There are plenty of places in Akihabara where you can buy an old Game Boy.

MOD TOKYO lets you take one apart.

For around two hours, you’re given a genuine vintage Nintendo handheld, a set of tools and a choice of replacement parts. You open the console, remove the old hardware, choose a new shell and buttons, install a modern backlit screen and rebuild the machine piece by piece.

Then you switch it on.

If everything has gone to plan, the Game Boy sitting in front of you is the one you take home.

It’s one of the more unusual gaming experiences in Tokyo, particularly for anyone who grew up with Nintendo’s handhelds.

It is also expensive.

The current price starts at ¥52,000 per person, while the Game Boy Advance workshop costs ¥54,000.

That changes the question.

The issue isn’t whether building your own Game Boy in Tokyo sounds fun. It does.

The question is whether the experience is worth spending more than ¥50,000 on when there are far cheaper ways to own a Game Boy.

For some travellers, the answer is going to be an immediate no.

For the right person, this could end up being one of the things they remember most clearly from Tokyo.

Quick Answer

👉 Akihabara Travel Guide: Tokyo’s Anime, Gaming & Electronics District (2026)

What Is MOD TOKYO?

MOD TOKYO is a Game Boy customisation workshop in the Kanda/Akihabara area.

It isn’t a repair shop where you hand over a console and return later to collect it.

It isn’t a class where you sit and watch somebody else perform the interesting parts.

You do the build.

The session starts with an introduction to the Game Boy and its history before moving to the workbench.

From there, you open up the console and gradually strip it down.

The motherboard comes out.

The original display is removed.

You choose how you want the new console to look, install the replacement components and then put everything back together.

Staff stay close enough to help when necessary, which is important because MOD TOKYO is aimed at ordinary travellers rather than experienced electronics hobbyists.

Once the console is finished, you can test it using classic cartridges available at the workshop.

And then the Game Boy goes home with you.

That’s the part that makes this experience different from spending the same money on another Tokyo attraction.

You’re not leaving with only photographs.

What Do You Actually Build?

MOD TOKYO currently offers a choice between two Nintendo handhelds.

Original Game Boy DMG-01

This is the unmistakable original.

Nintendo released the DMG-01 in 1989, and for anyone who grew up during the Game Boy era, this is likely to be the more nostalgic choice.

The original hardware has its limitations.

Its old display is one of them.

MOD TOKYO replaces that with a modern IPS backlit screen, so while the machine retains its original Game Boy hardware, using it is considerably more comfortable today.

You can also replace the ageing exterior with your choice of shell, buttons and screen surround.

The current workshop price is ¥52,000, and the session lasts about two hours.

For someone doing this because they remember playing Tetris, Super Mario Land or Pokémon on an original Game Boy, this is probably the model we’d choose.

Game Boy Advance

The GBA workshop costs ¥54,000 and takes closer to 2½ hours.

There is only a ¥2,000 difference between the two workshops now, so price shouldn’t be the main reason for choosing one over the other.

The bigger difference is the build.

The Game Boy Advance workshop is slightly more involved and includes some soldering.

That sounds intimidating if you’ve never held a soldering iron, but previous experience isn’t required and the work is guided.

The finished GBA also gives you access to a very different library of games.

If you’re choosing the console based on what you’re likely to play after returning home rather than pure nostalgia, the Advance may make more sense.

Which One Should You Choose?

Don’t overthink the ¥2,000 price difference.

Choose the Game Boy you actually want to own.

The original DMG-01 is the stronger choice for nostalgia. It’s also the slightly simpler workshop and doesn’t have the same soldering component.

The Game Boy Advance makes more sense if you prefer that generation of games, want a slightly deeper build or can see yourself regularly using the finished console after your trip.

If your childhood memories are tied to the grey brick Game Boy, build that.

If you spent more time with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed or Advance-era games, the GBA is probably going to mean more to you.

