a vinyl pilgrimage to Japan / Seoul...?

[moonbeams]

a lot.

I mean in tokyo you have to look up all the Disk Union shops.  they're the best.  but they're going to be a bit more overpriced but

they're going to have some amazing stuff.  and they have like floors dedicated to really specific genres ..

 

http://diskunion.net/st/shop/e_index.html

 

the one in Shibuya has a punk / metal floor that has literally categories called 90's emo and shit!  it's genius.

 

if you go to Osaka definitely go to Time Bomb

 

New records in Japan are very expensive (they factor in the importation costs and have to compete with Japanese releases which have high prices forced on them for a certain number of years due to a certain pricing rule).

 

But Disk Union is the place to go for very cheap, used vinyl in excellent condition. Disk Union tries to keep a flowing stock policy where new items come in and old items move out, so they price their stuff very cheap. I collect a band called Balzac (also translated their new single   ) which Disk Union puts out their stuff on their label, DIWPhalanx Records. Punk LPs are usually priced at around ¥1000, but DIWPhalanx stuff is usually ¥200 for an LP. The most expensive records I ever saw at Disk Union's Punk Market were HOFX (¥5000), Screeching Weasel s/t (¥7000), Ramones w/obi (¥30,000) and Misfits Famous Monsters (¥4000).

 

You can find great stuff in their ¥100 ($1) bins. Japanese Misfits Bullet boots, NOFX 7", etc. I'm only familiar with the punk market stores.

 

One thing that is a super must is the 2nd Floor of the main Disk Union in Shinjuku. It is an accessory shop and you can get the best anti-static inner sleeves, outer sleeves with flaps, cleaning stuff, you name it, it's there and not expensive.

 

I love Disk Union so much that before I left in Dec of 2012 I went around Tokyo taking pictures of them.

[moonbeams]

I'm going to Tokyo in November. Any particular record stores to check out or just cool stuff in general?

 

Here are some of my favs:

 

Tokyo:

 

Record Shop Base (Koenji) - punk

http://www.recordshopbase.com/ 

 

Barn Homes Records (Shinjuku) - garage punk, punk, rock n roll, doo wop

http://www.barnhomesrecords.com/

 

Disk Union Punk Market (Shinjuku, Shibuya) - Shinjuku one is better.

Disk Union Indies - Shinjuku, 6th(?) floor

Disk Union Shimokitazawa - everything, great punk

Disk Union Machida - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/machida

Disk Union Kichiyouji - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/kichijyouji 

 

Nat Records (Shinjuku) - obscure punk, hc, surf, 60s, 80s, rock

http://natrecords.shop-pro.jp/

 

Yellow Pop (Shimokitazawa) - everything

http://www.yellowpop.jp/

 

Recofan (Shibuya) - everything

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/beam.html

 

Yokohama:

Micky Room (Yokohama) - punk - this place is a MUST!

http://ameblo.jp/bubble-and-squeak-record/entry-11499282375.html

 

Recofan (Yokokama)

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/yokohama.html

 

Disk Union (Yokohama)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama_west

 

Disk Union (Kannai)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama

 

Also in Yokohama is this hidden away shop that has every oldies record in the world. It's HUGE. I think this might be it;

Back To The Rock Records

http://rivieras.web.fc2.com/

 

~~

Banana Records is pretty good if you like mainstream stuff

 

There's this huge (red brick?) building in Shibuya that houses a lot of small record stores and brothels. Here is the address:

1103 Noa Shibuya Bldg, 36-2 Udagawa-cho

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

[albert]

nope we did AirBNB each city.

 

worked out to about  30 - 60 a night depending on the place.

but if there were more than 3 people it would go down a lot.

 

Wow thanks for showing me this. 

 

The only substantial obstacle is the ticket cost. Im seeing nothing cheaper than around 1700.

[vialister]

I just got back last week, the Disk union's were by far the best for what I wanted but there was also so much obscure stuff I didn't go through.

 

Would defiantly go back but with more research before.

