Mandarake Nagoya Tour: Part 1

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale! Last week, we took a look at Jungle Nagoya as part of my hobby shop tour in Nagoya. While that two story store was certainly impressive, today we are going to take a look at another hobby store that is twice that size and possibly the largest hobby store in the whole of Nagoya. What am I talking about? If the title and lead picture had not already given it away, it is Mandarake Nagoya of course!

From the outside Mandarake's Nagoya branch might not look like much especially since the corner lot appears to be a rather dated and simple building. But step in pass the automatic glass doors and you are immediately transported into a hobby wonderland unlike any other. 

Even if you have been to one of Mandarake's main branches before, nothing quite prepares one for a hobby store such as this. From the sheer size to the amount of items available on sale, it really takes quite a bit of time to take it all in the moment you first step foot into the store. Unlike the other Mandarake stores in the Kanto region, Nagoya's store had the similar high density of goods albeit with much better spacing. Perhaps the closest comparison I can come up with is the Mandarake in Sapporo, another excellent hobby store that I highly recommend!

Unlike the usual stereotype of hobby stores in Japan being cramped and slightly disorganized, Mandarake Nagoya was anything but that. Plus, the tall ceiling on this four story complex was a nice addition helping to breathe out the entire layout. Again, not unlike the excellent Mandarake Sapporo.  But where Mandarake Sapporo sets its goods across two floors, the one in Nagoya one ups it with four.

Another plus point I was not expecting to see while visiting the Nagoya outlet was how well organized everything was. From trinkets to clear files and acrylic stands, each product was sorted according to series with their appropriate labels. This made hunting for goods extremely easy as I could go straight for the series that I am interested in and save precious time leaving out the others. This truly came helpful as my visit in the evening was on a limited time scale seeing as the stores close at 8:00 PM daily.

Looking around the first floor, I was surprised to find a wide variety of trinkets and goods ranging from the inexpensive rubber straps and clear files all the way up to premium retro memorabilia and rare collector cards. If there were anything that were not filled as toys, figures or dolls, you would probably be able to find it on the first floor. 

I mentioned inexpensive clear files and expensive collector cards found on the first floor. But the opposite also happens to be true with some of the rarest and, not unexpectedly, most expensive clear files that I have ever seen. 

In the past, I have been known to spend thousands of Yen on clear files simply because of their great combination of practicality and aesthetic. But those were many clear files, not one single clear file which cost in excess of 2,000 Yen! Although, I am sure there is a collector out there who would be more than happy to part with their hard earned cash for something like this.

Once you are done browsing the thousands upon thousands of merchandise on the first floor, take a deep breath, and collect yourself. Because we have only covered the first of the four floors in this hobby complex. Head to your nearest escalator (of which there is only one) and make your way up to the second floor. 

Where you will be greeted by the by the numbers de-facto otaku hobby section. Everything that you can think of associated with otaku collections can be found in one form or another here. Be it scale figures or plastic model kits, you can expect that to be found in some capacity here. 

Because Mandarake is a re-seller, it is always pure joy to pay a visit just to look at the items on sale. Never is it the same and often you would never find two of the same thing next to each other. This is what gives Mandarake such a unique look because no two boxes next to each other are every alike. 

Another reason you should also never discount Mandrake when it comes to hobby stores is, for some reason or another, they always seem to have the rarest of rare when it comes to collectibles. And how could we forget the rock bottom prices these items actually sell for? With Mandarake there is never a need to worry about comparing prices because you can rest assured that if you can find it there, you have probably found it at the lowest prices on offer in around the market. 

Speaking of low priced goods, this particular Mandarake seemed to be home to a good number of Nendoroid and Figma figures which are without their boxes. They all look to be in very good condition with all accessories included except for the box. 

And as every collector worth their salt knows, a big portion of the value comes in the box itself. No box, no deal. That being said, these out of box figures are actually a really good deal especially when you consider their condition. If you are hunting for accessories or just more subjects for figure photography, this is the ideal place to be. 

Of course, bottom dollar items are not the only thing Mandarake are known for. Take a quick stroll around the Nagoya store and you are immediately greeted by a full aisle of premium scale figures. If you have several tens of thousands of Yen just burning a hole in your pocket, this is probably the best place to spend it. Just make sure to double check the condition before buying!

Between the high and low, cost is what I believe has always made Mandarake such an attractive option. With standardized pricing all around the country and, by that extension, the world, Mandarake always offers the best prices regardless of which branch of theirs you visit. While selection certainly varies, the Nagoya branch has such a rich collection of collectibles that I am positive you would be able to find something you like even if you were not planning to. 

Heading over the Nendoroid section, I was surprised to see that the Nagoya store has almost as much diversity in terms of unique models compared to the Nakano and Akihabara stores. If it is new Nendoroid that you are looking for, well you might want to avert your gaze.

But if it is the older models that you are looking for, well there is a good chance your prayers might have been answered. While premium scale figures are nice to own and display, few things come close to the sheer customisability and portability of Nendoroid. Especially when you have to factor limited luggage space as part of bring a traveler lest you want to arrive home with all your precious boxes dented!

Fortunately for me, I had already collected all of the Nendoroid on my wishlist save starting over my Mami collection. Which is a story for another day. 

Everywhere you turn, there is seemingly an endless number of figures displayed neatly in their full glory. And when you are done there, you can always turn to the other impressive lineup of mecha figures and model kits. Not enough? What about the super sentai series?

Or would you perhaps prefer something softer like a plush toy? Wherever I turned, Mandarake Nagoya just seemed to have something new to discover and it was just pure bliss exploring it all. Including rummaging through the pile of soft toys! And all of this while I was just over halfway through my tour of the store. With floor 3 and 4 to go, I was starting to run low on time having spent a good portion of my time in the bottom half of the complex.

Rest assured, the magic does not end there as floor 3 and 4 still remain. One holds some relatively expected goods which you might have noticed missing in this current tour so far. While another floor holds a place in the market of the truly high end. That and more will be covered in the second part of our Mandarake Nagoya store tour coming at the end of the week. So, stay tuned for that. In the meantime, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave them in the comments section below. Until the next time, thank you for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!