Going to Japan - any tips for where to find some nice components?

[arthurxafis]

Hey all!

Firstly, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you that have contributed to this forum over the years. I have been a long time lurker, but am only now making my first post!

As the title says, I am going to Japan in two weeks and I was wondering if anybody had any good leads on where to find components? Obviously I will be spending some time looking through Akihabara!

I'm not looking for anything in particular - obviously old BBD chips and anything with Germanium goodness would be great but am open to any and all tips!

Also, if any of you folks are familiar with specific places and are happy to share info - I'd be happy to share some of the spoils with whoever gave the heads up! Feel free to PM me too

- Arthur

[R.G.]

If you are in Tokyo, look up "Akihabara". Amazing electronic wonderland. I wandered around in a dazed frenzy, and my companions practically had to drag me out. I don't know about other cities.

[PRR]

look up "Akihabara".

arthurxafis specifically mentioned Akihabara in the 2nd full paragraph.

However I thought I had heard that the glory days of cheap treasures were fading away. The rent went up. Great neighborhood for commuters. I watch a lot of "Tokyo Lens" on YouTube and Norm bought an ENTIRE SHOP from under the tracks and recreated it in his studio/workshop. And he was walking past closed and dead shops, and neo-yuppie shops, while salvaging.
https://www.itstokyolens.com/videos/v/tiny-japanese-shop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYIHTHxtUXQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsimPVu1aLU
https://youtu.be/nsimPVu1aLU?t=70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRaWpC5df0c

[R.G.]

Dang, missed that first Akihabara.

That's too bad. But time does march on. My Akihabara experience was over 35 years ago. I find getting old to be as much of a distortion of reality as being young was.