Buying single cards at Japanese card shops
Japanese card shops sell individual cards from almost every set, sorted and priced. For visitors this is often the best way to get the cards you want, because you skip the lotteries and pay for exactly what you need.
How shops display cards
- Showcases (ショーケース). Valuable cards sit in locked glass cases with a price tag on each sleeve. Point to the card and ask staff to take it out. Do not open the case yourself.
- Binders and boxes. Cheaper cards are in binders or storage boxes you can browse. Some shops have a counter where you hand over a list instead.
- Order terminals and online stock. Some large shops let you search their stock on a tablet in the store or on their website, then pick up at the counter. Hareruya 2's Akihabara store, for example, has ordering terminals in English.
Reading the price tags
| On the tag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 税込 | Price includes tax (most shops show this) |
| 状態A / 美品 | Near mint |
| 状態B | Light wear |
| 状態C / 傷あり | Visible wear or damage. Japanese shops grade strictly, so check the card yourself |
| プロモ | Promo card |
| 未開封 | Sealed |
| シュリンク付き | Box still in its original shrink wrap |
| PSA10 / BGS / ARS | Graded card (see below) |
Rarity codes such as SAR, SR, AR or SEC are printed on the card and appear on tags too. Exact condition labels vary by shop; most explain them on a sign near the showcase.
Graded cards
Many shops sell cards sealed in plastic cases by grading companies. PSA, BGS (Beckett) and CGC are international; ARS is a Japanese company. The grade (for example PSA10) is printed on the label and has a big effect on price. Graded cards are expensive, so compare a few shops before buying, and check whether your country charges import duty on high-value items.
The buyback board is not a price list
Many shops display a large board or list headed 買取 (kaitori). These are the prices the shop pays when it buys cards from customers, not what it sells them for. Selling cards to a shop requires ID, and some shops do not buy from visitors at all, so ask first.
Manners
- Ask before taking photos inside the shop.
- Play spaces (デュエルスペース) are for customers and may charge a fee or require a purchase.
- Cash and major credit cards are common in big cities; smaller shops may be cash only.
Find single-card shops near you on the card shop map.
Last updated 2026-10-06.