Hi all,
I'm traveling to Tokyo next week! Can anyone recommend any particular record stores for classical CDs there? Thanks!
Quote from: Justin on March 28, 2014, 08:33:45 PM
Hi all,
I'm traveling to Tokyo next week! Can anyone recommend any particular record stores for classical CDs there? Thanks!
When I visit Tokyo, I usually stop by Tower Record Shinjuku (http://tower.jp/store/kanto/Shinjuku). One whole floor was dedicated to Classical music and Jazz. There were a lot of Stockhausen Verlag CDs there. That was one of main reasons I went there. However, since I have not been there for many years, there might be changes. (At least, it seems the store still exists. :))
Quote from: torut on March 28, 2014, 08:49:16 PMThere were a lot of Stockhausen Verlag CDs there.
I hope there was a large dumpster close by as well. :laugh:
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 28, 2014, 08:53:47 PM
I hope there was a large dumpster close by as well. :laugh:
Good, then I can get them for free. :)
Stockhausen CDs were very expensive there.
Also, there was another famous store (Ishimaru at Akihabara) where you could get many bootleg CDs, but the store is gone. I was not interested in bootleg, so I didn't go there much.
The best place to go shopping for classical is Disk Union, in Shinjuku and Ochanomizu. Both locations have a classical store. The classical store in Shinjuku is located next to Kinokuniya in a small building on the 8th floor. Ochanomizu store is located across from Lotteria fastfood restaurant and diagonal from the West exit of the train station.
Used mostly, but also new can be found at Disk Union. Do NOT miss out on going to Disk Union if you go to Tokyo.
Other stores and specific locations can be found here:
http://diskunion.net/st/shop/e_index.html#ds12
BTW, Ishimaru did NOT deal in bootleg CDs.
Quote from: flyingdutchman on March 30, 2014, 11:47:37 AM
BTW, Ishimaru did NOT deal in bootleg CDs.
Yes, it did. I saw many CDR discs there, although I didn't buy it. The store was famous for that.
If I can ask a semi-hijack, aside question, I am going to Osaka and Kyoto at the end of May and have the same question :)
Quote from: flyingdutchman on March 30, 2014, 09:35:03 AM
The best place to go shopping for classical is Disk Union, in Shinjuku and Ochanomizu. Both locations have a classical store. The classical store in Shinjuku is located next to Kinokuniya in a small building on the 8th floor. Ochanomizu store is located across from Lotteria fastfood restaurant and diagonal from the West exit of the train station.
Used mostly, but also new can be found at Disk Union. Do NOT miss out on going to Disk Union if you go to Tokyo.
Other stores and specific locations can be found here:
http://diskunion.net/st/shop/e_index.html#ds12
Hopefully they stay around for a while...
awesome info. :)
Thanks again for your input, everybody!
Quote from: Baklavaboy on March 30, 2014, 07:07:40 PM
If I can ask a semi-hijack, aside question, I am going to Osaka and Kyoto at the end of May and have the same question :)
I have not been there, but I heard that in Osaka Tower Records MARUBIRU store (http://tower.jp/store/kinki/UmedaMarubiru) is the best. (I suppose you can translate the web site.) However, the store size is ~40% of Shinjuku store.
I am not a Tower Records employee. :) Just telling what I know & heard.
Maybe
flyingdutchman knows better...
By the way, regarding Tower Records in Tokyo, Shibuya store (http://tower.jp/store/kanto/Shibuya) may be better. It has its own home page (http://towershibuya.jp/). One floor is dedicated to Classical, Ambient, Electronica, New Age and Avant Garde. See "7F" photo below. (There is even a piano!)
(http://towershibuya.jp/wp/wp-content/themes/tower08_news/images/floor/f7.png)
I wonder if prices have changed a lot over the years. I lived in Kumamoto Japan in the late 90s, and Tower's CD prices were pretty astronomical--generally $15-$20 a disc for major label stuff, and some Naxos for 8 or $9, as I recall. They had a kind of "punch card" thing to get points, but it was absurd, like buy 100 discs and get one free. I actually made it, and they told me it had expired ??? It was my fault, but I was furious at the time.
I remember shopping at a little hole-in-the-wall place with a series of generic looking CDs [conductor and other data was printed right on the CD, virtually nothing on cheap slips of paper visible on the front and back of the jewel case) for $3 a piece. Actually, it turns out these were by Karajan, Muti, Abbado, and Jochum--names that meant nothing to me at the time. Hoping I can find some stuff more along these lines when I am there :)
Shibuya store is the best Tower store in Japan. I've been to Osaka's store...not nearly as good as Shibuya or even Shinjuku. I lived in Japan from 1994--2005 and I return to Japan for business every year.
To follow up on this since it's been a while to update. Went to Tokyo in September 2018 and the Shinjuku Disk Union Classical store is now IN the Kinokuniya building and on the 8th floor. Still the best store, IMO, for used classical. I go there first before Tower.
Is this shop still active ? Do you have other suggestions for 2nd hand cds or new cds/vinyls and Tokyo? And what about Kyoto? Tks Alex
Quote from: bergonzi on August 12, 2024, 06:13:22 AMIs this shop still active ? Do you have other suggestions for 2nd hand cds or new cds/vinyls and Tokyo? And what about Kyoto? Tks Alex
@Dry Brett Kavanaugh might have some suggestions for you (He lives in Japan though I forget where.)? And
@flyingdutchman too.
I've been to Kyoto, but at that time was more focused on things like lacquer ware. :) I hope that you enjoy your trip!
PD
I recommend these cd/record shops in Tokyo.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EQ7RfSmyPqFNVyNW7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1hifxj1JceKJ4aiTA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7eMpYb2BbRX6Shii6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oPBJiUZZ9D4JRbh77?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Problem with Ochanomizu classical store now is that they've mixed SACD hybrid in with their regular CDs. Big mistake, IMO.
Quote from: flyingdutchman on August 20, 2024, 01:32:26 AMProblem with Ochanomizu classical store now is that they've mixed SACD hybrid in with their regular CDs. Big mistake, IMO.
Why is that a mistake? They both play in standard cd players.
It's harder to search for items and makes the time spent there searching multiplied by about 50% at least. If you've shopped there before, you could spend the time you needed at the SACD section and be done within 1/2 the time. Now it's much worse.
I can read Japanese, but it's still a fair amount of time craning your neck as you try and find the things you want. Also, SACD aren't always clearly labeled as such.
I guess I am not enough of a record-fanatic to understand why someone would spend precious time in a unique foreign land at a record store. :o
Quote from: flyingdutchman on August 20, 2024, 01:32:26 AMProblem with Ochanomizu classical store now is that they've mixed SACD hybrid in with their regular CDs. Big mistake, IMO.
Disk Union at Ochanomizu is a top of my list.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on August 21, 2024, 12:28:49 AMI guess I am not enough of a record-fanatic to understand why someone would spend precious time in a unique foreign land at a record store. :o
I live in Japan. But, beyond that Japan is a music mecca. One of the best places to go for music of pretty much any kind.