You’re spending more than ¥50,000 either way.

Saving a tiny percentage of that cost by building the console you like less makes little sense.

How Much Can You Customise?

This is one of the strongest parts of the workshop.

You’re not simply handed a red Game Boy or a blue Game Boy.

Shell options can include styles such as transparent, solid, pearl, sparkle and glow-in-the-dark finishes.

Then you start mixing them with different button colours and screen surrounds.

That means two people attending the same session can end up with completely different-looking consoles.

You can make something loud and unmistakably custom.

Or keep it relatively restrained and close to the original Nintendo look.

The process of choosing the colours sounds like a small part of the workshop, but it’s one of the reasons the finished console feels like your own rather than something you’ve bought off a shelf.

Is It a Real Vintage Game Boy?

The core console is based around genuine vintage Game Boy hardware.

That’s an important distinction.

You’re not simply assembling a modern imitation console designed to look like something from the 1990s.

The original hardware is taken apart and rebuilt using replacement and upgraded components.

The machines are also pre-tested before the session.

That’s sensible.

A two-hour workshop would quickly stop being enjoyable if half of it were spent trying to determine why a decades-old motherboard wasn’t working before you’d even started the modification.

What Does the Price Include?

At the time of writing, the workshop price covers the console you’re going to build, the replacement/custom components, IPS screen, tools and instruction.

The completed Game Boy is yours to keep.

Classic cartridges are also available at the workshop so you can test and play the machine once you’ve finished.

The listed prices include tax.

The important distinction here is that you’re not expected to arrive carrying an old Game Boy or a bag of parts.

Everything required for the build is prepared for you.

Does a Game Come With the Console?

Don’t book the workshop assuming a specific game cartridge is included for you to take home.

MOD TOKYO has classic Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles available to play on site after the build.

That lets you make sure the finished machine is working and gives you some time to actually use what you’ve made.

If you want your own collection of cartridges afterwards, you’ll need to source those separately.

Luckily, you’re already near Akihabara.

👉 Things to Do in Akihabara: Anime, Gaming & Electronics Guide for 2026

Can You Use Australian, US or European Games?

Yes.

Game Boy cartridges aren’t locked to one country in the way some gaming hardware can be.

That means a compatible cartridge from Australia, Europe, North America or Japan can be used with the appropriate Game Boy.

This makes the workshop much more practical for international visitors.

If you still have a box of old cartridges at home, the machine isn’t going to become useless when you leave Japan.

Do You Need to Know Anything About Electronics?

No.

This is probably the question that stops the most people from considering the workshop.

You don’t need to be someone who builds PCs or repairs consoles on weekends.

You don’t need previous modding experience.

You don’t even need to know what the inside of a Game Boy looks like.

The workshop is structured so that beginners can follow along step by step, with the staff assisting when necessary.

That’s also a big part of what you’re paying for.

An experienced modder can buy the components, find a donor console and do much of this independently.

A first-timer has the added problem of not knowing whether they’ve bought the right parts, whether they’re about to damage something or why the console suddenly refuses to turn on.

The workshop removes much of that uncertainty.

What About Soldering?

The Game Boy Advance workshop includes some soldering.

The original DMG workshop is the safer choice if you have absolutely no interest in doing that.

But we’d be careful not to make the GBA sound like an advanced electronics course.

It’s still designed as a guided tourist workshop.

You aren’t handed an open circuit board and wished good luck.

For some visitors, trying a small amount of soldering will actually be part of the appeal.

For others, it will turn what should be a fun afternoon into two and a half hours of worrying about damaging a vintage console.

Know which person you are.

The Biggest Question: Is ¥52,000–¥54,000 Too Expensive?

If you’re comparing the workshop purely against the cost of owning a Game Boy, yes.

There are cheaper ways to end up with a modified console.

You can buy an original machine.

You can buy parts yourself.

You can pay someone else to modify one.

You can buy an already completed custom Game Boy.

