Photos of Train Shops in Tokyo

[gr8tfuldead]

My wife thought I was looking at porn. Man o man... it's just not fair... 

I loved the subway straps hanging from the ceiling in one picture.

[Kamiyacho]

A small addition to this theme, and certainly not up to Grant's usual high standard of photos, but there is a Popondetta in the Shinagawa Goos building (2F) just across the street from the west exit of Shinagawa station and behind the Singapore restaurant. This one is not far off the beaten track and very easy to find.  I'm working in Tokyo again this week and can see the building from my hotel window.  It calls to me. 

[3railgreg]

Outstanding, those are what a hobby shops SHOULD look like! Thanks for posting.

[bikkuri bahn]

My wife thought I was looking at porn.

 

Was it the eyes or the guilty grin on the face?  It happens to me too, when I'm, ah, browsing the latest Kato releases. Yeah, that's it

[cteno4]

That explains ghan's warped kato catalog... Drool that is.

 

Jeff

[gr8tfuldead]

Even the best train stores here don't even come close to what those pictures portray. Must get to Japan...

[JR 500系]

*Hang on, let me go get my hanky first* I'm drooling like a horse and panting with excitement like a dog with a jerky!

 

Thank you so much for the intensive photo field report! Really appreciate the effort and helping us get to the stores easily...

 

Now how come i didnt register earlier into this forum? *Slaps self hard*

 

Anyone has an application form for Permanent Residence in Japan?

[ed1303vw]

Here you go guys,

Tam Tam hobby store in Tokyo

video on you tube search Tam Tam hobby store,

going back soon ....

[cteno4]

link?

[ed1303vw]

http://youtu.be/1akpxXD8KfQ

can't seem to get it to work

[cteno4]

http://youtu.be/1akpxXD8KfQ

can't seem to get it to work

 

it didnt show up in your post as a youtube or as hypertext for me.

 

jeff

[ed1303vw]

hi jeff,

is it working now ,

thanks ed

[cteno4]

sorry eyp the link was fine in the second post.

 

if you use the full youtube.com link it shows up in the post as a video as well. the forum software does not recognize the youtu.be domain to auto load the video on the forum post. looks like the hyperlink didnt make it in the first post altogether.

 

thanks for the video, looks like a very clean and well organized shop! also looks to be enough room to bend over. i remember some of the shops i was in were so narrow that you had to be perfectly lined up with the isle and carefully squat or bend to not knock stuff off the shelves! some were also pretty dusty and crammed to the ceilings with stuff. never saw and inch of wall anywhere! much fun though almost like indian jones.

 

jeff

[Mudkip Orange]

Totally random question. Can I use any of your photos of Japanese residential neighborhoods for an academic paper on street cross-sections? Streets with curb and gutter placed at the very edge of the right-of-way, and with utilities and other obstructions within the curbline, seem to be a uniquely Japanese thing. And I get tired of using Google-watermarked images for everything.

[EVO-X]

Which shops in Tokyo would you recommend for second hand magazines and trains?

 

Cheers, Andrew

[gmat]

Mudskip, are you talking to me?

 

Sure, no problem. I can try to shoot better photos if you want.

 

EVO-X,

Norimono Club near Ichigaya Station has a couple of boxes of old train magazines and they're rather cheap. They cater to the airline hobby crowd and used to be called Ikaros. (Icarus)

http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/venue/2703/Norimono-Club

 

You can go to Jimbocho Station and there are a few shops that specialize in second hand hobby/train magazines. I can take a photo shoot of how to get there for you if you want.

 

Liberty in Akihabara has a fair selection of second-hand trains.

 

At Ropongi I saw some cute wind up toy trains, but when I tried to take a photo, the lady there said please don't. So your loss.

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[EVO-X]

Hello Gmat,

 

your photos are very helpful and I enjoyed them very much! I wish I would be a millionair as I never get enough magazines and models:-)

 

If you could do some photos of the way and the boxes with magazines (+ prices) that would be very helpful! Thank you!

 

Are you japanese? If yes, your english is very good!

 

Cheers, from Germany, Andrew

[gmat]

EVO-X, OK, I'll try to get some as soon as possible. Haven't been posting much as I had my camera repaired and had problems with the bulk uploader at Photobucket.

 

I'm an American expat in Japan. My English is steadily deteriorating from lack of proper stimulus and usage.

 

Don't know if Liberty will allow me to shoot inside their store. But I can shoot the outside.

 

Youtube of a visit to a different Liberty Hobby Shop. In the store with the train section, (store #11) the selection is not as abundant.

 

The Liberty Hobby Shop with the trains is two doors down on the screen right. You can't see it.

 

Map giving locations of Liberty stores.

http://www.liberty-kaitori.com/map.html

 

Site with photos of some of the Liberty Hobby Shops, but not #11.

http://www.toyboxcollection.com/blog/shopguide_part2/

 

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[Matteo_IT]

I am stunned! There is no comparison with Italian shops!

[hectorton]

Evo-x,

 

I would recommend "Book Off" which is a subsidiary of "Hard Off, www.hardoff.co.jp." Hard Off is a company that deals strictly in second hand merchandise with their most popular chain being Book Off. All stores have a section dedicated to rail road modeling/enthusiast magazines, catalogs, and books. I visit the stores every chance I get. Their second most popular chain is "Hobby Off" which I would also recommend for second hand model train sets. The best selection of new railroad modeling magazines, catalogs, and books that I havevseen in Japan is on the 5th floor of the Shosen Book Store a couple of blocks S.E. of Akihabara Station.

[bill937ca]

Not a photo but a video introduction to Tam Tam Akihabara.

 

[JR 500系]

Not a photo but a video introduction to Tam Tam Akihabara.

Thanks!

 

It's a paradise on earth!

[cteno4]

Drool city!

[Ochanomizu]

Hello Mr bill937ca,

 

I never see Tam-Tam without customer.  Always so busy.  They have an excellent selection of Tomix track.

[Kabutoni]

I see TamTam alone regularly, but that is the one in Sagamihara. Especially in the morning it can be very quiet in this massive store.

 

 

They have a great layout as well, but I haven't tested it yet. It looks much better than all those Popondetta layouts, since it's not all about running in the same circles. Circuits actually have more than just right- or left-hand corners. The layout is also having regular maintenance and upgrades.

 

My favourite shop for their prices and friendly staff is TamTam for one, but also Hobbyland Pochi. There is a 15% off sale at both Akihabara shops by the way. ;)