A personal guide to import and specialty record stores in Tokyo. This is a reader-participation area, so please use the form at the bottom of the page to add your own favorite stores. * * * Back to Tokyo Leisure Page ____________________________________________________________ MAJOR CHAINS HMV Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ginza. This is my favorite chain -- they seem to have the best selection for singles, dance music, British releases, jazz, and international stuff. It's also easy to locate new releases and to navigate the different genres. Virgin Megastore Shinjuku, Ikebukuro. This also has fairly good selection, but prices tend to be on the high side. The in-store music is usually okay, and it's relatively easy to locate new releases. Tower Shibuya, Shinjuku x 2, Ikebukuro. Since it's based in America, Tower is usually cheaper than the two British chains above, but the selection is much weaker. They're good for imported magazines, which are much cheaper here than in bookstores (I think they must use them as filler for half-full CD cartons). Some of the branches are open until 10pm, which is later than the other chains (but not as late as in the US). There are lots of listening posts for checking out new stuff. Wave Roppongi, Shibuya x 2, Ikebukuro.used to be the best, but they've really gone downhill. They still have an extensive selection, but the layout and organization are confusing, while the staff are usually surly and uninformed. Another problem -- Wave tends to stock domestic releases of foreign material rather than imports, which makes it much more expensive for back catalog. However, they do have some interesting finds if you have the time to hunt through all the shelves. Recofan Akihabara, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Ikebukuro, Shimokitazawa x 2, Sangenjaya, Kichijoji x 2. The cheapest of the chains, Recofan used to specialize in used records and CDs. Now it's an odd mix of used product, imports and domestic releases, with very good prices. For some reason they have huge gaps in their stock, especially for new releases, so it can be frustrating if you're looking for something specific. It's great for bargain-hunting, though. Disk Union Ochanomizu x 5, Jimbocho, Shibuya x 3, Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji. Disk Union specializes in used CDs and is relatively well stocked, although a bit more expensive than some other used stores. (Maybe the two factors go together.) They also have their own very good jazz label, DIW. ____________________________________________________________ STORES BY LOCATION Ikebukuro * * * HMV -- imports -- 10:00-20:30 closed 3rd Wednesday 3983-5501 -- Metropolitan Plaza 6FL (west side of station, south end) Very good selection, well-stocked singles and dance music sections. * * Virgin -- imports -- 11:00-20:00 closed Wednesdays 5952-5600 -- Marui B1FL (west side of station) Good selection. A bookstore and a cafe/bar are here, too. * * Art Vivant -- "contemporary, ethnic" -- 10:00-20:00 closed 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays 5992-0467 -- Seibu Museum (SMA) B1FL An intriguing assortment of new and experimental music, plus exotic "ethnic" imports. Stylishly overpriced. Onstage Yamano -- miscellany -- 10:00-20:30 no holidays3981-4763 -- Parco 7FL I'm not sure what the point of this place is, but it's worth having a look. It's filled with stuff that might be left over if you were stocking a normal store but you ran out of space and couldn't fit it all in. There's a "greatest hits" section that includes only greatest hits albums. Wave -- imports -- 10:00-20:00 closed 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays5992-0600 -- Minami-Ikebukuro 1-19-6 This building was inherited from Seibu Loft, and it was never meant to be a record store. Shopping here is physically uncomfortable -- the aisles are narrow, you have to duck your head to get through the world music department, and it's heated to about 38 degrees C in the winter. There are sunken pits and raised platforms everywhere, so