Japan Record Shops!

[unclemack]

This is a dream come true and it's only the software side of it...imagine if he went hunting for hardware??? My God!!!

 

One day...one day.

 

M

[Demondes]

Woo-hoo! I'm going in about 2.5 weeks! Now where should I stay? Probably Shinjuku, but friends insist Ginza is more convenient...

A penny?

To me anywhere within easy reach of a train station is good enough. Although usually on the west of the main loop between shinagawa in the south and ikebukero in the north.

[Guest Y B]

I'm a lazy traveller especially on holiday so I am looking forward to a not doing too much kind of holiday. But I will travel anywhere for good food and of course records.

My idea of convenience is an area which provides interesting and comfy hotels which do not cost too much.

Too lazy to get up every morning until I feel very hungry. I won't have to walk too far away to find interesting breakfast (or lunch ) and good coffee.

I then might have a stroll to discover the neighbourhood. Browse through some records. Shopping or check out the nearby neighbourhoods.

When I feel tired I can find interesting food where the locals love to go. Try something new. People watching. When it's time for a nap I can get back to the hotel easily.

I might have a swim or go to the gym when I get up again, then think about dinner. Occasionally something easy but when I'm overseas for holiday I like to try something special, unusual, authentic or traditional, not necessary expansive.

I might have a drink of two at an interesting bar after dinner, even a night club when the mood strikes, and I don't have to worry about getting back if I had a bit too much. Preferably walking distance or a short taxi ride.

Besides shopping and checking out record shops, it's also great if I could get to theatres, galleries and concert halls easily.

I would also like a short trip to Mount Fuji, Kyoto or Osaka if possible.

Sounds like too much already. Planning is too hard...

[Sparkle]

Last year we stayed at Akihabara.  The home of Nerds and Hifi. We had a great time and would stay there again. Probably next year. Its on the circle line and only a few stops from anywhere.

[YCC]

For anyone who's interested, when I visited in 2013, I stayed at Toyoko Inn, a chain with hotels everywhere. Their rates were very reasonable (breakfast included). The one in Shinjuku was a 15-minute walk to the Shinjuku Station, and of course there were at least 2 Disk Union record stores nearby. I'd like to go again but in the cooler months as the summer was very hot and humid. cheers

[Sparkle]

Yes we also stay at Toyoko Inns, They are often a little further from the station and the breakfast is Japanese, ( not western) which for me is great!

 I get my Japanese lady wife to book in which goes well. I haven't tried doing it in English although I do see Gaijin in the various hotels from time to time, so it must be possible!  Very new clean and cheap, a little small,

[Demondes]

Have stayed in toyoko and apa hotel chain before. Quite good value compared to some of the classic and horrible hotels.

There are sometimes better choices but you need to be able to scan japanese websites to find them.

[ferchersan]

@Y B sounds perfect to me...

 

Here's a few more recommendations courtesy of DAR...

 

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/07/record-shopping-in-japan-a-tourists-guide/

 

I've gotta add recording shopping in Japan to the bucket list. (Not that I have one)

 

Cheers,

Leigh

[krakatana]

I stayed a couple of times at the Ryokan Kangetsu which has sadly now closed down. Does anyone have any suggestions for ryokans? Otherwise, the hotels mentioned above do sound good, thanks.

[Hydrology]

Visited Japan last year and loved it. One of my all time favourite places to visit.

 

Picked up quite a lot of second-hand vinyl in Tokyo. Bought a brand new 3xLP copy of "Syro" by Aphex Twin at Beams in Shibuya.

 

Edited July 27, 2015 by Hydrology

[YCC]

Yes we also stay at Toyoko Inns, They are often a little further from the station and the breakfast is Japanese, ( not western) which for me is great!

