Going To Japan (Tokyo)

[suharsh]

A probable trip in couple of weeks to go to Tokyo ... and i was wondering if buying the Japanese pens or inks would be economical or maybe not! If so are there some good shops that can be recommended?

Edited July 21, 2017 by suharsh

[Chrissy]

There are plenty of shops where you can buy ink and pens. I think Maruzen and Kingdom Note are potential contenders.

[fabri00]

More than that, there are several topics with very good suggestions.

[Mew]

Maruzen, Itoya, Shousaikan, kingdom note. This should cover most of your pen and ink needs.

 

There is no discount and everything is sold at MSRP only. That's the norm.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

But cheaper than shipping to the states.

[suharsh]

Thanks. I am hoping I will get time as I might be there only for two days and some other cities south of Tokyo.

[fabri00]

Maruzen, Itoya, Shousaikan, kingdom note. This should cover most of your pen and ink needs.

There is no discount and everything is sold at MSRP only. That's the norm.

Morita in Osaka offer discounts.

[MrsHobie]

Itoya is worth the sight !

[mitto]

If I happen to visit Japan I would rather try buying some vintage pre WWII ebonite eydroopers from some antique stores.

[Chrissy]

If I went to Japan I would come back with several bottles of ink and a mustard yellow coloured Pilot pen.

[fabri00]

If I happen to visit Japan I would rather try buying some vintage pre WWII ebonite eydroopers from some antique stores.

is non that easy to find antique pens in Japan. In many years of business trips there, I never found one.

Maybe because after ww2 they have been spoiled of all.

[mitto]

...yes the 'iro shozuko' inks or whatever the name is. And vintage Pilot pens of some dull manly colors.

Edited July 22, 2017 by mitto

[Flippy]

...yes the 'iro shozuko' inks or whatever the name is. And vintage Pilot pens of some dull manly colors.

Iroshizuku is the name.

 

Cheers before jeers,

 

Redmond

[Drone]

Hi suharsh,

You don't mention what type of Japanese pens you are interested in. Off the shelf "stationary" type pens and "high-end" fountain pens are very different things often sold by very different type vendors, and that's not only in Japan. Here are a couple of suggestions:

If I were you, I would want to visit a place called "Asahiya Kami Bunguten Co., Ltd." Online this vendor is known as "Tokyo Pen Shop Quill". Here are the details:

Asahiya Kami Bunguten Co., Ltd.
Kugahara 3-37-2, Ota-ku,
Tokyo 146-0085
Telephone: +81-3-3751-2021
Facsimile: +81-3-3751-2496
Email: yas@japanshop-quill.com
Web: http://japanshop-quill.com

 

http://japanshop-quill.com/img/asahiyakami.jpg

 

This looks like a wonderful shop to visit. What I find most interesting is that this shop is the only place I know of that sells the Pilot Custom Heritage (CH) 823 and CH 845 pens with anything other than the standard F, M, or B nibs. In-fact they offer both pens with the FA ("Falcon") semi-flexible #15 (Pilot Size) nib, something Pilot does not normally offer in the market. I would like to question them on how they go about doing this.

 

Their Pilot CH 823 page: http://japanshop-quill.com/pilot-custom823.htm

 

Their Pilot CH 845 page: http://www.japanshop-quill.com/pilot-custom845.php

 

In my experience high-end Japanese pens can be quite a bit cheaper when bought inside Japan compared with the prices outside, but not always. This is especially true with the likes of Pilot and Platinum brands. I would check the direct-from-Japan Web prices before shopping in Tokyo so you have a reference. Of-course expect to pay a bit more than the Internet price at a brick-and-morter establishment, but it shouldn't be crazy different, as long as you can negotiate your way around the so-called "Gaijin Tax", something I've heard about but never personally encountered (knowingly anyway).

 

As for regular "stationary" type stores in Japan - I'm no expert. I am quite familiar with one rather large chain book store called Kinokuniya. They carry a decent amount of stationary stuff. Presently their Web site says they have 68 outlets in Japan. Here's a link:

 

http://www.kinokuniya.com/

 

If you go, have fun! And please post-back about your adventures.

Best Regards, David

Edited July 22, 2017 by Drone

[suharsh]

Thanks to all ... greatly appreciate.

 

I was planning on to look into some Sailor and Pilot pens ... around $100 to $150 each. The two reasons for starting this thread - one hoping that they will be cheaper in Japan than in the US (looks like that isn't the case) and second they would certainly be genuine pens. I had not so good experience from Engeika and was hoping that the prices that Engeika sells would be something that I could get in some other stores.

[Mew]

Morita in Osaka offer discounts.

He didn't mention Osaka, so all my suggestions were Tokyo based only.

Takeya General discount store would offer discounts in Tokyo, but the number of such discount sellers are very few. In general, there is no discount.

[suharsh]

The other cities are I think smaller cities so I didn't expect .. Takahagi and Yaizu.

[gerigo]

I have written quite extensively about this many times over in the Japan sub forum. Go do a search and it will bring up many different takes on slight variations of this question.

 

In GENERAL, forget about getting a bargain if you're on typical tourist time, which means you don't have a lot of time to shop around. In Japan, any regular retail outlet, ie department store, stationery store or book store will likely be full price. But remember with the stronger US dollar and weaker Japanese yen and some slight tourist tax refunds, it will be slightly cheaper in Japan.

 

So why would you buy at full retail?

 

1. Selection is amazing! It's like nothing you'd see or will ever see in any life time if you live in the US. It's like a pen show every day. It's just such an amazing experience to shop in a store with a never ending sea of pens as opposed to the 10-20 we typical see at a stationery store.

2. Service is stellar. They let you test the pen you want to buy to your hearts content. They are VERY patient, and will even switch staff so that you get the best service possible.

3. Access to unique to Japan product. I put this as third because most times, these are long gone before we as tourist get to the store. But once in a while you still can get access to these pens. But you have to manage your expectations as they are probably going to be 1-2 at Itoya, and 1-2 at Maruzen. It's not like a sea of Japan only exclusives. However you DO get access to a lot of unique to Japan regular production pens, like the Pilot 845 for example or the Romeo pens from Itoya.

 

If you're DEAD set on a bargain, you have to find places like Yodobashi or Sekaido. These places usually sell about 20% below retail but their selection is meagre and usually limited to the lower end pen lines. Their selections are usually incomplete and might have only the nib sizes nobody wants. I remember going to Sekaido and they had a Sailor young Profit, a couple VPs and one Elabo, or Falcon as we know it here, a few regular Pilot Custom 74s and a few Platinum 3776s. That was it. Disappointing.

 

Hope this gives you an impression.

Edited July 23, 2017 by gerigo

[katanankes]

Morita in Osaka offer discounts.

 

Good to know... will be there next week... do you need any secret handshake to get it?

[katanankes]

A probable trip in couple of weeks to go to Tokyo ... and i was wondering if buying the Japanese pens or inks would be economical or maybe not! If so are there some good shops that can be recommended?

 

Even at full MRSP, at current exchange rates, Japanese pens will be cheaper in Japan. To keep things simple, just head to ITOYA in Ginza, as a visitor if your bring your passport you can get the 8% sale tax back (not possible at Maruzen for example).