8 photo equipment stores in Tokyo (Japan) which are worth the (dice) round

8 photo equipment stores in Tokyo (Japan) which are worth the (dice) round

Just like in Hifi, Japan has played a key role in the history of photography and the evolution of cameras and accessories, with emblematic brands, some of which have existed for more than a century. Here are eight addresses among the dozens of photo shops that you can find in the mythical districts of Shinjuku and Ginza. If you know of any others, feel free to share them in the comments!

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Shinjuku: Tokyo's Big Photo Market

If you have little time, or even if you have a lot of it, Shinjuku is definitely THE district to go to buy photo equipment in Tokyo. It is quite simply one of the hypercentres of the megalopolis, and there are the headquarters of many large groups of High-Tech and photo equipment such as Olympus. The west exit of the huge station leads to an area that hosts a host of photo shops, ranging in size from the big box to the smallest booth.

1. Yodobashi Camera: the eternal reference

Just outside the station (map), this huge supermarket sells all types of electronics, from vacuum cleaners to washing machines, Hi-Fi and photography. It is one of the largest photo equipment stores in the world. It is said that in the 1970s, a third of Japan's cameras were sold by Yodobashi Camera. The photo department is in three parts. A section of the ground floor of the main store accommodates part of the cameras and digital cameras. Opposite, a dedicated building offers all possible devices and accessories on four floors. Finally, another separate shop offers film, equipment for developing photos and a repair workshop.

View the embedded image gallery online at:#sigProIdfebf85d2e0 Devices, housings, cameras, lenses, lenses, filters, bags, stands, accessories… It’s endless! We take full advantage of it but be careful, we quickly spend the day there when it may be more interesting to discover other more “authentic” shops. It can also be a shame to decide too quickly here, and to miss a good price on used equipment. Yodobashi, which sells exclusively new, is especially a good plan for new products that have not yet been released elsewhere. Be careful, if you are targeting this type of product and do not speak Japanese, check the language of the menus. The tax exemption is systematically given to tourists upon presentation of the passport.View the embedded image gallery online at:#sigProId8e31b4f5b3

2. Map Camera: the king of the occasion

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The redemption point of this second-hand store is separate from the point of sale, everything is done in two different buildings (plan) about forty meters apart. A leaflet in English explains how to decipher the labels of items, sell your device or even the conditions of tax exemption and warranty. Maps has no less than four floors in a building shared with other brands. The basement is a Leica showcase and also presents Voigtländer, Zeiss, Hasselblad, Rollei, Pentax and Fuji products. The third is dedicated to Nikon, Fuji, Pentax and Ricoh accessories. The fourth includes Canon, Sigma, Olympus and Panasonic cameras and lenses and the fifth Sony, Contax, Konica, Atomos and GoPro equipment. The selection is impressive, both recent and vintage items. The staff are plentiful, patient and ready to help. Take your passport if you want to sell or get tax exempt.

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3. Chuuko Camera Box: a vintage shop for enthusiasts

"Chuuko" literally means "used", so the store is also called "Second Hand Camera Box". It's a tiny basement a stone's throw from Map Camera that you can easily miss – look for the yellow sign on the ground next to the round, green sign for a curry restaurant. Occasions galore, of all brands and in all states, also with vintage cases, and many optics and accessories. The atmosphere and the staff are very friendly. After going through kilometers of sanitized windows in new stores, it's nice to find yourself in a shop that has a soul run by true photography enthusiasts.

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8 Photo Equipment Stores in Tokyo ( Japan) that are worth the (de)tour

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4. Camera Alps: quality, hand-picked opportunities

Camera Alps (or “カメラのアルプス堂, as on the map) is like Chuuko Camera Box a very small store with nuggets of major European brands to find, vintage and second-hand. You'll find it on the opposite side of Shinjuku station from the previous stores, near the big box Bic Camera. The entrance is tiny and easy to miss. Look for a green storefront, on the ground floor of a building whose windows are covered with signs. A whole bunch of accessories available, with a very friendly staff ready to advise. Like at Sankyo, there are "wreckage bins" at a good price for recovery. Tax refund possible on presentation of passport.

