Ito-ya or Maruzen?

[drawline]

Alright, thanks. Good that I asked!

 

And comforting to hear again that Shosaikan is modern (in the good sense) and unpretentious, in response to chibimie, a bit post. No doubt in my mind that I'll go there. And will opt for the Maruzen near Tokyo station, would have been interesting to visit the old bookstore though.

[Tsujigiri]

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.

 

It's not common at all for department stores, though, which Maruzen is. The electronic stores that do this are mostly discount electronic stores, also, so store credit isn't really something you'll get at a boutique-ish store.

[gyasko]

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.

 

It's not common at all for department stores, though, which Maruzen is. The electronic stores that do this are mostly discount electronic stores, also, so store credit isn't really something you'll get at a boutique-ish store.

 

I think Maruzen is known mostly as a bookstore.

[elena]

Maruzen and Itoya each carry exclusive items. I purchased stationery from Itoya, and fountain pen items from Maruzen. I do hope you get to see both, they are worth the effort. We did get discounts under the train station, but these stores are more difficult to find, and no guarantees.

[lecorbusier]

I just visited both of them today...one could have walked from one to the other if not for the killer weather (31 c plus the usual urban ambient heat in mid Summer...).

 

Itoya is surely worth a visit--its like stationery heaven, that is, if you generally like stationery. The fountain pen section has every possible brand you can imagine (but no Omas). They also carry Nakayas now, but the selection is small. They have a wide range of Pilots, even a special Custom 74 Itoya range. The colors of this LE Pilots is nearly worth their price (10500 y). But their Iroshizuku inks were thinning and they did not have the color I wanted. I got that in the end at Mitsukoshi department store, where surprisingly I chanced upon a brand new Sailor--that Itoya did not have! It has a hand-hammered silver section and blue resin body and is very very nice. The Japanese salesman, who is always so polite, let me inked two different nibs of this brand new pen and the broad is WHOA!

 

But I had to hand it back

 

On the other hand, I much prefer Maruzen. I was at the (new?) store at the Maruinochi area. They have an intense watch/fountain pen/expensive stationery section that are more or less linked to the other. I even managed to find a Pilot custom 742 in Stub. The salesman was also very patient and nice. Happy to say, I walked out with this pen, while without the new Sailor flex, is very smooth and nice. They have a promotion until end of August where if one forsakes the box or packaging of the fountain pen one is able to exchange that for cartridges. The salesman even gave me a leather Pilot pen case and a pad of Maruzen paper! I think that was a pretty good deal, even at MSRP with a big Yen against Dollar. It is also here that I chanced upon the Sailor Red Brown, which is one fantastic ink. I was intending to get the orange Iroshizuku but took this one instead. They have brand new Sailor pen cases (in Rhodia orange), accessories for Rhodia pads integrated with pen case and spaces for cartridges...it is pure fountain pen accessory heaven. They have a little advertisement on the new Sailor Piston Filler that everyone in FPdom is talking about; not due yet until september, and about 350 USD. Apparently, it is a 500 units production.

 

 

 

Visit both! That's all I have to say about these two fantastic fountain pen shops in central Tokyo. I think I have too much FP for a day...

 

*: I also saw a Rhodia webnotebook alike with 100gsm Clairefontaine paper. How come Japan has all these products???

 

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.

Edited August 15, 2009 by lecorbusier

[Tsujigiri]

lecorbusier, very informative post! I'll be going to Japan in a couple of weeks, and I happen to be looking for Iroshizuku inks there, too. I'll make sure to look at Mitsukoshi for that, then. Can that be true? Only 500 Sailor Profit Realos? That sounds more like the original limited edition Realo than the one that will be coming out... maybe he confused the two.

[chibimie]

Next week when I get to Tokyo, I may stop by either of these stores, but for actual purchase, the discount one gets at Sekaido (in Shinjuku) will be where I purchase Iroshizuku inks. It's about 20% off.

