L. M. Lloyd

Probably my favorite store of all the ones I went to in my KMZ, was the Mandarake in Shibuya. No, it isn't because of the undeniably cool storefront, or the fact that through that storefront is a set of stairs that goes so far underground that they actually sculpted stalagmites in the roof of the stairway. It is my favorite, because of all the old stuff there. Toys, models, books, magazines, it is all vintage at this store. If you are looking for some piece to your collection that you had back in the '80s, but sold and have never been able to find again, then Mandarake Shibuya is the first place you should check. I picked up some Hobby Japans from the late 80s myself, and saw so many other things I would have loved to buy. This isn't the place to go if you are looking to find what's hot, or merchandise from the latest show, but it is one of the best places you could hope for if you are a serious collector looking to fill some gaps. What's even better is that, at least to us American geeks, the prices are a lot better than what you might be expecting to pay. Just about everything I saw elicited a "That cheap, really?" from me. I was in heaven in this place. I wish they would have had more models, but then I found plenty of places to satisfy that craving later on. If you are looking for old stuff, then the Mandarake in Shibuya is a must-visit!