Today I went to Manhattan with the express purpose of visiting Kinokunaya Bookstore because I had heard so much about it on FPN. I arrived before 10 so I had to wait quite a while for the store to open. It does have a huge number of books and magazines written in Japanese. The store is large and neatly arranged. The pen and stationery section is down a flight of stairs.
I was disappointed to learn that there were no Apica notebooks in the store. The very gracious and polite lady behind the register told me that she thought they would not be getting any of these notebooks for at least a month and a half.
I then moved on to the pen case where I saw vanishing points for $187.00. I was so surprised at the high price that I asked the saleslady if the price was in Amercian money: it was! That was the end of any desire to purchase pens there.
I examined the very cute Pilot Petit minis and noticed that each pen was $4.95. Online, they can be had for $4.35 each. This is quite a difference. I did not buy any minis.
I saw a very sweet teddy bear dressed in a kimono. I thought it might be nice to add to my collection but at a price of $225.00, I left the bear on the shelf and did not buy it.
I saw a few other items and could not even begin to guess what they were. The packages are all written in Japanese and since I don't read Japanese and did not want to be a pain to the cashier, I declined to ask.
If you want to see a store full of thousands of Japanese books, notebooks and related items and you don't mind paying very high prices, this is the store for you.
I can't think of the last time I was so excited about visiting a store and walked out emptyhanded but today surely was a first for me! I had lots of fun looking around but I will not return.

I've been to that Kinokuniya, too (several years ago). I agree - it isn't the same kindv store (same name, same... brand). The one that I talk about is in San Francisco's Japantown. This is the one with the Apica notebooks. Again, not much of a fountain pen selection, but lotsa colorful cheap plastic pens.

Also, Pilot ink in bottles.

Sorry you were disappointed. I went there for the first time as well a couple of weeks ago. They still had Apicas then; I got 8 of the tiny ones (there were still more when I left ) for under a dollar a piece. I still had some of the same which I'd bought from Scriptura in New Orleans years ago - those were priced at $1.50.

I didn't look at anything else, because I was physically ill and had to go to the doctor.

I'm sorry that you could not find anything. It's probably not the best place to get bargains on pens, as they sell pens at MSRP, like most of other Japanese B&M retail stores. As for the price of VP, it is the standard price (MSRP) in Japan. IMHO that's is why VP/Capless does not seem as popular in Japan as in the U.S.

However, they probably have Kokuyo and other good notebooks, letter papers, book covers, pen cases, etc. Also there are tons of Japanese books on fountain pens, and I think it would be interesting to browse those books even if you don't read Japanese. There is a list of Japanese pen books in Japanese pen forum as a pinned topic. Hardcover books are expensive, but "mooks" are not. And mooks have a lot of photos. If you have chance to go back there again, please ask sales people about pens, papers and more. They don't mind

Strange that they had no Apicas, they are usually very well stocked when I come in (though I haven't been in a month or two). Many of the Apicas are not labelled with the brand, though. Other companies, like Maruman, make just as nice paper, though. I usually spend many dozens of minutes in front of the notebook shelf, feeling paper and looking at line widths. I think the notebooks, especially the bound ones on the shelf like the Apicas, are very well priced. The pens like the Petit and the Preppy (when it's there) are well priced for me, a 60 cent difference isn't that large when you aren't paying shipping and get it immediately.

Sorry to hear of your disappointment at visiting the store. Scriptura in New Orleans did that to me, I did buy some Crane paper but they charged me more than MSRP for it! Nice to look not to shop.


Kurt

I'm sorry that you had a poor experience. Going to Kinokuniya (whether in NYC or San Francisco) is always a delight for me. While they do have many upper-scale Japanese fountain pens (some are a marvel just to look at!), I was able to purchase a lovely Prera for $40, which seems reasonable. They also carry the excellent Spaulding aluminum fps, in mini and full size, for a modest amount. Near the fp's there is an astonishing selection of Japanese mechanical pencils, including the Platinums and the Pilot S-20's. These range from $15 to $25. There is a wonderful section, too, for woodcase pencils, including the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni's, for about $1 each. I was there about three or four weeks ago and they had a good stock of different sized Apica's---someone must have made a bulk purchase. Did you see the F-6 line of notebooks? These are exquisite, Japan's answer to Rhodia and Clairfontaine. They come gridded and lined and start at a mere $2 or so. Finally---did you try the cafe? One of the best in the city! You can have great Kona coffee, or tea, and try some delectable Japanese pastries.