 

Some places are a nightmare to find and are totally hidden away, I got a sim card with mobile data which was a godsend.

[jtcohenour]

Don't waste your time going to Korea.  I lived in Seoul from 2012-2013 and vinyl scene is pretty crappy.  Purple records in Seoul is small, over priced and happens to be the only place I found in the entire city that sold new wax.  If you are looking for classic rock then it may be worth a visit.  I had a few small shops that I visited often where I scored a bunch of classic rock albums.  Most of the shops were very disorganized and piled to the ceiling with a hodgepodge of various artists and genres.  I usually grab a coffee and dig, grab lunch and dig more.  

[suburbanargyle]

I tried to stick to only Japanese releases and came back with like 30 Snuffy Smile and Pizza Of Death records I needed, as well as some hard to find Michelle Gun Elephant.

Disk Unions were intimidating and incredible.

[tatew]

if you are going to tokyo go to Nerds if you are into the punk/hardcore/emo scene. there was also a great 2nd hand record store in Osaka but the name escapes me at the moment. 

I managed to get some Minor Threat stuff I'd never seen before while I was there in June.

[albert]

anyone notice any obscure psychedelic records in japan?

[Aych]

This sounds like heaven to me. I've been wanting to go to Japan for a while now (I'm learning Japanese currently, and also want to teach English there after college), and adding a bunch of cool record shops to the itinerary sounds so radass. Since you're planning on going next October, there might be the slim chance that I would already be in Japan if I get accepted into the teaching program that I want to go through, but if I don't, that'd still be plenty of time to save up the cash, and I would totally be down for something like this.

 

By the way, how did you get the records back to the states? Did you ship them via air mail, or did you fly them back with you?

[SBarry]

They most likely will not have anything rare as they are a newer shop (I could be wrong) but NERDS is a really awesome looking shop that should be added to the list.

http://www.instagram.com/nerdsrecords

http://www.nerdsjp.com

[yoonah]

Don't waste your time going to Korea. I lived in Seoul from 2012-2013 and vinyl scene is pretty crappy. Purple records in Seoul is small, over priced and happens to be the only place I found in the entire city that sold new wax. If you are looking for classic rock then it may be worth a visit. I had a few small shops that I visited often where I scored a bunch of classic rock albums. Most of the shops were very disorganized and piled to the ceiling with a hodgepodge of various artists and genres. I usually grab a coffee and dig, grab lunch and dig more.

Agree. Don't fly over for vinyl shopping here I mean Seoul. There are few shops in Hongdae and Dongdaemun area. However none of them are not in my recommended list. Yes very disorganized, don't even think diskunion! Maybe you could find a pearl in the mud like old Korean pressing.

Rather using Korean shops, I frequently visit Tokyo the record heaven. It's just two hours far from Seoul.

[thesewoodenideas]

 

Here are some of my favs:

 

Tokyo:

 

Record Shop Base (Koenji) - punk

http://www.recordshopbase.com/ 

 

Barn Homes Records (Shinjuku) - garage punk, punk, rock n roll, doo wop

http://www.barnhomesrecords.com/

 

Disk Union Punk Market (Shinjuku, Shibuya) - Shinjuku one is better.

Disk Union Indies - Shinjuku, 6th(?) floor

Disk Union Shimokitazawa - everything, great punk

Disk Union Machida - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/machida

Disk Union Kichiyouji - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/kichijyouji 

 

Nat Records (Shinjuku) - obscure punk, hc, surf, 60s, 80s, rock

http://natrecords.shop-pro.jp/

 

Yellow Pop (Shimokitazawa) - everything

http://www.yellowpop.jp/

 

Recofan (Shibuya) - everything

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/beam.html

 

Yokohama:

Micky Room (Yokohama) - punk - this place is a MUST!

http://ameblo.jp/bubble-and-squeak-record/entry-11499282375.html

 

Recofan (Yokokama)

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/yokohama.html

 

Disk Union (Yokohama)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama_west

 

Disk Union (Kannai)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama

 

Also in Yokohama is this hidden away shop that has every oldies record in the world. It's HUGE. I think this might be it;

Back To The Rock Records

http://rivieras.web.fc2.com/

 

~~

Banana Records is pretty good if you like mainstream stuff

 

There's this huge (red brick?) building in Shibuya that houses a lot of small record stores and brothels. Here is the address:

1103 Noa Shibuya Bldg, 36-2 Udagawa-cho

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

 

Thanks for the info. Definitely need to check some of these places out.

