FAQs
Every console on this site was opened, cleaned and gameplay-tested here in Japan before it was listed. We only sell what we have held in our own hands. These are the questions people ask us most often, answered plainly.
Will a Japanese console work where I live?
Yes — with the right power. Japanese consoles run on 100V, and almost everywhere else runs higher: 120V in the US and Canada, 110V in Taiwan, 220V in Hong Kong, and 230V in the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Outside Japan you will normally need a step-down transformer, or a regional power supply made for your country. It is a small extra part, and it is the difference between a console that lasts another twenty years and one that does not.
On region locking: match the game's region to the console's region and you will not see an error. Japanese consoles play Japanese games. If you want to play games from other regions, ask us before you buy — we will tell you honestly whether it is possible for that particular machine.
What does "cleaned and tested" actually mean?
It means the machine was taken apart, not just wiped down. Contacts are cleaned, dust and old residue are removed, worn parts are replaced where they need to be, and then the console is connected to a screen and actually played — not just powered on to see a light. Where a console has been recapped, the description says so and names the parts used.
We do this because a retro console that fails three months after it arrives is not a bargain. It is a disappointment with shipping attached.
These are used machines. What condition are they really in?
Honest answer: they are thirty and forty years old, and they show it. Scuffs, small scratches, yellowing on older plastics, faded labels — we photograph these and describe them in the listing rather than hiding them. If a flaw matters, it is in the description. If you find something we failed to mention, tell us and we will make it right.
How much is shipping, and how long does it take?
Shipping is calculated at checkout, so you see the exact amount before you pay. Orders of $100 USD or more that include a console ship free — no cap — to every country we ship to, the United States included, except Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Peru. Games and accessories ordered without a console are charged shipping, whatever the total. To those four countries, shipping is charged on every order (from US$15.00 to US$49.99, depending on the item), because shipping to South America costs far more. Otherwise, shipping is a flat rate based on where you are and the size of the item.
Orders ship in 1–3 business days (Monday to Friday, Japan time), and you get a tracking number by email as soon as it leaves us. After that, UPS usually takes 2–5 business days, and Japan Post usually takes 1–3 weeks:
- UPS — our usual carrier for consoles and larger parcels. Usually 2–5 business days after shipping. Tracked. (For some items and destinations we may use FedEx or DHL instead.)
- Japan Post — for small parcels. Usually 1–3 weeks after shipping. Tracked.
Customs processing can add time. We cannot control that, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Will I be charged customs when it arrives?
If your country charges import duties or taxes, yes — and we would rather tell you now than have you find out at your door. Import duties and taxes are not included in the price and not collected at checkout — for every country, including the United States. Your country’s customs decides the amount, and the carrier will ask you to pay it before or at delivery. The carrier may also charge its own fee for handling customs. Rules differ by country and can change, so we can’t tell you the exact amount in advance — please check your own customs guidance before you order. If a carrier presents a charge that looks wrong, email us the paperwork. We would much rather hear about it and look into it with you than have you quietly decide that buying from Japan is a gamble.
What if it arrives damaged, or stops working?
Contact us within 30 days of delivery at info@enjoygamejapan.online with your order number and what is happening, and we will make it right. Every console we sell was tested before it left, so if something is wrong, something went wrong — and that is ours to fix, not yours to absorb.
Can I return something if I simply changed my mind?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery. The item needs to come back with all its accessories and in the same condition it arrived in. Original shipping costs are not refunded, and return shipping is yours unless the item was defective or we sent the wrong thing. Please pack it as carefully as we packed it — damage from inadequate packing is not covered.
To start, email info@enjoygamejapan.online with your order number and a short description. We email you return instructions and our return address.
You do not have the thing I am looking for. Can you find it?
Often, yes. We buy in Japan every week, and a good part of what we sell was found because somebody asked for it first. Email info@enjoygamejapan.online and tell us what you are after — the model, the colour, the state you want it in. There is no obligation and no waiting list to join.
Why buy a Japanese console from Japan?
Because this is where they were made, and where the parts, the knowledge and the machines still are. Our family has been selling games here since 1986. What we are really doing is keeping these machines alive and in the hands of people who will use them — a Famicom sitting in a drawer is just plastic; a Famicom being played is a childhood that came back.
Still have a question? Write to us at info@enjoygamejapan.online. A person reads it.