Any must-see guitar stores in Tokyo?

[bho]

Hello,

Any must-see guitar stores in Tokyo?

Thanks.

[tippy5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVidtYUqAEo

Bring 5 to 6 figures and a separate return plane seat.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by bho

Hello,

Any must-see guitar stores in Tokyo?

Thanks.

Definitely make a run down both sides of the main street in Ochanomizu, but make sure and catch the shops hidden off on the side streets as well. One of my favorites is fairly close to the station on the first side street to your left as you look down the hill.

Another favorite of mine is on the 5th or 6th floor of the Parco building in Ikebukuro. Big store, lots of guitars, and while it's almost always busy, it's also a bit less hectic feeling than Ochanomizu.

Good stores in Shinjuku as well, but a bit more effort required to find all of them.

How long will you be there?

[bho]

Thank you Nama-san. I haven't booked my trip yet so I am not sure about how long I will be there.

It seems that a lot of Tokyo guitar stores carry mostly electric guitars, but my interest is in acoustic guitars. Do you know of any that have great selections of vintage, luthier-built, or locally built acoustic guitars?

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by bho

Thank you Nama-san. I haven't booked my trip yet so I am not sure about how long I will be there.

It seems that a lot of Tokyo guitar stores carry mostly electric guitars, but my interest is in acoustic guitars. Do you know of any that have great selections of vintage, luthier-built, or locally built acoustic guitars?

There is definitely a lot of interest in acoustics there too and the store (sorry I don't know the name) that I mentioned down the side street has a lot of nice ones in there. I almost bought a Taylor 612 there a couple years ago for a great price.
Also the 6th floor Ishibashi store in the Ikebukuro Parco has a nice acoustic section.

Thinking of vintage acoustics, there's a store in Shinjuku where I remember them having a vintage floor. Is Tokyo the only place you're planning on going? I'm trying to remember this one vintage only store I was in a couple years ago, but it was definitely a long ways from Tokyo.

[TokyoNeko]

I personally feel that Shimokura (between the main store and two used stores) has the best selection in Ochanomizu. You can easily spend a whole day browsing through all the stores there.

Shibuya also has a few good stores.

[hairpuller]

I believe there's a little Japanese shop on the corner. Can't remember the name.
scott

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by TokyoNeko

I personally feel that Shimokura (between the main store and two used stores) has the best selection in Ochanomizu. You can easily spend a whole day browsing through all the stores there.

Shibuya also has a few good stores.

Yes, and also a Shimokura in Ikebukuro, but not quite as good as the one in Ochanomizu and not as easy to find either.

Shibuya too, although things are really getting changed around over there lately.

[Long Jon]

People sometimes ask for recommendations for UK guitar shops and those of us that know warn them of the high prices here in Britain.

I have observed (only on eBay) that guitar prices in Japan seem to be really crazy high, eg. twice the already very high UK prices.

Why is that ? Just curious.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Long Jon

People sometimes ask for recommendations for UK guitar shops and those of us that know warn them of the high prices here in Britain.

I have observed (only on eBay) that guitar prices in Japan seem to be really crazy high, eg. twice the already very high UK prices.

Why is that ? Just curious.

There are some great deals to be had from Japanese stores, but you've got to go there to find them. Hard to get them to make a deal at many stores, but there are also ones who will.

I think some of the stuff, that I've noticed at least, listed on eBay, are items that aren't necessarily available stateside but I do know that on several basses and guitars I've bought in Japan, deals can be had.

[MikeD]

I'm heading over to Japan in July for 10 days (Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo) and plan on visiting a few shops as well, so this is perfect timing for this thread. I will be following and recording suggestions into the data banks for future use.

[Cincy2]

I bought a nice Traugott Model R acoustic from these guys who have a shop in Tokyo. Very professional transaction.

https://www.dolphin-gt.co.jp/info/en.html

Cincy

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Cincy2

I bought a nice Traugott Model R acoustic from these guys who have a shop in Tokyo. Very professional transaction.

https://www.dolphin-gt.co.jp/info/en.html

I go down that street a lot but never knew about this guitar shop in Ebisu. Looking at the street view map you can't even tell it's there so I guess I could have gone by and not even noticed. Guess that's what I miss never walking on the other side of the road.