventure" style twist both have benefits: the lift is full of dedicated retro art, adverts for clothing and predictable self-promotion. The stairway reveals custom art for games such as Mega Man (or Rock Man as he is known here), full maps to games and signed memorabilia from previous visitors. I advise taking the stairs up (all the way to the fifth floor) and the lift down, lest you miss some highlights including a full staircase that shows Rastan pixel art and a massive original Legend of Zelda map.
The fifth floor – dedicated to retro arcade – has a flavour of the amusement centres of the late '80s and early '90s, including a mocked-up sweet store packed with tooth-attacking items from yesteryear. This is all stylishly overseen by a full-size Snake from Metal Gear Solid 3 – usually wearing a Mario hat for additional comic effect. The arcade games themselves range from the usual fare of 2D beat em ups – such as Final Fight and Double Dragon – to coin-op staples like Wonder Boy in Monster land, whilst taking in the odd curiosity and MAME-based machine along the way, as well as the ubiquitous Pachinko slot machines which, at least, tend to be gaming-themed so you may at least get to try Monster Hunter, Gradius and Fist of the North Star as an interactive slot.
The fourth floor is centred around more recent retro, and also covers paper-based media and soundtracks. There is also a nod to "import" gaming from the Japanese perspective with a small selection of games and some mildly interesting western machines such as the Atari Jaguar, 3DO or the US Super Nintendo. While I've only visited the Osaka branch perhaps 9 or 10 times, it still holds a place in my heart for being the only Japanese location in which I've witnessed a Sinclair ZX Spectrum running software. This is where Super Potato's magic is perhaps most apparent – you never know what you will see once you enter; each week is likely to be different.
No floor proves this more than the third. While the fifth floor is home to such great items such as the "Famicom throne" – a throne made entirely of used Famicom cartridges, natch – and the fourth floor holds MSX gold, lesser-seen PlayStation goods, the occasional X68000 Ace Queen and a selection of crazy plushes, it is the third floor that is arguably the heart and soul of the store. Focused on 8-bit and 16-bit hardware, the current entrance means a straight-up meeting with a "life-sized" Mario – previous to this there was a similarly-sized Game Boy that had games running on the display. On this floor the true level of devotion to gaming becomes apparent; while the other floors have decorations and items of note it seems that every single angle of the third floor is covered with some sort of gaming memorabilia, ranging from level print-offs to stuffed toys, "pearler" sprite art and insane curiosities such as the aforementioned Mario Golf Shoes. If you can imagine it, it likely exists (or has existed) on this floor at some time or other.
The headache engine that is the Virtual Boy still retains pride of place, alongside rows and rows of boxed and unboxed retro goodness covering the Famicom, Super Famicom, PC Engine, Mega Drive and practically everything else you can possibly think of. In the hardware section it's not uncommon to see Famicom Twins in AAA condition, alongside the odd Titler and CPS Changer hardware for those interested in the truly obscure. While prices have consistently moved upwards, the store deservers the credit where due: the reason Super Potato retains its popularity over arguably better examples in the area is due to the fact that it truly feels like a celebration of gaming, rather than an overtly commercial venture.
Each nook and cranny, every angle you look from, each label on a game, each alphabetical divider positively oozes gaming history. There is no direction you can look in this store without staring deep into a combined love for the hobby and medium that we all share. If you do make the journey to Akihabara (or indeed any other location with a Super Potato outlet) go in with a clear, relaxed attitude and absorb every perspective, every element, every piece of what it has to offer – budget for hours, not minutes – and simply enjoy a walk through a gaming enthusiast's paradise. Leave the jaded preconceptions at the bottom of those poster-covered stairs.
Comments (33)
One day, I will go there.... the true problem is leaving.
I went to Super Potato last October. Definitely one of the coolest places ever.
I... have seen Paradise.
I find it amusing that they'd bother to import the 3DO or Atari Jaguar.
Also, where exactly did the name "Super Potato" come from? Couch potato reference?
It has been great seeing that place grow. I've given them a good bit of business for sure
I go to Super Potato whenever I'm in Japan and as I tend to base myself in Tokyo it means I hit Akihabara most. But I've also been to Osaka multiple times.
While Super Potato is brilliant it does suffer from it's own success. Due to being world know among retro gamers the prices have been increasing year on year even items which are common and they have in large amounts. It just seems that just because foreign people are shopping.
