Part of: Akihabara Retro Game Stores: Where to Go
Trader Akihabara: What Is on Each Floor of the Main Store and No. 2, and What to Know Before You Buy
Trader is an Akihabara shop for secondhand and new video games, retro games, figures and Blu-rays, with two stores. The main store, at 4-2-1 Sotokanda on Chūō-dōri, runs from B1 to 7F: games and retro games on 1F and 2F, figures on 3F to 5F, plastic models and character goods on 4F, and adult floors on 6F and 7F. Trader No. 2, at 1-4-9 Sotokanda under the JR tracks, is smaller. Trader says plainly it is not a tax-free shop. I run private anime tours here most weeks, and Trader is a stop for retro-game hunters.
It also sells import games, both secondhand and new, on the main store's 1st floor.
What is on each floor of Trader?
From Trader's own floor table: the main store has games on 1F and 2F (new games on 1F), retro games on 1F and 2F, import games on 1F, Blu-ray and DVD and game CDs on 2F, figures on 3F, 4F and 5F, plastic models and character goods on 4F, and the buying counter in B1. No. 2 has games, Blu-ray, DVD and figures on 1F, and its buying counter on 3F.
| Category (all ages) | Main store | No. 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Video games | 1F, 2F | 1F |
| New video games | 1F | 1F |
| Retro games | 1F, 2F | — |
| Import games (used and new) | 1F | — |
| Blu-ray and DVD | 2F | 1F |
| Game-related CDs | 2F | — |
| Figures | 3F, 4F, 5F | 1F |
| Plastic models | 4F | — |
| Character goods | 4F | — |
| Buying counter | B1 | 3F |
Adult PC games, doujin software, goods and video are on the main store's 6th and 7th floors and on No. 2's 2nd floor. Families can stay on the lower floors. For Akihabara's other retro shops, see Akihabara retro game stores, and for the route around them, my Akihabara anime tour.
Where is Trader in Akihabara?
The main store is at 4-2-1 Sotokanda, facing Chūō-dōri, three minutes from JR Akihabara's Electric Town exit or from Suehirochō Station. Trader No. 2 is at 1-4-9 Sotokanda, a three-storey shop under the JR Sōbu and Chūō line tracks, two minutes from the Electric Town exit.
| Store (official) | Address | Walk (official) |
|---|---|---|
| Trader main store | 4-2-1 Sotokanda, Trader Main Store Bldg | 3 min from JR Akihabara (Electric Town exit); 3 min from Suehirochō |
| Trader No. 2 | 1-4-9 Sotokanda | 2 min from JR Akihabara (Electric Town exit) |
On 15 and 16 October 2026 both stores change their hours for stocktaking, so check the top page if you are visiting then.
What should visitors know before buying at Trader?
Three things from Trader's FAQ. It is not a tax-free shop, so you pay the normal tax-inclusive price. Secondhand items carry a one-week guarantee from purchase, valid in Japan only, with no refunds or exchanges sent abroad. Returns are only for faults found within a week. Payment includes Japanese cash, cards including UnionPay, transport IC cards, PayPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
This is the honest section. A one-week, Japan-only guarantee means you should test what you can before leaving the country, and check before you buy that a Japanese console or game will work with your system and your home power. Akihabara electronics covers Japan's 100-volt power. If you want to check stock first, Trader takes stock questions by phone, per store. Trader has also warned about fake social-media accounts announcing closures or cheap sales; trust only its official site.
Can you sell games to Trader?
Yes, at the buying counters (main store B1, No. 2 3F), with photo ID; Trader says Japanese health insurance cards are no longer accepted as ID. It also runs a by-post buying service, and a higher-buyback campaign from 8 October to 1 November 2026.
For tax-free shopping elsewhere, from 1 November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and get it back after a customs check at the airport; tax-free shopping in Japan after November 2026 explains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trader in Akihabara tax-free? No. Trader's FAQ says it is not a tax-free shop.
Where is Trader main store? At 4-2-1 Sotokanda, facing Chūō-dōri, three minutes from JR Akihabara's Electric Town exit.
Does Trader sell retro games? Yes, on the main store's 1st and 2nd floors, along with import games on the 1st.
Which floor has figures at Trader? The main store's 3rd, 4th and 5th floors, and the 1st floor of Trader No. 2.
Does Trader guarantee used games? Used items have a one-week guarantee from purchase, valid in Japan only.
Retro games at Trader, the rest of Akihabara around it
If you would like Akihabara's game and anime floors chosen around what you collect, Adventure in Akihabara with Anime is my private half-day walk, three to four hours, never shared with other guests. The price is on the tour page.
About the author. I am Yuuki, a Japanese teacher and Akihabara anime tour guide based in Tokyo. I run private anime tours here most weeks, rated 4.96★ on Airbnb across 171 reviews. I have watched over 1,500 anime series, which is either a qualification or a warning depending on your point of view.
See the Akihabara anime tour →
Sources: Trader, Top page (two stores; main store B1–7F on Chūō-dōri; No. 2 under the JR tracks; stocktaking hours 15–16 October 2026; fake-account warning; buyback campaign 8 October – 1 November 2026; online shops), Store guide (addresses; walking times; floor table for all-ages and adult categories; buying floors) and FAQ (payment; not tax-free; one-week Japan-only guarantee; no overseas support; returns; phone stock checks; ID for selling). All checked 4 October 2026. Opening hours and prices are deliberately not given.
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