Board games come in more genres than you could roll for, and if you know where to look, Tokyo can be a great place to find some classic favorites or niche rarities.
While we’ve discussed where to find players and game cafés before, let’s dive into places to buy, not try. Here are our best spots to scratch that board-game itch and maybe find something new while you’re there.
Can I find English board games in Tokyo?
Admittedly, it’s difficult to find games in English in Japan. Although some will come with English pieces and Japanese instructions, most games are fully translated into Japanese. A few of the stores on our list do have a dedicated English section, while some companies, such as Oink Games, produce games designed for a multilingual audience. Amuri Studio is your recommended starting point — see below.
Amuri Studio
ShinjukuA small board-game store centrally located in Shinjuku; Amuri Studio has only recently expanded to a physical location. They specialize in English board games, and their entire stock is in English wherever possible. The owners are passionate about their products and can offer recommendations based on your preferred type of games. If you have a moment, you can even take a seat in their play area and try your new purchase there and then.
Amuri Studio also keeps up to date on the latest releases and trends. If a new Essen game or Kickstarter project caught your eye, head over — there’s a good chance it’ll be in stock.
Yellow Submarine
Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, Yokohama
With three branches across Tokyo, Yellow Submarine is the biggest board-game store in Japan. You’re never far from one, with branches in Shinjuku, Akihabara, and Ikebukuro. Their selection of board games is impressive, from classics like Catan and Carcassonne to massive titles like Twilight Imperium and Nemesis. If you’re a tabletop fan, most stores also stock TTRPG books and figures, as well as dice and other goodies.
The one drawback of Yellow Submarine is their lack of English products. Expect most games to be in Japanese, although some stores have a small English board-game section. Also, if you’re looking to get rid of your own games, Yellow Submarine buys board games for reasonable prices, English or Japanese.
Sugorokuya
Jimbocho, KichijojiIf you want variety, and lots of it, Sugorokuya is the board-game store for you. With two branches in Jimbōchō and Kichijōji, it’s often only a train or two away from anywhere in Tokyo.
The stores are quite small but are crammed wall to wall with games. Expect to find everything from recent releases to classics. The staff are also avid boardgamers, and are more than happy to help you find the perfect new addition to your library.
Be aware, though, that there isn’t much English on offer, with no speakers and a very small collection of games. But if you’re looking for something new and exciting that you haven’t heard of before, Sugorokuya should be on your list.
Dear Spiele
NakanoThis beautiful board-game store with bonus café is located in Nakano, near the famous Nakano Broadway. Their library contains over 1300 games, with a large seating area to relax in. This makes it an excellent place to try before you buy, as every game they sell has an open copy on the shelves. You can even check out their game list on their website and plan your game day before sitting down.
Unfortunately, Dear Spiele games are all in Japanese, except for games that are multilingual out of the box. However, despite that, the friendly staff are more than happy to guide you through their games and help you understand the rules, so don’t miss this cozy café on your board-game hunt.
Surugaya
Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku
Another popular chain of stores around Tokyo, Surugaya is a second-hand store specializing in hobby items. They sell everything from music to anime figurines and, yes, board games, too. You can find Surugaya stores in several easily accessible locations, such as Ikebukuro and Akihabara. Being a second-hand store, it’s a great place to look for older games that might have fallen out of circulation, or popular games that have sold out in other stores.
Since they are second hand, the condition and language of the games at Surugaya vary. If you’re willing to do some digging, you can find a few English board games here and there, but it’s all luck. Surugaya is another useful spot for getting rid of your games, as they have a buying counter at most locations.
Yodobashi Camera
Several, including Ueno, Akihabara, and Shinjuku
You might think a store famous for its technology would be an awful place to search for board games. But Yodobashi Camera will surprise you, as the larger stores often boast an impressive selection of games in their children’s sections. Since you can find stores all over Tokyo, it’s a quick and accessible board game option with plenty of crowd pleasers on the shelves. Expect to find childhood favorites like Monopoly, Catan, or Ticket to Ride at most stores — but bigger branches like Akihabara branch out into indie and niche offerings as well. Even better, if you don’t want to head to a store, you can order online, and they’ll deliver directly to you.
The main hurdle you’ll run into is the complete lack of English choices, as Yodobashi generally only stocks new, Japanese versions of games. Also, since it isn’t a specialty store, the staff probably won’t be able to offer many recommendations. But if you want something easy and nostalgic, Yodobashi will have you covered.
Bonus: Mercari
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Mercari, Japan’s largest marketplace website, as a great place to get board games. Since everything is second hand, there’s a reasonable chance you can find the games you’re looking for on sale. Beyond that, though, everything is up to chance — you could find English copies, bargains, or even both.
While we do our best to ensure everything is correct, information is subject to change.