Not into punk so much but there's bound to be plenty for me to see anyway. Hoping to pick up some rare western releases for cheaper prices and maybe some Japanese bands (shonen knife, boredoms etc) and anime soundtracks etc.

[darkeyelids]

Just some that havent been listed so far.

 

Big Big Love Records in Harajuku is fantastic for alternative music as is Jet Set Records in Kyoto and Flake Records in Osaka 

[tatew]

if you go to Nagoya 100% go to Banana Records http://www.bananarecord.com/

[thepunkguy]

This sounds like heaven to me. I've been wanting to go to Japan for a while now (I'm learning Japanese currently, and also want to teach English there after college), and adding a bunch of cool record shops to the itinerary sounds so radass. Since you're planning on going next October, there might be the slim chance that I would already be in Japan if I get accepted into the teaching program that I want to go through, but if I don't, that'd still be plenty of time to save up the cash, and I would totally be down for something like this.

 

By the way, how did you get the records back to the states? Did you ship them via air mail, or did you fly them back with you?

 

 

I bought a record bag from Mono  ..

 

http://monocreators.com/

 

there a bit overpriced but it's fits at least 25 records

the rest I just brought in a carry on.

 

I think I might have gotten 35 total.

[thepunkguy]

 

Here are some of my favs:

 

Tokyo:

 

Record Shop Base (Koenji) - punk

http://www.recordshopbase.com/ 

 

Barn Homes Records (Shinjuku) - garage punk, punk, rock n roll, doo wop

http://www.barnhomesrecords.com/

 

Disk Union Punk Market (Shinjuku, Shibuya) - Shinjuku one is better.

Disk Union Indies - Shinjuku, 6th(?) floor

Disk Union Shimokitazawa - everything, great punk

Disk Union Machida - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/machida

Disk Union Kichiyouji - http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/kichijyouji 

 

Nat Records (Shinjuku) - obscure punk, hc, surf, 60s, 80s, rock

http://natrecords.shop-pro.jp/

 

Yellow Pop (Shimokitazawa) - everything

http://www.yellowpop.jp/

 

Recofan (Shibuya) - everything

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/beam.html

 

Yokohama:

Micky Room (Yokohama) - punk - this place is a MUST!

http://ameblo.jp/bubble-and-squeak-record/entry-11499282375.html

 

Recofan (Yokokama)

http://www.recofan.co.jp/map/yokohama.html

 

Disk Union (Yokohama)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama_west

 

Disk Union (Kannai)

http://diskunion.net/shop/ct/yokohama

 

Also in Yokohama is this hidden away shop that has every oldies record in the world. It's HUGE. I think this might be it;

Back To The Rock Records

http://rivieras.web.fc2.com/

 

~~

Banana Records is pretty good if you like mainstream stuff

 

There's this huge (red brick?) building in Shibuya that houses a lot of small record stores and brothels. Here is the address:

1103 Noa Shibuya Bldg, 36-2 Udagawa-cho

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

 

 

hey..

I have a question.

I went to Recofan and I couldn't find one record.

but my friend Andrew told me that Recofan was the best..

 

did I miss something?

i actually went back twice..

I saw a bunch of like bargain LP's..

 

I know there was another one..  I went to the one in Shibuya..

[moonbeams]

hey..

I have a question.

I went to Recofan and I couldn't find one record.

but my friend Andrew told me that Recofan was the best..

 

did I miss something?

i actually went back twice..

I saw a bunch of like bargain LP's..

 

I know there was another one..  I went to the one in Shibuya..