You can also buy modern retro handhelds capable of playing old games for far less money.

So we wouldn’t write this article and pretend the hardware alone somehow makes ¥52,000 an obvious bargain.

It doesn’t.

What you’re paying a premium for is the experience around it.

And that is the part you have to value for yourself.

You’re Paying for the Story as Much as the Console

Imagine bringing home two Game Boys.

The first came from a shop.

You saw it in a glass cabinet, paid for it and put it in your luggage.

The second is the console you opened yourself in Tokyo.

You remember choosing the shell.

You remember pulling the old components apart.

You remember trying not to lose a screw.

You remember putting the final pieces together.

And you remember the moment the screen actually came to life.

They’re both Game Boys.

But they aren’t the same souvenir.

That difference is what MOD TOKYO is selling.

For a traveller who doesn’t particularly care about retro gaming, that story isn’t worth ¥52,000.

For someone who spent childhood road trips staring at a Game Boy screen, it might be.

Who Is MOD TOKYO Actually Worth It For?

This makes the most sense for Nintendo fans, retro-gaming enthusiasts and travellers who value hands-on experiences more than conventional sightseeing.

It’s especially appealing for repeat Tokyo visitors.

If you’ve already been to Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji, Shinjuku and the major observation decks, spending an afternoon rebuilding old Nintendo hardware offers something very different.

It can also work brilliantly for parents travelling with older children who genuinely love games and electronics.

What we wouldn’t do is recommend it indiscriminately.

A person with only three days in Tokyo and a passing interest in Nintendo probably has better uses for both the time and the ¥52,000.

👉 Best Things to Do in Tokyo 2026: 25 Must-See Attractions for First-Time Visitors

What Recent Visitors Like About It

The useful pattern in recent feedback isn’t simply that people like the finished Game Boy.

It’s how frequently the instruction comes up.

Visitors mention the small-group environment, patient guidance and how manageable the process feels even without previous experience.

That’s important because a workshop like this could easily become frustrating.

If you’re paying more than ¥50,000 and then spending the afternoon feeling as though everyone else understands the electronics except you, it isn’t much of an experience.

The small group size helps.

Current sessions are limited to up to eight participants, rather than turning the workshop into a large classroom.

That gives guides more time to help when someone’s console isn’t going back together quite as smoothly as expected.

Is It Worth It for Someone Who Already Mods Consoles?

This is where we’d be much less enthusiastic.

If you’ve already rebuilt Game Boys at home, own soldering equipment and understand how these screen and shell modifications work, you’re paying a very large premium for a process that may already be familiar.

You might still enjoy the social side of doing it in Tokyo.

You might value the souvenir.

But the educational part becomes much less valuable.

In that situation, we’d probably spend the money hunting for interesting hardware and games around Japan instead.

MOD TOKYO is much easier to justify for the person who has always wanted to try this but wouldn’t confidently dismantle a vintage Game Boy alone.

Is It Good for Children and Teenagers?

It can be excellent for the right child.

The current minimum age is 6 years old.

Participants aged 17 and under need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The useful part for families is that the supervising adult doesn’t have to purchase another workshop if they’re only watching.

So a parent can accompany a child without turning one ¥52,000 booking into ¥104,000.

If both people want to build a console, of course, both need their own booking.

There is another consideration that matters more than the official minimum age.

Attention span.

A six-year-old who takes apart electronics at home and is fascinated by how things work may love every minute.

Another six-year-old may lose interest halfway through removing screws.

The original Game Boy session lasts around two hours and the GBA around two and a half.

Book for the child you actually have, not simply because the website says they’re old enough.

👉 Japan Family Itinerary: 10 Days in Japan With Kids

Can a Partner or Friend Come and Watch?

Yes.

A non-participating companion can currently watch without paying for their own console.

That makes MOD TOKYO much easier to fit into a couple’s trip where only one person is obsessed with Game Boy.

