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Shopping for a tonearm in Tokyo

ontheroad303

ontheroad303

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Off to Japan later this month for 2 weeks, will have the most time for shopping in Tokyo.

I'm about to embark on a SP-10mkii restoration, so I'd like to bring a tonearm back with me.

Anyone have an updated list of shops to check out? IIRC, Hifido has some brick and mortar stores, but I don't really have any other leads. Thanks.
 
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The area to visit in Tokyo is the Akihabara.
From Wiki:
Akihabara
Description
Akihabara is a buzzing shopping hub famed for its electronics retailers, ranging from tiny stalls to vast department stores like Yodobashi Multimedia Akiba. Venues specializing in manga, anime, and video games include Tokyo Anime Center, for exhibits and souvenirs, and Radio Kaikan with 10 floors of toys, trading cards, and collectibles. Staff dressed as maids or butlers serve tea and desserts at nearby maid cafes. ― Google
 
JoeESP9 said:
The area to visit in Tokyo is the Akihabara.
From Wiki:
Akihabara
Description
Akihabara is a buzzing shopping hub famed for its electronics retailers, ranging from tiny stalls to vast department stores like Yodobashi Multimedia Akiba. Venues specializing in manga, anime, and video games include Tokyo Anime Center, for exhibits and souvenirs, and Radio Kaikan with 10 floors of toys, trading cards, and collectibles. Staff dressed as maids or butlers serve tea and desserts at nearby maid cafes. ― Google
Click to expand...

yes, this will my second time in Tokyo. I visited Akihabara before, but the sheer number of stores is astounding, so I thought I’d ask and see if there were any good ones to scope out.
 
Not sure but it is possible that BIC camera sells tonearms. They stock a *lot* of audio gear as well about everything else!
 
I don't go to many high-end shops, so I don't know much about the selection there. However, Audio Union in Ochanomizu is well known. It's about 10-15 minutes' walk from Akihabara. Check their website for an idea of the kind of brands they have. They sell only audio gear, both new and used.

Another option is Hard Off. They don't sell only audio, but as long as the shop is labelled Hard Off somewhere on its sign (there are other versions, like Book Off, Off House etc., as well as branches that combine two or several of these), then they sell audio equipment. There are many branches around Japan. I have never actually made it to the Akihabara branch, so I don't know what that one's like. The Kichijoji branch is probably worth the trip out along the Chuo line: it's known for high end equipment. There are some interesting turntables on the top floor. At most of the Hard Offs that I go to (provincial ones) you rarely see standalone tonearms. It's mainly turntables. But at Kichijoji, you are far more likely to find some.

Lastly, there's a shop called Sound Heights in some nowhere place in, I think, Chiba. They specialize in high end turntables, tonearms, and cartridges, both new and used. You could have a look at their website. They do mail order and send out pretty quickly.

I'm not that impressed with the huge stores like Yodobashi. They're a bit loud and brash, and mainly about the convenience of having everything camera/electronics-related in one place. They never seem to have worked out that when you're dropping half a million yen or more on camera or audio equipment, you might be looking for a quieter and more visually pleasant experience, so the high-end audio area, which does have a reasonable selection at least in the "lower high end" category, is barely better than the pandemonium in the rest of the store. You may leave feeling as if you've been yelled at through a loud hailer. You may actually have been.
 
As a photography enthusiast, Yodobashi was an amazing place to see and hold every current model of camera body and lens from every major manufacturer.

Far more fun spectacle than actually informative and there were no bargains to be had when compared to prices in the US.

I also remember a huge section for audio but no specifics, unfortunately.

But there are some good restaurants on the top floor.
 
The Akihabara Yodobashi is very impressive in size, and depending what you're after, selection. Especially for someone who might not have seen it before, it's worth a visit. And I certainly wouldn't deny that Yodobashi (the chain) is often useful for me. I'm glad it's an option. It's just not a strong favourite.
 
Good luck, there's some great stores but parts are impossible to find, like other's have said, it might be easier to get it here.

While your in Akihabara, and you like pizza, this place is killer with craft beers!
https://www.devilcraft.jp/
and a 7 story wonder of vintage cool toys
https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/?lang=en

Shibuya has a ton of record stores, that might be a better place to look for a tone arm, Nerds, Next, Mother's, Manhattan Records etc.

Up the street from Shibuya is Ebisu, stop at the original Sapporo Beer Factory/Museum for some suds and then hit the coolest little cassette/boombox store in the world, The Waltz. They also have hundreds of old issues of Tape Sound and other 70's magazines that are packed with audio photos and info (in Japanese but the photos are cool to look at).
https://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/brewery/y_museum/
https://waltz.business.site/

Ebisu is pretty nice, plan the day around their "trash day" I think it's a Tuesday? Before 11 am people set their larger trash out on the curb, it's all nicely wrapped up and super-clean. You won't believe what they toss, nice old stereos/radios, travel luggage (because they have no where to store it) and much more, it's better than some flea markets.

Dubby Mad is a legend in the boombox world, he's restored a million boomboxes not sure if he is still open but I have a feeling he knows where to get parts.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Boombox-Japan/100069180170314/

Good luck and have fun, walking is your friend, you'll find more neat stores that way.
 
Karl vd Berg said:
Nice! Keep us updated! I'm also curious if it's still possible to find components in local shops... DIP-7 dual j-Fets like the uPA68HA, 2SK150, or small signal BJT like 2SA1085, 2SB737, 2SA1349, etc...
Probably all gone over there as well, but who knows?
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I don't know about those specific components.
But I was in Hachioji for a work trip and my coworker and I were scrambling to get a machine back up and running.
We wound up in Akihabara and there are dozens if not hundreds of small shops STUFFED to the rafters with every conceivable electrical and electronic item.
 
RVT1K said:
I don't know about those specific components.
But I was in Hachioji for a work trip and my coworker and I were scrambling to get a machine back up and running.
We wound up in Akihabara and there are dozens if not hundreds of small shops STUFFED to the rafters with every conceivable electrical and electronic item.
Click to expand...
My next trip abroad, for sure. :)
 
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