Tokyo guitar shops?

[Jakem]

Hi all,

Booked a trip to Tokyo today and there should be some killer guitar shops for what I’ve heard. I know Ikebe and Ishibashi etc but anything else?

 

[Music&Chaos]

@scottosan

 

[70 Mach 1]

Bring me back a 70s ibanez artist
With super 70s

 

[Deleted member 77333]

Id love to go. Love to buy a guitar. Just don't feel comfortable getting it thru customs.

 

[jabps]

Bring me back a 70s ibanez artist
With super 70s

Yeah and find me an old ESP Horizon with lawsuit headstock. I'll send the money lol.

 

[CrystalSky]

Yeah and find me an old ESP Horizon with lawsuit headstock. I'll send the money lol.

Which headstock is that? Got pictures?

 

[scottosan]

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/ochanomizu-guitar-street/4658

Your choice of 3-4 dozen guitar shops within the same city blocl

 

[Jakem]

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/ochanomizu-guitar-street/4658

Your choice of 3-4 dozen guitar shops within the same city blocl

Thanks Scott!

 

[jabps]

Which headstock is that? Got pictures?

Jackson style headstock that originally came on the late 80's ESP guitars.

 

[Jakem]

An update after my trip:

Ochanomizu guitar shop street was incredible with huge guitar shops next to each other. I visited all of those and the number of high end electric guitars in every shop was just mind blowing. I also visited Ikebe and Ishibashi stores in Shibuya and the Fender flagship store. Made in Japan stuff was tens of percents cheaper than the prices in European shops which was nice. Ended up getting a MIJ Ishibashi Music FSR Strat for a great price.

 

[errrrrl]

Thats the best part about buying classic older MIJ guitars in Japan... most Japanese don't like the idea of buying used, and they like buying guitars made anywhere else than Japan. Haven't gone since 2019, but walked away with a Greco EG500c LPC for 500 bucks.. still one of my all time favorite guitars to play.

 

[Jakem]

Thats the best part about buying classic older MIJ guitars in Japan... most Japanese don't like the idea of buying used, and they like buying guitars made anywhere else than Japan. Haven't gone since 2019, but walked away with a Greco EG500c LPC for 500 bucks.. still one of my all time favorite guitars to play.

I bought this one^

 

[errrrrl]

View attachment 446716
I bought this one^

Man that is nice! This is my old beaut.. 1980 Greco LPC...

 

[Jakem]

I actually saw some used Greco guitars there in at least one of the shops. That guitar is beautiful!

 

[BenoA]

An update after my trip:

Ochanomizu guitar shop street was incredible with huge guitar shops next to each other. I visited all of those and the number of high end electric guitars in every shop was just mind blowing. I also visited Ikebe and Ishibashi stores in Shibuya and the Fender flagship store. Made in Japan stuff was tens of percents cheaper than the prices in European shops which was nice. Ended up getting a MIJ Ishibashi Music FSR Strat for a great price.

Bumping this post up. I am planning a trip for this coming November. How much time would you consider to just enjoy the area? I don't want to bore the wife too much

 

[scottosan]

Bumping this post up. I am planning a trip for this coming November. How much time would you consider to just enjoy the area? I don't want to bore the wife too much

You could easily spend an entire day on Ochanomizu Street

 

[BlueParfait]

You could easily spend an entire day on Ochanomizu Street

That's what I did in June. Spent half a day there, going back and forth lol.

it was raining, so that cut the trip short. Happy with my purchase, though

First I went to Ikebe in Shibuya, then I went straight to Meidai-dori. I think all the stors deserve visit, but if you can only make it to a few there, IMO,

Ishibashi
Kurosawa/Guitar Planet
Big Boss

In that order

 

[BenoA]

@scottosan @BlueParfait thanks. My plan was mostly half a day (4 to 6 hours) to not make mad the missus I'll take note of the stores you have suggested.

 

[Jakem]

Half a day and You’ll get to see all the shops but if You want to test stuff out then it takes longer. Ishibashi and Ikebe shops in Shibuya were nice as well.

 

[scottosan]

Half a day and You’ll get to see all the shops but if You want to test stuff out then it takes longer. Ishibashi and Ikebe shops in Shibuya were nice as well.

I like those for high end and used gear. Bigboss is good for anything affiliated with ESP.

Start scouring digimart.net for gear before going. Just use a translator extension in you browser. You can get an idea of sore inventory and do research before hitting the stores.

Lastly, most of the prices include a 10% sales tax. While haggling is frowned upon in Japan, it is absolutely reasonable and i encourage to aske if they can discount the 10% tax if you show them your passport. Some will do this and some wont. ASK