there's a lot of climbing todo. The jazz department is pretty good. Tower Records -- imports -- 11:00-21:00 no holidays 3983-2010 -- P' Parco 5-6FL (just north of regular Parco) Recofan -- imports, domestic, used CDs -- 11:00-20:00 no holidays 65454-0161 (all branches) -- Minami-Ikebukuro 3-13-17 Mashita 5Bldg. 2FL _________________________________________________________________ Shinjuku Virgin Megastore -- imports -- 11:00-20:00 closed some Wednesdays 3353-0056 -- Marui Fashion-kan B1FLGood soul and funk sections. Disk Union -- used and imports -- 11:00-20:00 (Sundays till 19:00) no holidays 3352-2691 -- Shinjuku 3-31-47 stories of new and used CDs, divided up by genre. Not the cheapest used store, but the selection is good. * Tower South Exit -- imports -- 11:00-22:00, closed 6 days a year 3340-3851 -- Shinjuku Lumine 2, 6FL Not so bad. Better-than-average in-store music. Tower East Exit -- imports -- 11:00-22:005379-4101 -- San'ai Bldg. 2FL (behind Takano Fruit) The hypergenre-ization here is very confusing -- for example, there are three different sections for indie rock, six sections for dance music, etc. And if you ask for help, the staff will ask you "What genre is it?" They also have an electronic CD finding computer system, but it lists things they don't have and doesn't list things they do have. Plus there's no bathroom in the entire building. Cisco -- imports and vinyl -- 11:00-20:00 closed third Monday 3341- 7495 -- Studio Alta 6FLThe record department is good for dance singles. Sometimes theyhide new releases behind the counter, so if you don't see it,ask. Recofan -- used and imports -- 11:00-20:00 no holidays 5454-0161 (all branches) -- Shinjuku 3-18-1, Isshoku? Bldg. 7FL * HMV -- imports -- 10:00-21:00 no holidays 5269-2571 -- My City 6FL Nishi-Shinjuku specialty shops -- assorted specialties --Nishi- Shinjuku 7-chomeThere are over 30 tiny specialty shops scattered through 7-chome, on side streets and in apartment and office buildings.Some of them carry bootlegs, and a lot of them specialize in one genre, like R&B or reggae. Here's one to start with: Vinyl Japan #1 -- imports and used -- 12:00-21:00 no holidays 65-0910 -- Nishi-shinjuku 7-4-9, 2FL _________________________________________________________________ Harajuku HMV -- imports -- 11:00-20:00 no holidays 3423-4891 -- Laforet B1FLThis branch is really cramped and understocked, which defeatsthe purpose of a megastore. They should have made this a specialty shop instead. _________________________________________________________________ Shibuya Note that Shibuya also has scads of smaller stores not listed here. * * * Recofan -- used and imports -- ??, no holidays5454-0161 (all branches) -- Beam 4FL The best of the Recofan chain I've been to. Very spacious, withlots of bargains. Definitely worth a visit if you have time to browse. * * Cisco Parco-ten -- imports -- 11:00-21:00 no holidays3770-8451 -- Udagawacho 4-7, Studio Parco 2FL Tokyo record stores (p10 Good selection of dance singles. Warszawa -- vinyl -- 11:00-21:003477-5870 -- Studio Parco 1FL (downstairs from Cisco) New dance singles, plus some old and rare (and expensive) vinyl. Opened 1995-4-21. * * Cisco Techno shop -- techno CDs and vinyl -- 11:00-21:00 no holidays 3496-7028 -- Udagawacho 10-2, Shin-Tokyo Bldg., 1FL A well-stocked shop for serious techno fans and djs. * Cisco records -- vinyl -- 11:00-21:00 no holidays 3462-0366-- Udaga wacho 11-1, 2FL Dance singles and more. * Disk Union #2 and #3 -- used and imports -- 11:00-20:00, no holidays 3461-1121 -- Udagawacho 30-7, Antenna 21 B1, 2, 3FLSome jazz, world music, indies rock, etc. * * * Quincampoix -- avant-garde -- 11:00-20:00, closed 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays 62-3654 -- Loft 5FLSome odd releases that will surprise you. Paris Peking Records -- avant-garde, noise, experimental -- 13:00-21:00, closed Mondays3770-3729 -- Jinnan 1-11-5 #205 Haven't been there yet, but it sounds interesting. * Quattro Wave -- imports -- 10:00-21:00 no holidays 3477-8800 -- Quattro by Parco 1-3FL Wave was a pioneer