Japan - Tokyo Specifically

Started by snail, May 14, 2018, 04:39:41 PM

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snail

Good afternoon guys,

I'm headed to Tokyo for in a weeks time, if there anywhere specially people would recommend for N gauge items?

I would quite like to find some of the Tomix Thomas items but open to just seeing some stock in shops.


is there also anything else anyone would recommend? something not to touristy as I'm sure ill have them all done in the first couple of days!

sorry if this is in the wrong thread.


cheers guys
Dale

msr

I found this list very useful but it is a few years old:
http://users.skynet.be/bk338048/modelshopstokyo.htm

The Kato Hobby Centre is amazing!

The Japan Railway Journal programme is well worth checking out on NHK to give you a flavour of Japanese culture as well as enthusiasm for railways before you go. The cafe featured in the introduction is close to Shinjuke station:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/japanrailway/

The railway museum north of Tokyo is brilliant:
http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/exhibition.html

Claude Dreyfus

On my visits, I have used Tam Tam in Akihabara. There are, however, countless other locations. Once Railsquid is online, I am sure he will be able to give some pointers around the niceties of model railway shopping in Tokyo.

Claude Dreyfus


JonHarbour

#4
Quote from: Claude Dreyfus on May 14, 2018, 06:10:12 PM
On my visits, I have used Tam Tam in Akihabara. There are, however, countless other locations. Once Railsquid is online, I am sure he will be able to give some pointers around the niceties of model railway shopping in Tokyo.

Another vote for Tam Tam in Akihabara. I was only in Tokyo once for work in 2010 - Tam Tam was an absolute Alladin's cave! Watch out for the young ladies dressed as 'French Maids' in that part of Tokyo too - I think they are followers of an Anime series called "Handmaid Meg".

Still planning a layout...

Graham

I would 2nd JonHarbour's post re Tam Tam, went to Tokyo 5yrs ago and Tam Tam was recommended to me by a colleague, I seem to remember the only way in was via a lift.

railsquid

#6
Quote from: Claude Dreyfus on May 14, 2018, 06:10:12 PM
On my visits, I have used Tam Tam in Akihabara. There are, however, countless other locations. Once Railsquid is online, I am sure he will be able to give some pointers around the niceties of model railway shopping in Tokyo.
You called?

Quote from: Graham on May 16, 2018, 01:21:20 AM
I would 2nd JonHarbour's post re Tam Tam, went to Tokyo 5yrs ago and Tam Tam was recommended to me by a colleague, I seem to remember the only way in was via a lift.

Yup, 5th floor, though they open up the stairs at weekends.

TamTam is probably the best in terms of choice/price; Poppondetta a few blocks away is also worth a visit.

There must be a dozen or so model railway shops in the area, mostly selling 2nd hand stuff.

Quote from: msr on May 14, 2018, 05:19:35 PM
I found this list very useful but it is a few years old:
http://users.skynet.be/bk338048/modelshopstokyo.htm

Hopelessly out of date, it even mentions "Sakuraya", which went bankrupt years ago.

Quote from: msr on May 14, 2018, 05:19:35 PM
The Kato Hobby Centre is amazing!

Yup. Avoid buying there though, everything's at full retail price.

Quote from: msr on May 14, 2018, 05:19:35 PM
The railway museum north of Tokyo is brilliant:
http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/exhibition.html

Definitely. Also the main Tomix store is a couple of minutes walk from Omiya station, which is the station closest to the museum.

railsquid

Quote from: snail on May 14, 2018, 04:39:41 PM
I would quite like to find some of the Tomix Thomas items but open to just seeing some stock in shops.

For Thomas items, try Yodobashi Camera, they still have some in stock.

railsquid

Quote from: snail on May 14, 2018, 04:39:41 PM
is there also anything else anyone would recommend? something not to touristy as I'm sure ill have them all done in the first couple of days!

Apart from the JR museum in Omiya, there are some smaller company-specific museums which might be of interest:

* Tokyo Metro Museum
* Keio Railland
* Tobu Railway Museum
* Tokyu Railway Museum

A bit outside Tokyo is the Ome Railway Park, and if you fancy a trip a bit deeper into the mountains, go all the way to Mitsumineguchi Station at the end of the Chichibu Line, where there's a small open-air display of locomotives and wagons you can clamber all over (some pictures here.


Bealman

Any Hiroshima suggestions? Cos that's where I am right now!  :beers:
Vision over visibility. Bono, U2.

railsquid

Quote from: Bealman on May 16, 2018, 10:15:55 AM
Any Hiroshima suggestions? Cos that's where I am right now!  :beers:

Popondetta in Hiroshima Sun Mall, 4th floor; website: http://www.popondetta.com/hiroshima/

Google Street View link to the outside of the mall: https://goo.gl/maps/39CdQBisbfs

It's the only one I can find in central Hiroshima.

snail

thanks to everyone for the advice, I'll be sure to check out Tam tam and the rest of the stores.

the open air museum looks interesting, I'll see if I can get a spare half a day to give it a look.


Is there anything (non railway related) that's worth seeing? That wouldn't normally be on the tourists agenda?


I fly into Haneda on Saturday morning, I'm so so excited!  :D :D


Dale

Bealman

We went to the Ueno Park and zoo last Friday which was pretty cool,  and the nearby Skytree tower.
Vision over visibility. Bono, U2.

msr

First off, get a rechargeable Suica or Pasmo card for 500 yen (about £4) refundable deposit, then you load them up with money. The railway office at Haneda will probably have someone on duty who speaks English who can help you get started. This web site gives you some pictures of what to do:
https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/pasmo-suica-cards-tokyo-travel/

Then you have the fun of using the local trains and buses to get where you want. Google Streetview is brilliant for finding your way around from the local station or bus stop, entering specific postal addresses for the start and end of your journey. Note that the Japanese use blocks rather than street names and numbers to locate properties.

As for non-touristy things to do, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a must, but seek local advice to find one which is not just primarily for foreign tourists.

Bealman

Bealette teaches English here and on Monday one of her students, a lovely lady in her fifties, organised a private ceremony for us. Mrs Bealman and Bealette were in kimono's walking the streets to the ceremony!

I had to take part too, and was shaking!

Strict orders not to post pics, though!
Vision over visibility. Bono, U2.

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