TBH my preferred shopping in Japan has shifted to a number of less known stores in Tokyo and Osaka. In these stores I've managed to get some great deals like the AsciiWare GameCube keyboard boxed and complete for £10. I also got hold of the Japanese only F-Zero Climax for GBA for around the same price. Famicom GB Micro for a very good price, a complete Famicom Robot with complete Robot Blocks and Robot Gyro sets. Oh and copies of Virtual Bowling, SD Gundam and Virtual Labs for Virtual Boy also in as new condition.
@DarthNocturnal I was wondering that as well. Does anyone know?
This is at the top of my places to go before I die list.
I want to go there. I can never die happy until I go there.
Yet another reason for me to visit Japan.
I went past summer. It was brilliant. For me, the highlight was the retro arcade on the top floor, with a retro candy store and dim lighting included in the experience. Best thing is that the whole store is simply put inside an apartment complex, so it initially looks like someone has just decided to make their home a retro game shop.
Will visit again when I have the chance.
Ehh I preferred Mandarake Nakano and Shibuya. Super Potato feels more like a junk shop.
That being said, when we were down on the street, below Potato, they were playing the Metroid theme out the window. It was sunset and felt very magical. A memory of Japan I'll always remember.
I want it. All of it.
Lucky that I going to Japan. I'm gonna vist that place!
Nice article. I've been to Super Potato a few times now, but always struggle to find the place; those Akihabara back streets are so confusing. I highly recommend a trip to Nakano Broadway too, for anyone visiting the Tokyo area. Its like a mini Akihabara across a few floors of a shopping mall.
Are there any branches in Kyoto? I am going for a couple of days next year and I would not mind visiting some retro video game stores.
Not the best city for this, I know. Next time I will go to Tokyo or Osaka.
Love Super Potato. I picked up a couple of nice Zelda key rings there last summer, had a blast at Wario on Virtual Boy and schooled the Mrs at Street Fighter II in the top floor arcade. I could have spent the whole day just combing over every shelf, can't wait to go back!
I've never been there myself but my brother lived in Japan for awhile and picked me up some games from there. I didn't realize it was such a popular place.
looks awesome. thank you for this article.
I want that.
[points to every single photo]
Super-Patatoe is basically an Japanese Spoonge-bob character that is commonly ( due to Chinas law they have tons of unofficial characters and stores floating around, including ten different Mcdonalds that is not Mcdonalds ) done in China/Hong Kong. It is an brave chance the owners are Chinese or the store is an front for other activity due to the prices. It looks more like an retirement store not to be taken seriously.
I want everything there that has to do with the GameCube, and the Nintendo DS... N64 would be great too, but mostly everything that has to do with the GameCube.
@kantaroo Kyoto has a similar store that is similarly awesome - very Nintendo themed. I will try and dig out some photos and a map of where it is. perhaps there's an article in there too : non-Tokyo/Osaka game stores
@Technosphile personally - yes totally agree here - for shopping Mandarake Galaxy in Nakano is also my favourite game store and saw the vast majority of my retro budget : great prices, clear rank system on products, helpful staff, good environment. Galaxy (and the Akihabara store) also seem to have a much steadier stream of products. Not mentioned in the article but Megadrive games are vanishing quickly - Potato is looking a little bare whilst Galaxy still has stock coming in regularly
@RegalSin huh? Almost everything on sale is official merchandise - I know the type of store you are talking about but everything I've bought there that I think we'd both class as "tack" has been -fully official- tack
looks awesome!
looks awesome!
I'd go broke here.
Been there twice. Love that place
I wanna go there. It's probably, sadly, not gonna be anytime in the near future though.
omg i love potatoes
@dcharlie if you do remember the name of that store I would be much obliged. Better yet if you can find a map but even with the name I'll have something to go on.
As you noted most of the articles about shopping in Japan are about Tokyo and Osaka, but I only have a short amount of time and I've decided to spend it in Kyoto instead... I am going with two young children and I hope that the sights in Kyoto will be more appropriate than the bustle of Tokyo.
Thanks!
So cool! Prices may be a problem, but it seems to be the most complete gaming-shop. Old and new stuff for sale, but its also a museum.
What do we have here in Holland: We had Replay, with its wooden floor and a selection of Retro games. It had personality, but nowhere near the level of Hot potato (cool name by the way, those Japanese lol...). Now we just have Gamemania wich is very sterile. No personality at all, and only Retro games from 1 generation back (though that also was the case with Replay). Though I am still thankful that the shop exists, because my local shop often doesn't have certain new games. For those games I need to go to Gamemania.
Would love to walk through Hot Potato, but that will never happen (I guess).
@mafu Do you remember how much the gamecubes cost there? I really want to get one.
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