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Ginza: showrooms and luxury vintage boutiques

An upmarket area of ​​Tokyo, Ginza is one of the most expensive places in the world for real estate. It is here that the showrooms of major brands such as Canon, Sony, Nikon and Leica have traditionally been located. Apart from these showrooms, the district has dozens of dedicated collection and luxury photo shops, some of which have been there since the 1940s. There is often an extremely serious atmosphere. Here, we do not laugh with the photo!

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5. Sankyo Camera: the legend of the district

Located a stone's throw from the famous Kabuki-za theater (map), this boutique with character is surely the friendliest of the historic addresses in the district. Opened in 1957 and run by a group of passionate lads, it occupies a small building. The ground floor is devoted to European brands, in particular Zeiss and Leica as well as quite a few Rolleis medium formats. The second floor exhibits Japanese brands. Don't just trust what you see in the window. This is just a small selection of what the store actually has. Do not hesitate to specify what you are looking for to the staff. Outside, in front of the window, there are baskets with cases or accessories in “junk” condition sold at ridiculous prices. Great opportunities for those who know how to repair them or recover parts.

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6. Lemon Camera: the king of consignment sales

Lemon is a popular photography consignment shop in Japan, which has several stores – including another in Shinjuku. Located on the eighth floor above a Methodist church (plan), this store has a quantitatively impressive selection of cameras, lenses, cases and accessories, including view cameras. Please note that the products cannot be returned or exchanged.

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7. Shimizu Camera: a very selective historical shop

Like Sankyo Camera, Shimizu (map) is one of the shops that "hold" the walls of the neighborhood with a very qualitative second-hand selection, and a caring staff. Some people will say that the choice is limited, but it seems to only offer the cream. The store is small but accessible, clearly visible and on a very busy street corner. It is therefore worth a look.

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8. Katsumido Camera: vintage, luxury and tradition

Right on the avenue (map), this shop, which opened in 1940, is one of the oldest and most upmarket in the district. It presents products from Hasselblad, Rollei, Leica, Zeiss, Kodak, Voigtländer, Nikon, Olympus, Canon… The prices can be high there but the conditions of the vintage cameras are im-pe-ccable. The staff there is extremely serious, and they also sell new things.

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Also see in Tokyo:

… and again, some tips for shopping in Japan

- Gear up : Tokyo, by its size and its plan, can lead you to trudge a lot, especially in search of shops that are a little hidden. In winter it can be very, very cold and in summer extremely hot and humid. It is therefore necessary to equip yourself accordingly and to hydrate or cover yourself well depending on the season.

- Take your haunts… and your smartphone: in Japan, street numbers have no order (or maybe in some neighborhoods, that of post-war reconstruction). Short of submitting it to a taxi, an address alone is not enough to find a place. Better to use a GPS application, or have the path explained to you in relation to specific landmarks. Many stores are located on the floors, or even in the basement, so the signs are sometimes high up or on small panels placed at ground level.

- Some good manners: In Japan, manners are extremely important. As everywhere, a quick “Hello” (konichioua) on entering and a quick “Thank you” (arigatogozaïmass’) on leaving cost nothing. Do it systematically, even if you don't speak a treacherous word of Japanese, and even if sometimes you don't get an answer. Contrary to what may prevail in other countries, the customer is not king. It is appropriate to ask politely to take photos, film, touch, take, etc. If you make a patient effort to communicate, the staff will more often than not too.

- Cleanliness and discretion are king: it is generally not allowed to nibble, drink, smoke anywhere, including in the street - so imagine in a photo shop! Do not disturb the silence of quiet shelves or stores, put your cell phone on silent, do not bawl, etc.

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