Sofmap is the long-running electronics chain in Akihabara, and its used sections are often overlooked by visitors who head straight for the anime shops.
The Basics
- Closing time: 20:00 (earlier than the arcades nearby)
What’s Worth Looking At
The used sections are the reason to come. Second-hand smartphones sit in locked cases with electronic price labels — on our visit stock ran from around ¥14,780 to ¥197,780 depending on model and condition.
The used laptop floor is larger and considerably quieter. Rows of business machines, mostly Fujitsu, were marked in the ¥45,000–¥56,000 range.
Practical Notes
Tax-free service is available and clearly signed in English throughout the used floors.
One thing worth knowing: the buyback counter was busy while the sales floor was nearly empty. If you are buying rather than selling, you will have the place largely to yourself.
Before You Go
The buyback counter was busy while the sales floor was nearly empty — if you are buying, you will have space to browse.
Tax-free service is available and signed in English on the used floors.
English: do not count on staff speaking it. Signage is a different story — floor guides and some price labels carry English, and that is usually enough to find what you need.
Tax-free: available at some shops but not all, and the counter is not always on the ground floor. Check before you carry purchases around the building. Note that Japan’s tax-free system changes on 1 November 2026, moving from exemption at the register to a refund at the airport.
Payment: cards are widely accepted at the larger shops, but carrying ¥10,000–20,000 in cash avoids surprises.