The alternative is expensive.

Two original Game Boy builds currently come to ¥104,000.

Two GBA builds cost ¥108,000.

Don’t book two workshops just because you feel strange making your partner watch.

If they couldn’t care less about opening a Game Boy, let them watch—or let them spend two hours in Akihabara and meet you afterwards.

If you’re bringing three or more people who aren’t participating, MOD TOKYO asks that you contact them after making the booking.

Is It Good for Solo Travellers?

Yes.

In some ways, this experience suits solo travel particularly well.

You don’t need a partner to make it fun.

You’re working on your own console, talking with the guides and concentrating on the build.

The small workshop format also feels less anonymous than walking into a huge attraction alone.

If you’re travelling solo and already like retro gaming, we wouldn’t consider coming alone a downside at all.

Is It Good for Couples?

Yes—provided at least one of you genuinely cares about it.

A gaming couple who both grew up with Nintendo could have a brilliant time building two completely different consoles.

But there’s no avoiding the cost.

More than ¥100,000 for two people makes this a significant holiday purchase rather than a casual Akihabara activity.

If one person loves Game Boy and the other doesn’t, one booking makes far more sense.

Where Is MOD TOKYO?

MOD TOKYO’s workshop is at:

Le Nid Kanda #701
15 Kanda Kitanorimonocho
Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0036

The studio is on the 7th floor.

At the building entrance, use 701 on the intercom, then take the lift once the door is unlocked.

Knowing that beforehand is useful.

This isn’t a giant street-level gaming shop with a Game Boy hanging above the entrance.

You’re going to a small workshop inside a building.

Kanda or Akihabara Station?

Although MOD TOKYO is promoted as an Akihabara experience, Kanda Station is actually closer.

It’s approximately:

3 minutes on foot from Kanda Station

or

10 minutes from Akihabara Station

Which station we’d use depends on the day.

If you’re going directly to the workshop, Kanda is easier.

If MOD TOKYO is part of a full Akihabara day, walking from Akihabara makes more sense.

It’s close enough that the workshop fits naturally with retro-game shopping, arcades, electronics stores and the rest of the neighbourhood.

The Best Way to Fit MOD TOKYO Into an Akihabara Day

Don’t treat this as an isolated appointment if you can avoid it.

Akihabara is the obvious neighbourhood to combine with the workshop.

Spend some time browsing before your session.

Look at old consoles.

Check cartridge prices.

Have lunch.

Then walk over to MOD TOKYO and build the thing you’ve spent the morning looking at in shop windows.

Afterwards, head back towards Akihabara with the completed console.

There’s something satisfying about that order.

You’ve spent the first half of the day surrounded by Japanese gaming culture.

Then instead of buying another piece of it, you make something yourself.

👉 Things to Do in Akihabara: Anime, Gaming & Electronics Guide for 2026

Should You Buy Game Boy Games in Akihabara?

You certainly can.

Just don’t assume every retro game in Akihabara is cheap.

The neighbourhood is one of the most obvious places in Japan for tourists to look for old Nintendo hardware, and popular stores know it.

Rare games, boxed copies and desirable hardware can be expensive.

Browse more than one store.

Check condition.

Compare prices.

And remember that because the console isn’t region-locked for compatible cartridges, there’s no need to buy your entire collection before flying home.

The hunt can be part of the fun.

Is MOD TOKYO Good on a Rainy Day?

Very.

The actual workshop is indoors and occupies a meaningful part of the afternoon.

Akihabara is also relatively easy to enjoy in poor weather because so much of the neighbourhood involves indoor shops, arcades, cafes and electronics buildings.

We wouldn’t spend ¥52,000 merely because Tokyo’s forecast shows rain.

But if MOD TOKYO was already something you wanted to do, bad weather makes the timing even easier to justify.

How Long Does the Workshop Take?

