Ito-ya or Maruzen?

[drawline]

I know that Tokyo and penwalking comes up all the time on here, but thought i'd ask specifically; which one is better (for you), and why? For example as far as service goes, trying out pens, range etc.

 

Just looking ahead as i'm going soon and may not have time to go to each more than once.

[kamakura-pens]

I know that Tokyo and penwalking comes up all the time on here, but thought i'd ask specifically; which one is better (for you), and why? For example as far as service goes, trying out pens, range etc.

 

Just looking ahead as i'm going soon and may not have time to go to each more than once.

 

Both stores are an oasis for pen and stationary lovers. You won't find any bargains here. If you are looking for a killer deal it is better to head to the On-line dealers, but if you like to see the pens before you buy them then this is the place to go. Either store would happily let you try out as many pens as you like. For the people who have never been to Japan it is hard to imagine the quality of service that Japanese department stores offer, and none are better than Maruzen or Itoya.

 

My personal preference for pens is Maruzen. And this is mainly because they helped a lot with my research. I have been working on a book about Japanese pens for years, and Maruzen is an important chapter. I had chatted with the manager for a while that I had a Taishou era Maruzen pen (My Orion), and he asked me to bring it in and show them. When I did, he made some phone calls and then took me to meet Kenichi Watanabe, the corporate president at the time. It was quite an honor, and they showed me their little museum. This is not open to the public, but it is up on the top floor where all top managers have their offices. Here they have a VIP lounge with a huge display of many early Maruzen pens, ink bottles and other early Maruzen goods. It was quite a surprise for me because I never knew it existed.

 

For blank books and journals, Itoya is my favorite. I always seem to buy more blank books than I actually use. But when I start a new research project it is nice to have a nice book ready and waiting.

 

If you have time, then visit both stores. You won't be disapointed.

 

Stay Well, Dr. Ron Dutcher

[stan]

Itoya and Maruzen both have an impressive display of pens and will allow you to try out many models as you like. Itoya, being on the Ginza is much busier and, depending on when you are there, service can be lacking. For us, Maruzen next to Tokyo Station has always been the best. When last in Tokyo they had some limited run pens by Sailor not seen at Itoya, as well as their own great pens. It is also a must stop to stock up on their Athena ink, that I use daily.

 

When in Tokyo you should also consider Shosaikan. Invariably they have offered us tea and, at times, crackers or cake. They have on displays some great and rare Japanese pens. They have allowed us almost endless time to try out different pens. If your interested in LE Capless models, they seem to always have a few when the other stores are sold out.

 

Prices at all retail stores are list and are the same. Maruzen has kicked in a bottle or two of ink on occasion.

 

In Tokyo you should also visit Euro-Box, which is a few blocks from Itoya and Maruzen. Best times are when they open and not when the owner has recently returned from an overseas pen buying spree. Their website is not great (they have a picture of me, so it is not all that bad), http://www.euro-box.com/. The selection on display is not enormous but, they are the place to visit for vintage pens. The owner, Eizo Fujii will take whatever time you need to show you what he has. He speaks English, which is a great benefit.

 

In addition to the usual department stores, there are other shops around Japan. Where else will you be travelling?

 

 

 

 

[gyasko]

I prefer Maruzen. I think it comes down to the building, which i like much better than Itoya's. They don't have all the pens, either, but they seem to have more of what i'm looking for. As Stan says, Shosaikan and Eurobox are worth visits. I'm a big fan of both.

 

Did that guy who had the shop onYasukuni-dori in Jinbocho move or retire? He had quite the selection.

[drawline]

Thanks a lot for the informative replies (and interesting tidbit!) Dr. Ron Dutcher, stan, gyasko.

 

I have considered Shosaikan, but the whole concept of boutiques scares me, like walking in there and getting the whole service treatment and then not buying anything. Especially as i'm young and creative (but conservative enough) looking. I'm not out to only leech and test but plan to buy a few (no maki-e but a 742 or two, maybe a ribbed 3776 and a music nibbed one etc), just dont know where i'll be when I make it there.

Maybe my fears are unnecessary? I think it'd be hard to go in there and not pick up some nice paper atleast.

 

Also thanks for encouraging me about testing pens, I recently had a bad experience (not distinctly related to testing pens, but attitudewise..) in my first visit to a decent b&m, abroad.

 

I'll just stay in Tokyo, would have loved to go to Kyoto or some other more historically well kept - realistically, closer - town/area. I'm just not alone so can't go overboard with the pen sightseeing

So a matter of what the family permits, hopefully i'll be able to make more than one round. Really practical that everything is so close knit there around Tokyo Station. I really have no idea what i'm talking about, but as I understand it, eheh. Now I know I'll make sure to go to Maruzen atleast, and try to squeeze in Euro-Box.

