Around Adelaide | Shin Tokyo

08.03.2018 - Adelaide may be considered a ‘sleepy’ and quaint town, but in the bigger picture as a state itself South Australia is a place for exploration. Every single day I pass by Rundle Mall there’s always something new to see even throughout the winter season and you never go wrong about being into a hobby of collectibles. Shin Tokyo is one of a very few stores that carries import products from Japan and some collectibles from the US not sold on Australian retail market. But their bread and butter are the Japanese products ranging from Bandai’s ever popular Gunpla to popular Japanese anime series and OVAs just to name a few to see in this store.

I rarely pass by Shin Tokyo, which is located at the basement level of Rundle Mall Plaza, where it’s neighbours with Zing Pop Culture, a gaming store featuring pop culture products and collectibles. But most people into Japanese culture can be found lounging around Shin Tokyo. It’s where a local Gundam community get their Gunpla.

But for those into other Japanese imports you also get Transformers toys produced by Takara Tomy, which is quite a premium compared to Hasbro’s version has to offer with their brand. There are other things to see there like some collectibles that you may not find in the local retail stores.

They also have DVD imports as well as Japanese games that their neighbor may not have in their list of popular games to all game consoles. It’s also a hole in the wall kind of store for those who never exactly venture out in this part of Rundle Mall Plaza, which is quite a haven for those who get to collect random things.

I’ve mostly visit this place just for the Transformers collectibles that are not found on major retail outlets like the Masterpiece Editions and some of the Japanese reissues of vintage G1 editions of Transformers. There’s something for everyone who are into Japanese popular culture this side of South Australia.

It’s not as much as you may think, but the location is quite intimate for those who are not extroverts in their chosen lifestyle. It’s fascinating to know how Shin Tokyo is quite a big deal around Adelaide that carved out their own identity and has been a major presence in the local scene as a go to location for everything and anything Japanese when it comes to anime, collectibles, gaming, toys, and so much more.

Forgive my ramblings on this place that is not largely known outside of South Australia, but it is probably special for some people in the local community. It might not be so much as a huge things in other places but Shin Tokyo deserve some shout out on why they’re a place to be when you’re from South Australia.

SHIN TOKYO is located at the basement level of Rundle Mall Plaza and you can like and follow them through their social media via Facebook and Instagram!