• Show this post
    Hi.
    I'm going to visit Japan next week but not Tokyo.
    Do you have recommendations for second-hand vinyl and CDs shops that will stock rock/pop (I'm after David Bowie in particular)?
    I'll visit Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima.

    Thanks

  • Show this post
    Havent been to Osaka since '16 but I a few random shops scattered around Namba and a good Disk Union in Umeda, near the big train station.
    Some very good specialty stores can be found in the Amerikamura vicinity (King Kong, Time Bomb...) north of the river.

    Can't really tell about Kyoto since my last visit was over 10 years ago.

  • Show this post
    Thanks JRyall!
    Anyone else with more info?

  • Show this post
    ademmc
    Thanks JRyall!
    Anyone else with more info?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Boz09OfGUI

  • Show this post
    I was blown away by Forever Records in Osaka. I got stuck into the Detroit Techno section, but it was a full-range shop from what I recall.

  • Show this post
    I know where all the good Bowie shops are in Nagoya, but not Kyoto or Hiroshima.

    Osaka :

    Forever Records - amazing shop.

    5F 2-4-7 Nambanaka Naniwa-ku
    1-12: Mon-Sun: - 12:00-20:00
    Closed Wednesday

    King Kong Records (good shop in interesting area, might find a bargain)

    大阪市中央区西心斎橋1-6-14 ビッグステップB1

    Disk Union (Disk Union always worth checking out, they have new stock all the time, will have decent Bowie section).

    I was planning on going to Hiroshima recently and had these pencilled in to visit :

    Groovin
    https://groovin-jp.co.jp/

    Ooshio
    https://www.ooshiorecords.com/

    Rare Groove
    https://raregroove.jp/en

  • Show this post
    There was a shop named Joe's Garage in Kyoto, from memory it was pretty good. Quick check - you'll be pleased https://www.jgarage.com/products/list?category_id=&name=david+bowie

  • Show this post
    oops, just saw date, apologies.

  • ademmc edited about 1 year ago
    Thanks all.
    I confirm that Groovin records in Hiroshima is really good.
    In Osaka, KingKong was good but they had only non-Japanese records.
    Forever...I was caught by the closed on Weds thing. There are 3 shops, incl Forever and they were all shut when I visited. I'm not sure it's every Weds or just the 3rd of each month but it was a real bummer for me.
    Kyoto's shops had a better choice of old LPs with obis but some were randomly closed as well.
    I did bring a good haul but it could have been better. I was in Japan for a family trip so did not have that much time to shop. I'd definitely recommend checking opening times carefully & not relying on those in GoogleMaps.

  • Show this post
    Came back from Japan some days ago ...

    Groovin' (https://groovin-jp.co.jp/) in Hiroshima is very well stuffed and sorted. Made some cool finds.

    Joe's Garage in Kyoto was a flop for my music taste. But I visited also Art Rock No. 1 (https://artrock-1.com/) - they were very well organized and I found some records.

  • Show this post
    King Kong has declined drastically compared to a few years ago (when they moved to the new location in the department store). Still worthy to check but no comparison to its earlier state. Time Bomb is only worth it when you're looking for Rockabilly stuff, besides that I found it overpriced. I'm mainly in the market for Metal/Hardcore/Punk stuff and for that Time Bomb has little to offer.

  • Show this post
    This is a pretty solid list of record stores in Hiroshima Record Stores.

  • Show this post
    Update from my last visit this month:
    King Kong seems to shut down. Store size has decreased by half easily compared to last year and they offered 20% off everything but didn't have anything worthwhile.
    For Punk / Hardcore check out Punk & Destroy and Revenge Records, both in Shinsaibashi. Revenge is owned by Jacky of Framtid, Gloom, Warhead etc.
    Also if you have the time, go to Himeji and check out Trude Records. Kinda weird opening times but open until 1am (!!!). Found a lot of really nice Punk, Hardcore and Metal stuff there. They also stock Rock records. Best selection out of all of the stores in greater Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe area for me, so possibly nothing left for you anymore :D
    Seriously, anyone into Punk / Hardcore / Metal needs to check this store out.
    Located on the fourth floor of a steak restaurant (without elevator), about 15 minutes to walk from the train station.
    Disk Union in Osaka was very disappointing this time but this can essentially change every other week and I happened to be there in a slow week.

You must be logged in to post.