[gyasko]

I don't think that the service at Shosaikan is fundamentally different from that at Maruzen. It's just that they have seats and tea. Otherwise, it's more or less the same thing. And speaking of service, i can't imagine you having a bad experience at any of the places mentioned above.

 

Kinpendo is still there in Jinbocho 1-4, near the crook in Yasukuni-dori, on the opposite side of the street from Sanseido. The proprietor checks and tunes the nibs. Kinpendo is more of a foreign pen specialist. Furuharuta is another famous Tokyo pen shop. It's near the Oimachi station.

 

If you can't go to Kyoto, there's always Kamakura, about 1hr from Tokyo station.

[Pen2009]

So, those retailers don't even offer you some discounts off MSRP? Unless a pen is less than $100, I hesitate to shell out the full MSRP price for any pen, as there are so many web retailers offer better pricing. B&M stores typically serve my needs as I go there to check out the pens in person before I order online. If a retailer offers me a discount, he gets my business.

[AltecGreen]

So, those retailers don't even offer you some discounts off MSRP? Unless a pen is less than $100, I hesitate to shell out the full MSRP price for any pen, as there are so many web retailers offer better pricing. B&M stores typically serve my needs as I go there to check out the pens in person before I order online. If a retailer offers me a discount, he gets my business.

 

 

I've been to Japan several times and I get the impression that discounting is not as common in the US. People seem willing to pay msrp as long as the product is of a high quality.

 

 

[gyasko]

So, those retailers don't even offer you some discounts off MSRP? Unless a pen is less than $100, I hesitate to shell out the full MSRP price for any pen, as there are so many web retailers offer better pricing. B&M stores typically serve my needs as I go there to check out the pens in person before I order online. If a retailer offers me a discount, he gets my business.

 

 

I've been to Japan several times and I get the impression that discounting is not as common in the US.

 

That is correct, at least as far as pens go.

 

It is possible to buy them on line for less than list price.

[kamakura-pens]

So, those retailers don't even offer you some discounts off MSRP? Unless a pen is less than $100, I hesitate to shell out the full MSRP price for any pen, as there are so many web retailers offer better pricing. B&M stores typically serve my needs as I go there to check out the pens in person before I order online. If a retailer offers me a discount, he gets my business.

 

 

I've been to Japan several times and I get the impression that discounting is not as common in the US.

 

That is correct, at least as far as pens go.

 

It is possible to buy them on line for less than list price.

 

It is true that the Japanese Brick and Mortar sellers never offer discounts, but what you get for your extra money from buying from these B&M vendors is excellent post care service. The one cool thing about Maruzen is that they have a pen repair person in the store. If you buy a pen from them, it is guranteed. If they can't fix it on the spot, then they will either send it back to the manufacturer for you or replace the pen. I doubt the online retailers can do that. But then again...if you can do minor repairs yourself and if you are careful with your pens, you might never need after sale service...

 

Stay Well

[stan]

Got a discount on a new pen one time and one time only. One of the little shops under the Okachimachi Station (see Russ Stutlers web site for information) sold me two Platinums: a Presidential and a 3776 with a Stub nib. Took 10% off because I had to come back the next day as it had to be ordered. At least that is the 'official' story. Miki tels me she was a great negotiator. That's the unofficial story.

[Tsujigiri]

So, those retailers don't even offer you some discounts off MSRP? Unless a pen is less than $100, I hesitate to shell out the full MSRP price for any pen, as there are so many web retailers offer better pricing. B&M stores typically serve my needs as I go there to check out the pens in person before I order online. If a retailer offers me a discount, he gets my business.

 

Itoya gives you 5% of what you buy back in store credit for future purchases, plus you can get another 5% back at one of their desks if you bring your passport (Not being a citizen of Japan allows you to avoid paying their taxes if you buy 10,000 yen or more).

 

I got my Pilot Custom 823 at Itoya, and would definitely recommend them. Since I was going to get some Fude brushes anyway, I used the store credit I got back and essentially got a 10% discount off retail.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Tsujigiri

[gyasko]

Furuharuta and Kinpendo are known for nib tuning. The proprietor of Kinpendo checks and tunes all the nibs. Mr. Moriyama of Furuharuta will do it in a more individualised way. Their prices are the same as (nearly) everyone else, but the buyer gets a nib that is tested, tuned, and known to work.

[drawline]

Itoya gives you 5% of what you buy back in store credit for future purchases, plus you can get another 5% back at one of their desks if you bring your passport (Not being a citizen of Japan allows you to avoid paying their taxes if you buy 10,000 yen or more).

