Trip to Tokyo...

[diplomat]

So, as some of you may know, Alitalia is close to bankrupcy. Then we decided to spend our miles this summer. After a short investigation, we are heading to Japan. 12 hour trip and 8 days stay, something close to a rush I suppose... but I am really thrilled!

Whatever. Now the point is: Japan is one of the fatherland of FP, I need to spend some money! Ok, rather difficult since my wife will be there, but at last let's give a try...

 

I started to make some research here and I found a couple of interesting threads, both pointing to http://www.pentrace.net/east/ as a reference. There I found a comprehensive list of FP Tokyo shops (Eurobox, Itoya, Kinpendo, Maruzen, Fullhalter, Juzen-sha, Ameyoko shopping district, Shosaikan,...). Now, please, I'd have a couple of question especially to our Japanese members:

 

1) Which one is the shop to visit? please bear in mind that I'll visit Kyoto and Osaka too;

2) Once there what item to buy considering that I am interested in something not "differentiating" (e.g. some rare or limited stuff) but in some "defining" item. And by defining I mean something that is tipical, or bestseller for the country, or that somehow made history of FP in Japan. My budget would be around $300, ideally. I said ideally

 

Thank in advance for any answer. You are so kind with me!

 

diplomat

 

p.s. can't wait to take off!!

 

[winedoc]

Summer in Tokyo will be hot and humid, so dress accordingly. Not sure how many days you will be at each city, but don't try to hit every shop from the Pentrace list. Also, expect to pay full retail or close to full retail for most pens. Japanese like foreign goods too, so don't be surprised if you see many full retail Visconti, Omas etc. Department stores like Maruzen rarely give discounts, but nice selections and there are pens exclusively made just for Maruzen by Japanese pen companies. Shosaikan will give you the white glove treatment, and talk about ambiance. If you don't mind a little crowd, there are several small shops in Ameyoko, and more discounts here. This is a big area and shops are scatter around. Want to buy that funky T-shirt cheap, this is the place. Other stuff you will find here (maybe for wife): leather goods, bags, watches, edible stuff, T shirt etc.

 

Main thing is to have fun. If you find something... great. Tokyo can be overwhelming, for sightseeing, join one of the tour in hotel lobby if this is your first time. Personally, among the bigger cities, I like Kanazawa, Nara and Kyoto more. They are more manageable and still retain many old world charm.

 

While in Kyoto make sure you see:

castle tower at Nijo Castle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0130.jpg

 

Golden Pavillion

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0145.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0164.jpg

 

Kimono clad ladies:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0168.jpg

 

Rock garden at silver pavilion

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0174.jpg

 

Suppose to be cover in silver...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0179.jpg

 

While in Nara...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0087.jpg

 

Nara is the Buhdist capital in Japan..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0096.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0098.jpg

 

In Kanazawa:

Old samurai quarter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0335.jpg

 

Lovely garden:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Japan%20Trip%202006/tn_DSC_0331.jpg

 

Have fun!

 

Kev

[Taki]

Hi, diplomat,

 

I think Kevin gave you very good recommendations. Also though the list on PT East is good, it is somewhat dated. For example Maruzen in Nihonbashi had finished remodeling and reopened as OAZO. You probably have to pay full price unless you go to Ameyoko with someone who speak Japanese.

 

If you are flying to Narita Shosaikan has a store at the airport, though you will miss all the experience at the store.

 

If you are going to Osaka/Kyoto, some of the stores you might consider visiting are:

 

Morita Fountain Pen Shop (Osaka)

http://www.morita.ne.jp/　(Google translation )

 

Nagasawa Bungu Center (Kobe)

http://www.kobe-nagasawa.co.jp/index.html (Google Translation)

 

 

Morita has very good prices, but they don't take credit card (I call them Oscar Braun of Japan ).

 

Nagasawa has a reputation for selling well-tuned FP's.

 

I think chibimie might have better suggestions as he has been there more recently than I have.

 

[Bennington1967]

I've never been to Japan, but it's in my list of places to visit. I am an enthusiast of Japanese fountain pens.

[docsamson]

Hi Diplomat,

 

Good luck on your trip. I'm hoping to go to Japan at some point in my life as well. One of the reasons I plan on going is the Nakaya Pen Factory -

 

http://www.nakaya.org/eindex.html

http://www.pentrace.net/east/nakaya_visit/....html</a>

 

They might have something in your price range but just checking it out would be a great experience. Their pens are handcrafted and very beautiful. They say visitors are welcome if you call first.

 

Let us know how your trip turns out. And beautiful pictures from Kevin!

 

Have fun,

Brad

Edited August 4, 2007 by docsamson

[chibimie]

If you are planning to visit Harajuku (where the young and trendy hang out), Shosaikan is within walking distance--well, given the heat and humidity, you might take a cab for under $10. Their display of pens is stunning, and even though they have Japanese pens as well, I think their stock is more European. It's an elegant environment, they have a coffee shop attached, and they are good about letting you try pens.

 

As Taki mentioned, Maruzen is now in a building called Oaza, on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station (the station has two sides, the Marunouchi side toward the imperial palace, and the Yaesu side, toward Kyobashi and Ginza (to the south). (Note: it's not that easy getting from one side to the other, so do ask someone right away.) Their collection is quite impressive, too, easily rivaling that of Itoya on Chuo St. in Ginza. Maruzen often carries pens they have commissioned Sailor or some other pen manufacturer to craft form them, and sell under the name 'Maruzen'.

 

And even if you don't have a Japanese speaker, I think Ameyoko (very near Ueno) is worth a trip. There are about five pen stores in the labyrinthine corridors beneath the railway tracks (see website provided by earlier poster), and each store would surely write out their asking price. Gentle bargaining might be attempted, and their prices tend to be close to web store prices.

 

The Itoya on Ginza's main street is worth a visit, too (esp if you are already planning to see Ginza). Their main fountain pen selection is on the second or third level (mezzanine?), but in addition to that, keep going up and you will also find Tombow's entire collection (from their carbon fibre pens to the Havana, etc.) and a few others that are less 'traditional'. (Not to be missed are their collection of notebooks and papers--on the upper levels; many are European, some are Japanese, a few American.)

 

If you are at Itoya, then you're just a stone's throw away from Eurobox. I have not made it there yet, but you can check their website. (Sorry, I'm writing from out of town and can't track down some specific sites.)

 

Chibimie

 

 

[diplomat]

Guys,

thank you for your awesome replies. I put down the addresses on my moleskine and I am ready to go.

I'll let you know the results in this post. For the moment: thanks! you were so kind and generous with me!

 

c-ya on september (not 1 month in Japan, but 1 month away from the net anyway)

 

thanks!

 

diplomat

Edited August 7, 2007 by diplomat