As many San Franciscans know, Japantown is a great place to get a small, sometimes literal, taste of Japan. So, once you’re walking around with a desert crepe in hand, having just finished off a bowl of ramen and a plate of sushi, what more can you do? Nestled in the lower level of the Southern end of the mall is Japantown Collectibles, a small haven for model builders, toy collectors, and yes, tabletop gamers.
Japantown Collectibles doesn’t have a lot of floor space, but they make great use of every inch of it. A lot of the store is dedicated to anime and manga inspired toys and collectibles, but there are a few model kits and, most importantly for tabletop gamers, Games Workshop boxed sets. Their Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 selection isn’t very large, but the entire store is a treasure trove for conversions. While many people might cringe at snipping, cutting, and trimming away at a twenty dollar toy, any miniature enthusiast will know that sometimes stealing a part or two really helps the conversion process.
This is not the best store for general hobbyist supplies, but considering the helpfulness of the staff and the great location, it’s a decent place to stop by. The store itself is perfect to browse on a monthly basis for new products and inspiration, and again, you can’t beat having access to so many other specialty stores and great places to eat. You might just find small tools or other doodads needed for modeling projects in one of the three general shops, and Kinokuniya Bookstore has plenty of Japanese related literature to pick through for ideas. Just walk by one of the antique stores and let the smell of incense combine with musty scrolls and metal statues to transport you away from the Bay, and into a whirl of inspiration for your next campaign.