Give Kinokuniya one more chance. It is paradise! The Japantown branch in San Francisco has fewer fp's but some even rarer pencils and many fine notebooks, and there's delicious sushi to be had nearby. (I always try to stay in Japantown when in SF, just to be in walking distance from Kinokuniya!)

I would love to have the opportunity to go into a Kinokuniya store! Even if things were expensive, I'd be happy to spend hours examining things...

Isn't there one in Sydney?

I gave them one more chance. I returned and bought a small journal that I will never open because it is a gorgeous, gorgeous vintage kimono notebook. It is sitting next to one of my pen cases, with the cheap plastic wrapping protecting it.

I have since researched the term vintage as it pertains to kimonos and it seems that if you wear it once, it becomes vintage for the purposes of resale. This is so beautiful and I bought it for that reason and that reason alone. I am so tempted to buy a kimono. I have been reading about them and it's fascinating, especially the ones made for men with all the beautiful linings!

I mentioned the prices of the pens to the sweet girl at the cash register and she told me that the pen part of the store was a concession and not part of Kinokunaya. I thought that was very interesting indeed. I wonder who has this concession.

This pen hobby has not only brought me such wonderful friends but many related interests as well: paper, stationery, ink, inkwells, dip pens, ink, notebooks, ink, and now kimonos (and, let's not forget INK)!

I was at their location in the city on Monday. I was disappointed to find that they had no Apicas, but found some good-looking expensive paper that probably would not fit in my binder, Preppies, and a lot of neat things, like pencils shaped like pigs, cigarettes, and matching sushi-shaped erasers. If you find that they get some Apicas, please let me know.

Playpen,

Sounds like you had much better second visit!!

Hmm...so I think I own a few "vintage" kimonos

Inkypete: Yes, but unfortunately I'm in Central Queensland. I've never really visited Sydney - only ever spent time in the airports on stopover.

Playpen: I think many, if not all Kinokuniya stores are setup as two separate entities - the bookstore, and then the stationery store. I know this is the case for our Sydney store, for example.

Now you really have to go to the Japantown Kinokuniya in San Francisco---just a few steps away is a fantastic kimono shop...

I was 20, at my cousin's wedding in Tokyo:



It took a team of experts to put me together in this. Everyone at the reception kept trying to speak to me in Japanese while I demurred, "Wakarimasen. Nihongo o hanashimasen." That just made them laugh and talk to me some more.

I have my mother's kimonos in a box. I'm supposed to air them annually... (oops.).

What an absolutely beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing it with the FPN.

Ethernautrix - Since my last visit to San Francisco decades ago, I have not returned but if I ever have the opportunity to go back, I will surely check out the Kinokunaya and the kimono shop that Adair mentioned. Thank you for posting that beautiful picture! Just gorgeous!

Succubus - Sorry to hear that you were ill. I hope you are better now. Too bad I didn't know you were going to be there on Monday. We could have said hello to each other!

Taki - Why do they sell pens at MSRP in Japan and in this store? Thank you for calling my attention to the book list. I'll have to check out the books so I can get myself into more trouble collecting. (I haven't gotten the Fuji yet and I already have my sights set on another maki-e). As it is, I am going to be in such trouble if my kimono interest really takes off...

WillSW - I agree with you about the price thing BUT I was looking for these pens for my three classes and a sixty cent difference times 120 kids is a bit much.

Kurt - I suppose now I can blame this store for my kimono interest....what fun to have someone/thing else to blame!

Adair - I was in the store alone and felt so ill at ease because it was totally empty and there I was with thousands of items. I spent a very long time looking at all the paper and wondering what the salespeople were thinking because I really didn't know what I was looking at. I was not going to start asking tons of questions! I really could not communicate with them because they looked and sounded like sweet little dolls but they could not understand me or speak English very well at all. What I did find interesting was that one of the ladies said it was going to be at least a month and a half before any Apicas arrived. It these books are so popular, why not keep them in stock?

I think it would be fun for a group of us, including Ducttapeearth to meet at the store and go in together.

Phthalo - I promise to return to the store, spend lots of time there and give you a detailed report!

Thank YOU for the compliment. That was the only time in my adult life that I've worn a kimono, so...

I agree with adair, charming photo and subject.
Ethernautrix, you look more Japanese in your earlier photo compared to your avatar photo.

