Tokyo Gameboy Mod Workshop: Build & Customize Your Own

Build a Gameboy That's Yours in Tokyo's Retro Gaming Heart

You choose the shell, parts, and colors, then build your own Gameboy (Classic, Advance, or SP) with hands-on guidance from a retro gaming enthusiast in Akihabara. All parts, tools, and a test cartridge are provided. The workshop takes a few hours, and your finished console comes with a 3-day guarantee if anything needs adjusting.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gameboy Mod Workshop in Akihabara

• Arrive at Akihabara workshop
• Receive step-by-step guidance
• Choose Gameboy shell and parts
• Mod your Gameboy Classic/Advance/SP
• Test Gameboy with lent cartridge
• Return game cartridge

The experience

What if you could walk into a workshop in Akihabara and leave with a Gameboy you'd actually built yourself? That's the draw here, not just buying a mod, but making one. You pick the shell color, choose your parts, and follow step-by-step guidance from someone who actually loves these machines. By the end of a few hours, you've got something that works, looks exactly how you wanted it, and feels like it came from your own hands.

The workshop happens in Akihabara, the neighborhood where Tokyo's retro gaming culture still pulses. You're not in a sterile studio. You're in the part of the city where people still hunt for old cartridges and rare consoles. The Gameboy mod workshop gives you all the parts (shells, buttons, screens, circuit boards, whatever you need for a Classic, Advance, or SP) plus the tools to put it together. A guide walks you through each step without hovering. They're there because they genuinely care about these things, not because they're reading from a script. You even get to test your finished Gameboy with a loaned cartridge before you leave, so you know it actually plays.

What makes this different from buying a pre-modded console online is the control. You're not choosing from five preset colors. You're mixing and matching shells, buttons, and internal parts to build something that matches how you see it in your head. Some people recreate a Gameboy from their childhood. Others go wild with colors that never existed. The result is a one-of-a-kind souvenir that actually works and that you made. If anything goes wrong in the first three days, they'll help you fix it, though you'd cover shipping if it needs to go back to them.

The whole thing takes a few hours, and you don't need any technical skill beforehand. Snacks are included, and the space is accessible if you're in a wheelchair or traveling with a stroller. Public transit gets you there easily. When you're done, you walk out with a Gameboy that's yours, a memory of making it, and something you can actually play or pass on to someone else.

What’s included

All parts and the console needed to build your chosen Gameboy model (Classic, Advance, or SP), various shells and customization parts, all tools required for assembly, step-by-step guidance from a Gameboy enthusiast, a loaned game cartridge to test your finished console, and snacks during the workshop.

Options for this experience

3 options

Original Gameboy mod in TokyoGuide in English · 15:00Mod kit and an original Gameboy

Gameboy Advance mod in TokyoGuide in English · 11:00Mod kit included with a Gameboy Advance

Tokyo: Gameboy SP mod with USB-CGuide in English · 15:00Mod kit and a GameBoy SP

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 15:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by EPIC JAPAN EXPERIENCES

Is this one for you?This is for anyone who grew up with a Gameboy and wants to own one again, or who collects retro gaming gear and wants something truly personal: the workshop removes the guesswork of buying pre-modded consoles online and gives you a working, custom piece you built yourself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

214 verified traveler reviews

5 ★214

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long does the Gameboy mod workshop take?

The workshop runs for a few hours. Exact duration depends on your pace and which Gameboy model you choose, but most people finish within an afternoon.

Do I need experience to build a Gameboy?

No. The guide provides step-by-step instruction, and all tools are supplied. It's designed for anyone, regardless of technical background.

Which Gameboy models can I mod?

You can choose from the Classic Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, or Gameboy SP. Each has different shell and part options available.

What happens if something breaks after I leave?

The workshop offers a 3-day guarantee. If there's an issue, they'll help you fix it, though return shipping costs are your responsibility.

Can I test the Gameboy before I leave?

Yes. The workshop lends you a game cartridge so you can play and confirm your finished console works before you take it home.

Is the workshop in English?

The guide is a Gameboy enthusiast who provides step-by-step instruction. Confirm language availability when booking if this is important to you.

Where exactly in Tokyo does this happen?

The workshop is located in Akihabara, Tokyo's gaming and pop culture district. Public transportation nearby makes it easy to reach.

What if I'm traveling with young children?

The workshop is suitable for all fitness levels and is accessible for strollers and prams, so children can come along. Confirm age suitability for hands-on participation when booking.

Can I choose any shell color I want?

You select from available shells and parts at the workshop. The range includes various colors and styles, though specific options depend on stock.

Is this an official Nintendo experience?

No. This is run by independent retro gaming enthusiasts. Nintendo is not involved, but the workshop operates legally and the consoles are fully functional.