[Pen2009]

I decided to stock up pens in the USA as I can get them below the MSRP (at least 20% off and usually more). The big name brand Japanese department stores are not known for bargains anyway. I am really surprised how expensive MB 149s are in Japan, compared to what I can get it in the USA. I find the Pelikan's standard pens are priced similarly (but, the limited or special editions are typically priced much higher than the USA pricing). For Pilot and other Japanese brands, I am not surprised at all that web retailers in Japan offer much better pricing than I find in the USA.

Edited August 16, 2009 by Pen2009

[lecorbusier]

Mitsukoshi does not have a good selection but they do have that special Sailor pen that I did not see in other better stocked places (Daimaru, Maruzen and Itoya). Shosaikan was a little too dark for me to stop for very long! In one art store in Shinjuku, near to the new south entrance where Takashimaya is, they even have cheap pilot FPs inked with all the Iroshizuku colors--a fantastic way to test the ink. I realized that on actual paper, the orange tends to be too red, and the dark brown nearly black. They are not as distinct as they appear on the catalogue.

 

That was at least what I saw on the little poster on the counter. It says 500 at first production and they are taking orders. The pen has a piston and an ink window but otherwise, did not look very different from the usual model.

 

I think you will have a blast visiting these places. I hope the weather is better when you are here. I learned yesterday from the papers that it is unusually cool this year...!

 

 

 

lecorbusier, very informative post! I'll be going to Japan in a couple of weeks, and I happen to be looking for Iroshizuku inks there, too. I'll make sure to look at Mitsukoshi for that, then. Can that be true? Only 500 Sailor Profit Realos? That sounds more like the original limited edition Realo than the one that will be coming out... maybe he confused the two.

[Pen2009]

I visited Maruzen's Oazo store yesterday. As others have already commented, the store is well stocked with pens and stationery items. Since pens are priced at MSRP, I decided not to purchase any. But, I picked up a notebook cover (for a B5 sized notebook) and a Cornell Method notebook. The store also had demos pens with each of Pilot's Iroshizuku inks, which helps me see each color and flow characteristic in person (so that I can buy them online later.).

Edited September 4, 2009 by Pen2009

[stan]

If your plan is to go to Japan and check out all the pens and inks, I humbly suggest you are wasting time. If you do have precious time, spend an afternoon at most visiting a few shops.

 

Japan is an incredible country with much to see and do. When we visit our typical trip consists of time with relatives in Tokyo and Kochi, five to seven days touring places mostly found only in Japanese guidebooks, and spending one day doing shopping of every kind in Tokyo.

 

Visit the western coast on the Sea of Japan. Take the train from Hagi (where you can see incredible pottery) to Kanazawa and on to the Noto Peninsula. Go further up the coast to Niigata (and for the hearty go to Sado Island) and to Aomori. You have never tasted crab so good along the coast. Even if stuck in Tokyo visit Nikko for a day. Your heart and soul will be better for it.

 

Check out Hokkaido in the fall and winter and the Japan 'Alps' any time of the year. Go hiking anywhere.

 

When last in Japan we met a group of French bicyclists who were travelling from Kagoshima (southern Kyushu) to Sapporo in Hokkaido. They were going by all of the back roads. I have the greatest envy of them.

 

Our next trip will be in the mountains of Kyushu (relative works in a national park) or to Morioka in northern Japan. Too much to see and so little tim,e.

[troglokev]

Very well said Stan!

 

Places to go, things to see...

 

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[gyasko]

There's a lifetime of fascinating walks on the backstreets of Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. (I love industrial zones & harbours.) But aside from the Tokyo area, my favourite parts of Japan are:

 

Osaka -- very gritty, very different from Tokyo.

Niigata, esp. out of the way Kaetsu region & Sado -- great food.

Yamagata -- Mountains & coastline are beautiful

Inland sea islands -- they have a sort of Mediterranean climate and a somewhat different culture & politics than the rest of Japan. And great fish, of course.

Old cinemas -- not many remain. Visit them while you still can.

Hokkaido -- Big skies, big vistas, & good food if you know where to go.