Allow about:

2 hours for the original Game Boy

2½ hours for the Game Boy Advance

That includes the introduction, actual build and time to use the console after you’ve finished.

Participants are asked to arrive around 10 minutes early.

We wouldn’t schedule another tightly timed reservation immediately afterwards.

A workshop involving screws, electronics and troubleshooting isn’t something we’d want to rush because dinner is booked across Tokyo twenty minutes later.

Do You Need to Speak Japanese?

No.

The workshop is offered in English and Japanese.

For this particular experience, that’s more important than it may sound.

You aren’t just looking at exhibits.

You’re being instructed how to dismantle and rebuild electronics.

Being able to ask a question when you’re unsure which cable or screw the guide means is valuable.

For international visitors who want a hands-on Japanese gaming activity without depending on translation apps throughout the session, that’s a major advantage.

Do You Need to Bring Anything?

No Game Boy.

No tools.

No replacement shell.

No soldering equipment.

The hardware and materials required for the build are provided.

The one thing we’d bring is some idea of how you want the finished console to look.

You may change your mind once all the colour combinations are sitting in front of you, but at least you’ll have somewhere to start.

Can You Cancel?

Current direct bookings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund.

That’s useful for travellers making plans well in advance.

Late arrival is different.

The workshop runs as a guided session, so turning up well after everyone else has started isn’t as simple as entering a museum late.

Aim to be there before the requested start time.

Should You Book MOD TOKYO in Advance?

We would.

With groups capped at eight people, capacity isn’t enormous.

And this is unlikely to be the sort of activity you’d want to discover is full after you’ve built an entire Akihabara day around it.

If MOD TOKYO is one of your priority Tokyo experiences, lock in the day first and plan the surrounding neighbourhood afterwards.

For help arranging the rest of a short Tokyo stay:

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Is This Better Than Simply Buying a Game Boy in Akihabara?

Financially?

Probably not.

Experientially?

That depends on you.

Buying a Game Boy can take ten minutes.

You find the one you want.

You inspect it.

You pay.

Done.

MOD TOKYO gives you two to two and a half hours of involvement before you own the thing.

That’s either the entire point or a complete waste of money depending on the traveller.

If you want a console, buy a console.

If you want to build your console in Tokyo, MOD TOKYO is offering something different.

Is MOD TOKYO Worth It on a First Trip to Tokyo?

This is where we’d be selective.

If you have only three days in Tokyo and aren’t a serious gaming fan, probably not.

Two hours inside the workshop isn’t the real cost.

You also have travel time, time exploring Akihabara and more than ¥50,000 tied up in the activity.

There are too many major Tokyo experiences competing for those limited days.

But if Akihabara is already one of the places you’re most excited about visiting, the answer changes.

A Nintendo fan doesn’t have to use the same Tokyo itinerary as somebody who doesn’t care about gaming.

If building a Game Boy excites you more than visiting another temple or observation deck, that’s useful information about how you should spend your own holiday.

MOD TOKYO vs a Normal Tokyo Souvenir

The strongest argument for MOD TOKYO isn’t technical.

It’s emotional.

Most souvenirs aren’t particularly memorable to buy.

You walk into a shop, choose one, pay and leave.

The finished Game Boy has a story attached to it before you’ve even played your first game.

Years later, the transparent shell or ridiculous button colour combination is still going to remind you of the day you built it in Tokyo.

That’s difficult to price.

It’s also why someone can quite reasonably think ¥52,000 is ridiculous while another person thinks it’s money well spent.

Both can be correct.

What We Would Do

For a casual gaming fan, we’d skip it.

There are too many other things to spend ¥52,000 on in Japan.

For someone who already modifies Game Boys at home, we’d probably skip it as well unless the social experience itself was the attraction.

But for someone who grew up with Nintendo, has never done anything like this before and wants one memorable gaming experience in Tokyo?

We’d seriously consider it.

And we’d probably choose the original Game Boy.