in the concept of having multiple DJs playdifferent music at the same time (sort of like listening to theradio when it's between stations). The effect here is quite headache-inducing. The international section is worth checking out, but bring your earplugs. Shibuya Wave (Loft) -- imports, vinyl -- 11:00-20:00, closed second 2 and 3rd Wednesdays 3462-3118 -- Loft 1FLCramped and noisy -- go to Quattro instead. * Tower -- imports and imported books -- 10:00-22:00 no holidays 3496-3681 -- along the Yamanote tracks past Marui, towards HarajukuThe world's largest CD store. I went right after they opened,and the selection was very disappointing, but I've heard they're trying to increase their stock. It's definitely worth a trip for the book floor, though -- lots of interesting titles you won't find at Tokyo's English-language bookstores. Theyalso deserve a few points for their new-media departments(CD-ROMs, etc.). Sumiya -- soundtracks -- 11:00-19:30, closed 3rd Wednesday3409-6091 -- Toho Seimei Bldg. 2FL (east side of station) _________________________________________________________________ Roppongi Wave -- imports and domestic -- 11:00-21:00 (till 20:00 Sundays), closed 1st and 3rd Wednesdays08-0111 -- Roppongi 6-2-27 They carry some European pop genres that you won't findelsewhere in town. * Store Days -- experimental, ethnic -- 11:00-21:00 (same as Wave) 3408-0111 -- Wave 4FLArtsy and avant garde, they also have an interesting book andgift shop. Pricing is rather arbitrary -- sometimes they charge800 yen more for things you'll find one floor down in Wave. _________________________________________________________________ Ginza HMV -- imports -- 10:30-20:00 no holidays 5250-2451 -- Ginza-nishi 2-2, Ginza INZ 2, 1FLGood selection. _________________________________________________________________ Ochanomizu * Disk Union #1-#5 -- used and imports -- 11:00-20:00 (Sundays till19:00) no holidays 3294-2648 (#1) -- scattered around the west exit of OchanomizuStationThese are the best of the used stores here, but it's worth checking the others, too, if you're in the neighborhood. Just wander around the station and you'll find them. _________________________________________________________________ Shimo-kitazawa Shimo-kitazawa also has a lot of other good used stores, scattered through the back streets. Flash Disc Ranch -- used and vinyl -- 13:00-22:00 closed Thursdays, open holidays3414-0421 -- Kitazawa 2-12-16, 2FL They have 60,000 used records here. ____________________________________________________________ SPECIALTY SHOPS Experimental, avant-garde * * * Quincampoix -- Shibuya Loft 5FL -- 3462-3654see Shibuya above * * Art Vivant -- Ikebukuro Seibu Museum B1FL -- 5992-0467 see Ikebukuro above * Store Days -- Roppongi Wave 4FL -- 3408-0111see Roppongi above Paris Peking Records -- Shibuya Jinnan1-11-5 #205 -- 3770-3729Haven't been there yet. Rock Modern Music -- (Meidaimae) -- 11:00-20:00 no holidays3322-4461 -- Matsubara 2-45-11, Terada Bldg. 2FL Rock and psychedelic. Recommended by a friend. Animation Godzilla-ya -- (Koenji) -- 14:00-21:00 closed Tuesdays3336-3178 -- Koenji Minami 3-67-1 I haven't been there -- I just liked the name. ____________________________________________________________ EXPRESS YOUR OPINION Add your favorite record stores to the list, or just complain. Choose one or more of the forms below. * Add a record store. * Complain. * Send compliments. What the little symbols mean The little * symbols are part of a somewhat arbitrary rating system, so you can think of them as being merely decorative if you wish. I tried to give points for offering a wide selection, getting new releases quickly, stocking otherwise hard-to-find or unique releases, charging low prices, and providing a pleasant shopping experience. Stores might also get extra points for being close to where I live. Elsewhere on the web * If you're interested in Asian pop music, check out Tatsumi Hosokawa's detailed guide to Asian Pops CD Stores in Tokyo. ____________________________________________________________ Back to Tokyo Leisure Page