 I get my Japanese lady wife to book in which goes well. I haven't tried doing it in English although I do see Gaijin in the various hotels from time to time, so it must be possible!  Very new clean and cheap, a little small,

 

I booked on their website before leaving Oz and it's all in English, so no problems there.  Although their clientiele is mostly Japanese, I also did see a few foreigners at breakfast. I particularly liked their hotel in Hiroshima which is 20 mins easy walk to the Peace Memorial. The one in Osaka is also within walking distance to the long shopping mall which had a couple used vinyl shops. cheers

[Sparkle]

Hi Ycc. We stayed in one in Osaka but we chose one near the castle. we were the only foreigners( Gaijin)  there. ( A business area).

At the Toyoko Inn in Ikebukuro (Tokyo) it was full of Chinese!  that might suit some?

[Demondes]

I stayed a couple of times at the Ryokan Kangetsu which has sadly now closed down. Does anyone have any suggestions for ryokans? Otherwise, the hotels mentioned above do sound good, thanks.

You can also search for Minshuku, they are Ryokan like but usually offer only breakfast, and sometimes a separate payable keiseke style dinner. Usually cheaper

I usually only stay in Ryokan style places in onsen towns eg yuifuin, takayama (gifu), or near nagasaki etc.

[krakatana]

Thanks Demondes

[Piko]

The Prince Hotel in Shinjuku has a great location near the rail station.  Reasonable prices from what I recall also.

 

I didn`t get a chance to do much vinyl shopping in Tokyo, Kyoto or Okinawa  basically due to having my family with me so it was best to take them around more vital tourist destinations.  

 

I visited Tower records in Shibuya, selection was good but all new records and I could buy new stuff in Australia so didn`t bother there.

 

In Osaka I found one nice shop near Den Den town the day I sent my family back home and made some nice purchases.  Another tech/digital based town ala Akihabara in Tokyo.

 

Went to Hiroshima today with a plan only to shop for vinyl and found a couple of nice places.  Will give a more in-depth description at a later date.

[Stump]

Should be 2-3 members over there at the moment! How is the weather holding up??? I just received this message from the lonely Planet site....

 

Asia forum:

I'm assuming if I have heat stroke, I wouldn't here on my laptop typing this message, but I'm not that familiar with it. I'm from California, so I'm not used to humid climates. I'm now living here in Shizuoka, Japan and it is so humid here is it unbelievable. Over the passed week or so, I have suddenly been feeling really strange. My head feels really dizzy sometimes and I feel tired. Even though I don't have a fever, my brain feels like it was cooked like an egg by the sun. I have been feeling out of breath off and on and my stomach feels like it has an ulcer (which could be unrelated). I have been resting a lot, using the AC and drinking a lot of water and it only seems to help me temporarily. I plan to go to the hospital tomorrow during the say since I learn the hard way that there are literally zero doctors to help you late at night if you are a foreigner. I'm just hoping that my symptoms don't sound like I'm ready to die and that I ca n afford to wait another day...

 

[Guest Y B]

@Y B sounds perfect to me...

Here's a few more recommendations courtesy of DAR...

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/07/record-shopping-in-japan-a-tourists-guide/

I've gotta add recording shopping in Japan to the bucket list. (Not that I have one)

Cheers,

Leigh

Thanks for the link Leigh!

[Demondes]

Whilst on Asian cities. Was in Hong Kong last weekend and found a small shop near Prince Edward (Mong Kok) that sold some interesting vinyl.  http://www.whitenoiserecords.org/  It was up a seedy looking staircase one level, with one those electrical boards that looks like an electricians nightmare (earth wires connected to building piping etc.).  Some interesting Japanese and Asian Rock/Pop on vinyl.

 

Also went to the relaunched  HMV store in Central, that had a nice floor with a mix of new and second hand vinyl, Blu Ray Audio etc.  Nothing super-special that I couldn't get in Australia.

 

In Northern mainland China for work now (Dalian), I don't think I will be looking for vinyl here.