 

Same with Maruzen? And its instant, no filling out forms at the airport and declaring the items, sealed, after leaving Japan or anything like that?

[drawline]

Furuharuta and Kinpendo are known for nib tuning. The proprietor of Kinpendo checks and tunes all the nibs. Mr. Moriyama of Furuharuta will do it in a more individualised way. Their prices are the same as (nearly) everyone else, but the buyer gets a nib that is tested, tuned, and known to work.

 

That is very good to know, thanks. Didn't like the sound of Kinpendo specializing in foreign pens, but Furuharuta may be the way to go then if its list price.. Ah, this is all a bit overwhelming, where to go, and buy. And I feel a bit anxious about getting tuned (japanese atleast..) pens as I dont want them to be different to how they were first intended to be, but it is a silly idea, getting a dud is obviously worse, and pens should be expected to be tuned.

[chibimie]

I almost never feel comfortable in a 'boutique' store, but Aoyama Shosaikan is clearly different, providing helpful service and discreet attention in beautiful surroundings without ever making you feel out of place. They seem rightfully proud of the tasteful minimalist space (if you can call rooms with walls full of gorgous pens from floor to ceiling minimalist!) that they provide, without any of the pretentiousness I have discerned in pen/cuff link/watches/and other precious item 'boutiques.' Whether I end up purchasing a pen there or not, they have been unfailingly courteous and pleasant. Really worth a visit.

 

The storied 'original' Maruzen basement (the old building down the street from the flagship Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya dept stores) is not as well stocked as their newer location in Oaza across from Tokyo Station (Marunouchi side), but their staff are knowledgeable and they sometimes have some NOS lying around--especially if you ask. Maruzen figures more importantly in modern Japanese literary history than any other institution of its kind--it was a bookstore that was THE source of western novels back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with just about every well known Japanese cultural figure frequenting the establishment (even if it meant saving months of salary to purchase a single copy of a work by Zola).

 

Chibimie

Edited August 3, 2009 by chibimie

[Tsujigiri]

Itoya gives you 5% of what you buy back in store credit for future purchases, plus you can get another 5% back at one of their desks if you bring your passport (Not being a citizen of Japan allows you to avoid paying their taxes if you buy 10,000 yen or more).

 

Same with Maruzen? And its instant, no filling out forms at the airport and declaring the items, sealed, after leaving Japan or anything like that?

 

I haven't been to Maruzen, so I'm not sure. If they're a large department store, then they probably will have the tax back option. I kind of doubt that they give 5% back in store credit, though, that's a signature trait of Itoya. Some stores do that in Japan, but not department stores (the only other store I bought from last time that did that was a discount electronics store, Bikku Camera).

 

As for the ease of getting your discount, Itoya gives you the store credit immediately, and then there's a desk a floor down, I think, that gives you the tax back. They have a little form that you fill out, and they stamp your passport. There was a form that you fill out there for customs, I think, but it's very short. You don't have to pay any customs taxes unless you go over a certain (very high) amount in your purchases. Anyway, the paperwork was well worth the discount for me.

[gyasko]

Itoya gives you 5% of what you buy back in store credit for future purchases, plus you can get another 5% back at one of their desks if you bring your passport (Not being a citizen of Japan allows you to avoid paying their taxes if you buy 10,000 yen or more).

 

Same with Maruzen? And its instant, no filling out forms at the airport and declaring the items, sealed, after leaving Japan or anything like that?

 

I haven't been to Maruzen, so I'm not sure. If they're a large department store, then they probably will have the tax back option. I kind of doubt that they give 5% back in store credit, though, that's a signature trait of Itoya. Some stores do that in Japan, but not department stores (the only other store I bought from last time that did that was a discount electronics store, Bikku Camera).

 

It's a common retail technique. The sandwich shop in Machida where i used to get a sandwich once a week for many years does it. Large department store style electronics retailers do it. So to does the stationery dept. of Tokyu Hands, which sells a few pens.

[drawline]

Think Fullhalter will carry the ribbed #3776 and music version (respectively)? Getting a bit specific, but i've got so many spots now that it would save me from one if their stock is limited. Thought it might be a good idea going there having seen the odd report of someone getting a complete dud off Platinum recently, probably nothing, but better safe than sorry.

[gyasko]

Think Fullhalter will carry the ribbed #3776 and music version (respectively)?

 

I'm pretty sure he doesn't. He has Pilot, Sailor, Pelikan, Aurora, & Faber-Castell pens. He used to be mostly an MB dealer, but MB dropped him because he wasn't big or fancy enough.