Hobby shops in Japan

Jkirkon

Sr Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
It appears I’m going to be in Japan for about a month on business. I will be in the Osaka area.

Any good hobby shops, or any other places of interested I should visit while I’m there?

Thanks in advance!
 
I don't have any specific hobby shop recommendations, but if you have time, you should take the Shinkansen up to Tokyo and wander around Akihabara. The amount of models, toys, electronics, manga, etc. in one small area is truly incredible.

Plus, I think a trip on the Shinkansen is something everyone should experience.
 
It's funny, Japan always seems like a smaller country until you put it into perspective

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Not sure about specialist model shops, but Bic Camera and Yodabashi Camera are both worth a visit. They sell pretty much everything you can think of and both of their stores usually have a decent sized model kit section
 
Looking at that map, it shows that hoping Yummi could suggest some shops, might be like asking someone in Atlanta, if he knows any good hobby shops in Maine. :D (note: I'm aiming this at myself).

Hello, edge10-san,
Aha, I've just been Akihabara, Yesterday. Just an hour from my place.
I needed to buy some junk kit parts for my build.
Oh, I could get a bagful of them.
Well, if you have a chance to come over Akihabara,Tokyo,
I recommend you to visit Radio Kaikan bulbing right beside the JR Akihabara train station.
It is the 10 story large builging and whole the building is hobby shops.
Kits, props, figures, parts, tools paints...etc etc.

I have shopped around another 6 or 7 hobby shops in 2 and a half hours.
Some of them were very specific shops of military kits including vintages.
Hey, I saw 1/72 Monogram B-52. The last time I saw was 50 years ago.
Also, Tam Tam, Yellow Submarine, Suruga-ya.....
OK, once you get off the train, it's Las Vegas.
 
I am in Yamanashi, and next door to my hotel is Yodobashi-Kofu store. They have a pretty good selection of model kits up on the 4th floor.

Quite a few armor, ships, cars and aircraft. Also Gundam. Surprisingly few Star Wars kits, I think there were 4 Bandai kits in stock.

I did find a Tamiya 1/32 Black Aces F-14 Tomcat at 9500yen (about $75USD). That’s a screaming price, I have seen that kit in US hobby shops for twice that.

I might buy it if I can figure out how to get it home!
 

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I wasn’t specifically looking for Blade Runner items. I will go back this week and check.

I was surprised to see several models from the old 1960s (and the later reboot) of the Japanese TV show ‘Ultraman’! I watched the original version when I was a kid, and for fun, am re-watching it now. I thought that show was pretty obscure and unpopular, but here, it seems to be in vogue.
 
Following with great interest. Visiting Japan is on my bucket list.

My question is how to ship stuff you buy back home to the states?
If you bought two or three kits, you can bring them as carry-on baggage unless it's not too many or too big.
If you want to ship a certain amount of them in any convenient way from Japan. Check EMS service of Japan Post. If you purchase in a rather large store, the staff in there will get you a suggestion.
 
I have good memories of this one item from my youth that became even more appreciated after I didn't have it anymore: my Transformer watch. Don't know what or where it is; all I know is I had it when I was a kid and I loved it:
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If I would be in Japan, I would most definitely be looking to purchase this. It's portable, it's funny and fascinating, and functional at the same time. I was a fool to lose or sell it at the time

*Edit: found it at Google under the title "Takara Kronoform Robot Watch"
 
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If you bought two or three kits, you can bring them as carry-on baggage unless it's not too many or too big.
If you want to ship a certain amount of them in any convenient way from Japan. Check EMS service of Japan Post. If you purchase in a rather large store, the staff in there will get you a suggestion.
ありがとう Yummi-san. :) Hopefully I'll be able to travel there for the cherry blossom festival in 2023! (y)
 

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