 

It all depends what you were looking for. Recofan in Shibuya is huge and it really takes hours to browse through everything. The used section caters mainly to mainstream releases, but its also a treasure trove for 80s Misfits stuff for low prices. The Shibuya punk section stinks and it's just a few new age bands, but they have an alternative section in the middle of the store that has a lot of 90s~2000s punk releases. 

 

Recofan isn't my favorite store.

 

Another kick ass store is The Vinyl in Shinjuku. Problem is that it can be very expensive for some releases, but they have a lot of hard to find stuff. This blog has photo of The Vinyl and many other stores I listed:

http://www.vinylrecordcollector.net/2012/11/tokyo-japan-style-definitions-table.html

[thepunkguy]

It all depends what you were looking for. Recofan in Shibuya is huge and it really takes hours to browse through everything. The used section caters mainly to mainstream releases, but its also a treasure trove for 80s Misfits stuff for low prices. The Shibuya punk section stinks and it's just a few new age bands, but they have an alternative section in the middle of the store that has a lot of 90s~2000s punk releases. 

 

Recofan isn't my favorite store.

 

Another kick ass store is The Vinyl in Shinjuku. Problem is that it can be very expensive for some releases, but they have a lot of hard to find stuff. This blog has photo of The Vinyl and many other stores I listed:

http://www.vinylrecordcollector.net/2012/11/tokyo-japan-style-definitions-table.html

 

ah.  that makes sense.

thanks ..

 

I went looking and looking and couldn't find what my other friend was talking about..

[thesewoodenideas]

Great stuff folks, thanks for the tips. Staying in shinjuku so should get around a lot of the stores mentioned.

[moonbeams]

ah.  that makes sense.

thanks ..

 

I went looking and looking and couldn't find what my other friend was talking about..

 

I think in addition to a poorly organized floorplan, Recofan's in stock items are comprised from more mainstream collections. I remember buying the following records at Recofan:

 

The Softies It's Love 12" (Slumberland)

Misfits Walk Among Us (1988)

Meatloaf Deadringer

Dan Fogelberg Greatest Hits

Billy Joel Songs In The Attic

NOFX Self Entitled

Joe Queer Presents More Bounce To The Ounce

and some Judy Ongg singles.

[Out of Breath Records]

Is anyone going soon that would love to do me a huge favor and pick some stuff up for me so I don't have to pay asinine shipping fees from Big Love Records? 

[thepunkguy]

Is anyone going soon that would love to do me a huge favor and pick some stuff up for me so I don't have to pay asinine shipping fees from Big Love Records? 

 

I was thinking about next October so it might be a while.. for me at least.

[iron666monkey]

Well, the time has finally come, tomorrow the wife and I are leaving for Japan!  We'll be in Tokyo for 5 days, and then are venturing on to Kyoto for 3 days.  I wish we were able to go longer, but that's what life and time permits this time around.  The above list that Deep Blue put together is fantastic, and I definitely plan on hitting up a few of those places as well as the Disc Union metal store.  Anyone else go recently that hit up shops not on this list that had a lot of metal or 90's titles?

[moonbeams]

I live in Tokyo. I'm happy to help people get stuff, but it won't be cheap because you'd have to compensate my time and expenses.

[moonbeams]

hey..

I have a question.

I went to Recofan and I couldn't find one record.

but my friend Andrew told me that Recofan was the best..

 

did I miss something?

i actually went back twice..

I saw a bunch of like bargain LP's..

 

I know there was another one..  I went to the one in Shibuya..

 

The recofan in Shibuya is a pain in the ass. Luckily it's next to Disk Union. Yokohama one is much better.

Also, there's a new big shop in Shibuya called HMV records. Not to be confused with it's other locations. Just keep walk away from the station from the Disk Union and you'll get to this giant red brick building. It's the ground floor. Inside the 12 floor building a few specialty record shops that cater to specific genres. Across the street is a big hip hop shop called Manhattan Records. Next to that is Face Records and some other smaller shops.