Camera Shopping in Japan

[Swordman]

Hi Guys,

At the end of March, I'll be going to Japan and one of the things I'll be doing is camera shopping. I've only got two cameras in mind, the Rollei 35s and the Fujifilm Gw690. I've been to the japancamerhunter website, where he lists some good shops, but has anyone been there themselves and if so what advice would you give?

Also, would there be any camera exhibitions i around that time?

 

[dourbalistar]

This thread has some links that might be of help. My advice would be prepare to wander and expect to get lost. If you've never been to Japan, roaming around on foot can be overwhelming. Even with Google Maps, which is incredibly detailed, it took me a lot longer to find some of the camera stores than I expected. For example, it took me a good bit of wandering to find Yodobashi's film store in Shinjuku. It isn't attached to the main Yodobashi, but around the corner on a small street.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I have been to quite a few of the shops but didn't buy anything in them (I wasn't looking for anything specific though). As dourbalistar mentioned, give yourself some extra time to find them - a lot of shops are tiny, often in the B1 (basement) floors of buildings, or higher up (2F and above). For Yodobashi, there are multiple signs/maps on all of the buildings explaining where each one is (with English). When I go to the camera building (#4) of Yodobashi, I often take the elevator (found in one of the corners on the main floor) up to the top (darkroom floor) and work my way down (it becomes all digital the closer you get to the main floor). Film is sold in another building altogether (#9).

There always seems to be photo exhibitions in Tokyo, if you go to the camera shops you'll probably find some advertising for some of them. The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum always has exhibitions going on but they don't have their listings for March yet. Fujifilm Square often has small exhibitions too (and you can look at a collection of all of their film cameras) if you happen to be in the area.

 

[Swordman]

Thanks for the replies

 

[dourbalistar]

If you have time, the Kitamura Camera at T-Site in Daikanyama is worth a visit. Here is their Instagram page.

 

[mrosenlof]

+1 for the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum.

This place, http://megutama.com/en/what-is-megutama/ is nice for lunch and to browse their book collection.