Not because it’s cheaper.

The price difference is almost irrelevant.

We’d choose it because opening the same chunky grey handheld many people remember from childhood feels more connected to the reason for doing this workshop in the first place.

MOD TOKYO FAQ

How much is the MOD TOKYO Game Boy workshop?

Current direct prices are ¥52,000 for the original Game Boy DMG-01 and ¥54,000 for the Game Boy Advance. Tax and the materials used in the workshop are included.

Do you keep the Game Boy after the workshop?

Yes. The customised working console you build is yours to take home.

Is it a real Game Boy?

The workshop uses genuine vintage Game Boy hardware as the basis of the build, combined with new custom and upgraded components.

Do you need experience?

No. MOD TOKYO is designed for beginners and the build is guided.

Do you need to solder?

The Game Boy Advance workshop includes some soldering. The original Game Boy workshop is the simpler option if you’d rather avoid it.

How long does MOD TOKYO take?

Allow approximately two hours for the original Game Boy and 2½ hours for the GBA.

Where is MOD TOKYO?

The workshop is in Kanda, close to Akihabara, at Le Nid Kanda #701 in Chiyoda City.

How far is MOD TOKYO from Akihabara Station?

Allow roughly 10 minutes on foot.

What is the closest station?

Kanda Station is closer, at approximately three minutes’ walk from the workshop.

Is the workshop in English?

Yes. Instruction is available in English as well as Japanese.

What age is MOD TOKYO suitable for?

The current minimum age is 6. Participants aged 17 and under need to attend with a parent or guardian.

Does the parent have to buy a workshop?

No. A parent or other companion who is only watching does not need to pay for their own build.

Can someone come with me without building a Game Boy?

Yes. Non-participating companions can watch. Groups bringing three or more observers should contact MOD TOKYO after booking.

How many people are in each workshop?

Sessions currently accommodate up to eight participants.

Can I use my Australian Game Boy cartridges?

Yes. Compatible Game Boy and Game Boy Advance cartridges can be played regardless of whether they were bought in Japan, Australia, North America or Europe.

Does the workshop include games to take home?

Games are available for testing and playing during the workshop. Don’t assume your booking includes a particular cartridge to keep.

What is the cancellation policy?

Current direct bookings can receive a full refund when cancelled at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

Is MOD TOKYO worth ¥52,000?

It depends on what you’re buying.

If the goal is simply to own a modified Game Boy, there are cheaper ways to do it.

If the goal is to spend a few hours building and customising vintage Nintendo hardware in Tokyo and then keep the finished console as a personal souvenir, the premium becomes much easier to understand.

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to get this decision wrong is to compare MOD TOKYO with the price of a Game Boy.

Of course you can buy one for less.

That’s not really the point.

The better comparison is with the other experiences you’re considering in Tokyo.

Would you rather spend the money on a high-end dinner?

A theme-park day?

Shopping?

Several cheaper attractions?

Or two hours at a workbench in Kanda taking apart a piece of gaming history and rebuilding it into something nobody else has in exactly the same combination?

For plenty of travellers, MOD TOKYO won’t survive that comparison.

¥52,000 is a lot of money.

We wouldn’t pretend otherwise just because this is a fun idea.

But there will also be people reading this who can already picture the Game Boy they’d build.

They know what colour shell they’d choose.

They know which game they’d load first.

They probably still remember the Game Boy they had when they were younger.

For that person, this is different.

The finished console isn’t just something bought during a trip to Japan.

It’s something connected to an afternoon in Tokyo: choosing the parts, seeing the motherboard for the first time, putting the machine back together and waiting to see whether the screen lights up.

And years later, you can still turn it on.

That’s the real appeal of MOD TOKYO.

Go because you want to build a Game Boy, not because you want the cheapest Game Boy.

If you understand that distinction before paying, it’s much easier to decide whether the workshop is worth it.

Continue Planning Your Tokyo Trip

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