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Other Pen/stationery Shops In Japan


zerotester

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I will go to Tokyo late March and hope to squeeze some time to pay visit to a pen shop or two. I've been to places such as Itoya, Maruzen, Shosaikan and Tsutaya (the one in Daikonyama), I'll try something new and small this time. Euro-box is frequently talked about here and absolutely I'll go on a pilgrimage to meet Fujii-sensei. I think I again need to go to Kakimori, in Kuramae, given their 'bespoke' notebooks. I found another small shop Rokuzen in Kameido. If I have half a day, I'm not sure if it's worth the visit and I haven't checked the travel time from Marunouchi where I'll stay. Or should I go for Kingdom Note instead?

 

Regrettably I cannot set aside any budget to add something new to my collection. It's purely a pilgrimage this time.

 

Your advice is highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Clemente

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do tell us all about these places once you returned. i'm dying to visit tokyo again. on a previous visit i wasn't able to have time to go to a pen shop. i wonder if i can have another visit solely for pen shops. i think i may end up spending an arm and a leg.

-rudy-

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do tell us all about these places once you returned. i'm dying to visit tokyo again. on a previous visit i wasn't able to have time to go to a pen shop. i wonder if i can have another visit solely for pen shops. i think i may end up spending an arm and a leg.

 

Sure will do. I've been to Tokyo many times - for business or for pleasure. I just love the city as much as the pen scene. It's true that some self-control is necessary otherwise you'll easily get yourself broke, especially when you visit places like Shosaikan or Itoya - or even any department stores - look at their shelves and the way the pens are placed in front of you. I will spend hours at stationery shops as well.

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Sure will do. I've been to Tokyo many times - for business or for pleasure. I just love the city as much as the pen scene. It's true that some self-control is necessary otherwise you'll easily get yourself broke, especially when you visit places like Shosaikan or Itoya - or even any department stores - look at their shelves and the way the pens are placed in front of you. I will spend hours at stationery shops as well.

 

sigh... on that note, looks like i have to do some self-restraint practice prior to my future revisit to japan :(

-rudy-

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One caution with euro box to check when the opening days are. I went to visit only to find it closed on a particular day. Itoya is wonderful, I enjoyed seeing the Nagahara retirement pen in the flesh.

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One caution with euro box to check when the opening days are. I went to visit only to find it closed on a particular day. Itoya is wonderful, I enjoyed seeing the Nagahara retirement pen in the flesh.

 

Thanks nvbrennan. I have sent Fujii-san an email to confirm my time of visit, and yes, will go to Itoya definitely as I will stay pretty close to Ginza.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Went to Euro Box yesterday. Finally met Mr. Fujii. The place was small and when I went there was packed with people. Had a good chat with him, knowing that he'd be going to Cologne in April. I was hoping to buy one of the pre-war Pilot's unfortunately he had too many customers and I didn't have much time left so I had to go without getting anything.

 

Today I just discovered an Itoya Topdrawer shop was at a building close to my hotel in Marunouchi, a small but nice shop. I hope to have time to go to their main shops in Ginza tomorrow morning. :lol:

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Went to Euro Box yesterday. Finally met Mr. Fujii. The place was small and when I went there was packed with people. Had a good chat with him, knowing that he'd be going to Cologne in April. I was hoping to buy one of the pre-war Pilot's unfortunately he had too many customers and I didn't have much time left so I had to go without getting anything.

 

Today I just discovered an Itoya Topdrawer shop was at a building close to my hotel in Marunouchi, a small but nice shop. I hope to have time to go to their main shops in Ginza tomorrow morning. :lol:

 

Thanks for the update! I went to Itoya a couple of years ago. I would love to go back some day.. :)

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wow! sounds like fun. Cologne in April? for the pen show?

 

I believe so. He said he's going there to buy pens.

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Thanks for the update! I went to Itoya a couple of years ago. I would love to go back some day.. :)

 

Tokyo pen scene is never boring. You won't be disappointed coming back to the metropolitan! :lol:

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There are a good number of old stationary shops that sell fountain pens. If lucky, you hit on one that still has vintage pens at decent prices.

You can find them. Go to the phone book, look up mannenhitsu and start calling. There are/were at least two in Kyoto. I found one in Okayama, Kanazawa, Tsuwano, Takamatsu, and Sendai. Prior to our last trip, I had at least ten more lined up.

 

PS: We do not travel around Japan looking for pen shops. We visit relatives and then tour places we have not been before. If lucky, those places on our list have a shop nearby that sells fountain pens..

stan

Formerly Ryojusen Pens
The oldest and largest buyer and seller of vintage Japanese pens in America.


Member: Pen Collectors of America & Fuente, THE Japanese Pen Collectors Club

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There are a good number of old stationary shops that sell fountain pens. If lucky, you hit on one that still has vintage pens at decent prices.

You can find them. Go to the phone book, look up mannenhitsu and start calling. There are/were at least two in Kyoto. I found one in Okayama, Kanazawa, Tsuwano, Takamatsu, and Sendai. Prior to our last trip, I had at least ten more lined up.

 

PS: We do not travel around Japan looking for pen shops. We visit relatives and then tour places we have not been before. If lucky, those places on our list have a shop nearby that sells fountain pens..

 

Stan, thank you for your info. I'll take note of it. I hope I will visit Japan soon enough and this time probably Kyoto and Kanazawa will be my destinations. However, my Japanese is only sufficient to order food at ramen shops and I'm not sure how I can communicate with the more local shops. That's the only problem I can foresee if I visit the local pen shops ;) .

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Phone ahead before trekking out to Rokuzen. It is in an apartment in a somewhat large apartment building complex. Even with their ad in hand to show the locals, I had some difficulty finding it. But find it I did, only to find it closed. I phoned and learned that it is open by appointment only.

 

I alwas recommend Kingdom Note, but their selection is rather sparse at the moment. Everyone is shopping like crazy before the sales tax jumps up the first of next month. Still worth going, if you are in town. I bought two pens there this past Tuesday.

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Phone ahead before trekking out to Rokuzen. It is in an apartment in a somewhat large apartment building complex. Even with their ad in hand to show the locals, I had some difficulty finding it. But find it I did, only to find it closed. I phoned and learned that it is open by appointment only.

 

I alwas recommend Kingdom Note, but their selection is rather sparse at the moment. Everyone is shopping like crazy before the sales tax jumps up the first of next month. Still worth going, if you are in town. I bought two pens there this past Tuesday.

 

+1 for checking out Kingdom Note. Also located right next to a bunch of Yodobashi Camera stores in which one of them sells fountain pens/watches/etc, though the range isn't as sparse as say Itoya or a proper store.

Pens in order of purchase: Lamy Al-Star, Lamy 2000, TWSBI Vac-700, Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Pilot Capless Decimo

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Kingdom Note is the store that does the new range of Sailor inks. Sigh - I wish I could go

I don't know that they are THE store with a new line of Sailor inks, but they do have ten inks produced by Sailor for their 5th anniversary. The first five are named after Japanese insects, the newer five after Japanese birds.

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could someone please provide the address for Kingdom Note? or at least the website of the shop, if any?

-rudy-

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Their website is www.kingdomnote.com. If you click where it says "ENGLISH" near the upper right you can find directions tothe store in English. Just typing in Kingdom Note in your browser should bring them up.

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Their website is www.kingdomnote.com. If you click where it says "ENGLISH" near the upper right you can find directions tothe store in English. Just typing in Kingdom Note in your browser should bring them up.

 

thanks so much. much appreciate it.

-rudy-

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