[Demondes]

Looking for Coffee in Nara today (near Kyoto/Osaka), which is by no means a large city, came across this place offering filter coffee but noted the hifi system in the window of the 2nd floor.  So had to go an investigate.  It was run by an old woman and there was one old Japanese guy sitting at what looked like an old night club bar

 

The Hifi system turned out to be a McIntosh Power Amp, McIntosh pre, and separate Marantz Preamp, and 2 record players; a Michell Gyro SE, and a Stabi (Stabi M I believe).

 

So on went some vinyl (all classical).   Whilst the system was typically for Japan squeezed into a tight space, it sounded quite good for the location.

 

 

 

edit: forgot the speakers were Sonus Faber, but looked to big for the Cremona floorstanders.  So not sure which model

Edited October 28, 2015 by Demondes

[darth vader]

I would have forgotten about the coffee

[BAM]

The speakers are Sonus Faber Amati Homage. I know because I have a pair. The room looks too small for them

Edited October 28, 2015 by BAM

[Demondes]

Ha, gives new meaning to come upstairs for hot coffee.

Yes it was a crime to have the equipment jammed in their. The room was probably 3 metres wide by 8 metres long. I should offer to take care of it all and ship it Australia.

They had thousands of records but all classical. Was hoping for some jazz.

Yes looking up photos of the amati homage, yes you have nailed it.

Lovely looking speakers.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Demondes

[pulinap]

hifi....pftttttt........who cares.......

 

Was the coffee good......? 

[mightyvinyl]

I spent two weeks in Tokyo in October 2015, doing nothing but going from record store to record store for about eight hours every day.

Probably one of my favorite vacations all time.

I stayed at the southern century tower hotel in Shinjuku, almost directly above the Shinjuku station. Largest train station in the world, I think it has something like a 100 exits or more.

I ended up bringing home close to 1500 vinyl record - 50% 7 inch and 50% LP. I use a cool scheme to get tons of frequent flyer miles using credit cards, this allows me to travel round-trip first-class, usually at almost no cost. (For details, check out a website such as milevalue.com, or just look up frequent flyer credit card websites.) I got to go round-trip first-class from Seattle via Los Angeles on Japan Airlines, which is normally nearly a $20,000 round trip ticket. Cost me something like $70 in taxes. The point of that is that I got to have two full size suitcases with 50 kg weight limits, as well as a carry-on and a backpack. I still ended up shipping home probably one half or two thirds of the inventory using Japan mail, which I think worked out to something like one dollar per record when it all was said and done.

Going in October was great, the weather was good. Although it was a bit humid it was still comfortable, the only bad part was that I had forgotten that is our anniversary, so I am still paying for it today - I year later - trying to make it up to my significant other.

The hotel location in Shinjuku was fantastic, as I was within 5 to 10 minutes walking distance to a dozen great vinyl stores, mostly in the disk union chain. I think my favorite store overall was Recofan in Shibuya.

I'm going back again this year, booked my frequent flyer airline tickets about six months ago, and this time I'm going in late September and the first week in October, so I'm home one week before our anniversary.

If anyone has any suggestions on better ways to ship vinyl from Tokyo to the USA, I'd be very appreciative. Last year in a Diskunion I ran into a buyer from Germany who mentioned that he used a transportation service to ship home records by the pallet. I should've asked him for more information, if anyone has ideas on ways to ship more economically please let me know. Using Japan Mail was actually a good value compared to the cost of the US Postal Service, but it still was relatively expensive for the large volume of stuff I purchased.

Last year, the good news was that the yen was at a 20% discount to the dollar, as it was nearly 120 Yen the dollar. After Brexit, the price of the yen had moved to about 100 to the dollar, and when I checked again the other day it was back to about 106 to the dollar. I doubt I will get the 20% discount that I enjoyed last year, but at least the end isn't stronger than the dollar as it was a few years back.

[Stump]

Nice pickup Mike.I met a guy who buys up 3X time a year and ships back with DHL.He opened a account with DHL Japan to get 50% shipping discount.Ship home records by the pallet is worth looking .into .........

Stump