Beep!

Visiting the Beep retro gaming store in Akihabara, Tokyo

January 2026

I visited Tokyo with my family, and this time the three of us went our separate ways. I was free to walk the streets of Akihabara on my own for a few hours, checking out the hobby shops and retro gaming shops.

I think I must have ordered something from Beep's online store a long time ago for my friend, because I'm on their mailing list. It's hard to believe that new game software is still being released for old retro computers like the Sharp X68000, but Beep is at the heart of that scene. I must have walked past the store accidentally twice before I found it at last. It's in the basement of a building, and the signage is not where I expected it to be. I had my camera, so I took pictures. The signs in the store say that photography is allowed, but taking videos is not.

So, if you have about two thousand dollars, you can buy Snatcher on Sega CD at Beep in Akihabara. Wow. Keep in mind, Snatcher was released for the PC-88, PC Engine, and many other platforms however it did not come out for the Mega CD in Japan. Only for the North American Sega CD.

Beep sells PC-98 games and arcade PCBs as well.

Left: here's a workstation in the corner for fixing stuff. Right: a Salamander III poster, not for sale. There were so many posters there.

X68000 games.

Left: Dreamcast games. I don't think I remember ever seeing Cleopatra Fortune. I have it for the Saturn. Right: monitors in the store demonstrated games running.

More posters. I'm not familiar with Illusion City, but that artwork looks cool. Very cyberpunk. On the right is a Puck-Man poster.

On the left is an NEC Turbo Duo ad poster. This is an amazing collage of anime/gaming heroines appearing on the Duo: Valis, Yamato, Galaxy Fraulein Yuna, Ranma 1/2, Fray, Devil Hunter Yohko, Nadia, Yawara, Cobra, Macross, Ys, Cosmic Fantasy, and more!

Left: Strip Poker! Gosh, I remember that game.

So many gaming stickers.

Left: this Hatsune Miku guitar looks cool. Right: when you are at the checkout counter, look up and you will see this stuff above you.

Plenty of game consoles for sale.

Left: Shadowrun for the Mega CD and Metal Slader Glory. Right: game flyers! Of course, here is my collection of game flyer scans.

Left: some neat Capcom stuff with a poster for Final Fight and a leather jacket. Right: a Qix cocktail cabinet for sale!

Here's the sign on the street level for Beep.

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mail: greg -atsign- stevethefish -dot- net