I have a black mofuku mourning kimono lined with red silk that I got on ebay about ten years ago. I must confess that I wear it as a dressing gown, but it's ever so perfect. I also have a yukata + a red obi that are covered in a sickeningly cute hello kitty pattern...this is my standby halloween costume.

I spent far too much time/money at kinokuniya in SF when I lived there...it's worth going just for the magazines!

Playpen, if you go to Kinokuniya's on Saturdays there is a young, hip Japanese-American man behind the pen counter who speaks perfect English and can help you with any questions. He is very kind and won't mind at all. I've attached a photo (hope it works) of the F-64 pads and notebooks that are the Japanese equivalent of Rhodia and Clairefontaine---really smooth, lovely paper, and not too expensive. Last time I was there, they had several different sizes. You might want to try them if Apica is sold out.

Take care and enjoy your next visit.

I can write a paper on why things are sold at MSRP in Japan But there are two main reasons. One is the desire of retailers (also manufacturer and wholesaler, too) to secure their profit margins, and the other is the way Japanese consumers think. Japanese people tend to think the quality and the price are proportional, and there is something wrong with the product if it is deeply discounted. It's not that Japanese people don't like good bargains, and it has been changing after the bubble burst in 90's, but people tend to think "You get what you pay for." Most retailers have big annual or semi-annual sales, and many people wait for those occasions to make major purchases. As for pens, from what I read many people prefer buying them at B&M stores because they can try and inspect the pens in person before you buy. It's easier to do so as most major department stores in Japancarry pens, and most cities have bookstores or stationery stores that sell pens.

Woooo...be careful with kimono. You first start with kimono, then obi, then jyuban, han-eri, then zori, geta, bags, then all the little accessories There are beautiful magazines on kimonos, too

I just remembered that when I went back to Japan last month, they had an exhibit of hand-made teddy bears in Nagasaki. These were not for sale, though.


ethernautrix, beautiful!! I think you are taller than average Nihonjin as your ohashori (right below obi, the part where the excess length of kimono is tucked in) is very small

My apologies to all: I've been calling these wonderful Japanese pads "F-64," but suddenly it dawned on me that it isn't an "F" at all; rather, it is a Greek letter, "Gamma." Anyway, try this paper; it is smooth and exquisite.

Adair, thank you for the information.

Taki, bears with kimonos? What an idea. I have a hug of bears here who are now clamoring for kimonos. You had to post that picture, didn't you?

Wow.

This sounds like I store I should visit, if I ever leave the house....

I couldn't resist another visit this past Saturday. Apica's have been restocked.
This is one of the most dangerous stores in the world if you love stationery...Although, I have heard that there is a NINE-FLOOR stationery shop, with a speciality in fp's and pencils, in downtown Tokyo...Just imagine!

If Kinokuniya is ever out of Apica, then the Tsubame notebooks might be worth a try. They are at least as good as the Apica, it not better. Kinokuniya usually has all kinds of nice paper and notebooks.

It is surprising that more stores do not sell Japanese stationery, given its high quality.

You have now given me a difficult choice: do I fly to Tokyo and check out the nine floors or return to the Manhattan store and check out the notebooks before they are gone? Oh, this exquisitly painful decision!

I find the pricing of Kinokuniya's pens to be 100Yen = $1.65US. There is a 65cent markup per dollar of what it is worth in Japan. It's definitely not a bargain cheapie place, but I love it nevertheless since it's the only place I can buy all my cool gel pens. Or else I'd have to buy a plane ticket to go shopping.

I always thought Tsubame are the first original notebooks, and then APICA were the "copycats"? I have a Tsubame notebook that I love, but I'm not really used to notebooks that can't be folded like a spiral notebook. I used to hate those composition notebooks we had to use in grade school.

Slightly OT, but perhaps a moderator could fix the spelling of "Kinokuniya" in this thread's title. So new customers don't get confused when looking it up in the phone book or whatever.

Thanks,

-Mike

I am not sure if the Tsubame or the Apica came first. The Tsubame and Apica products resemble each other, but only to the point that both are Japanese notebooks. It does not appear, to me at least, that one is a copy of the other. There must be some spiral bound notebooks available, it is just a matter of tracking them down.

I was told that there are a lot of notebooks and papers that are not sold outside of Japan (fountain pens too!). Perhaps additional Japanese notebook brands will be imported if there is sufficient demand. I work near a Japantown, and will have to go and root around there someday and see what they have.

Here is a link to the Kinokuniya website. New customers can look there and find the correct spelling, store locations, contact information and store hours.