Thursday, October 22, 2009

Tokyo Record Shops: RECOfan in Shibuya

RECOfan is massive. It seems to occupy the entire 4th Floor of the Beam Building.
Pretty much a 50/50 mix of vinyl and cds. I couldn't really figure out how everything was filed, but there were a lot of racks with random LPs, as well as the usual alphabetic stuff. A LOT of cool and weird albums at low prices. I would've found a lot more bargains if I'd had more time, I know it! All the same, I managed to grab a fair few 60s GroupSounds platters. Staff wore uniforms (in the style of a large DIY store) and were really friendly - though they might have just been humouring me ("have you seen that english guy who keeps asking for the old Japanese records?").


HOW TO GET THERE

Leave Shibuya station via the "Hachikō" exit, walk to the famous big zebra crossing thing, and aim towards the large yellow arrow. The arrow is just on this photo, not there in real life - but I wouldn't be surprised if they get a real one soon.



... keep walking right up this street...


... and turn right here, just a short side street...



... turn left into the main street, and walk down with the HMV on the left...


... take the right fork. Enjoy the sight of the Police Box, that looks a bit like a giant robot owl...



... and there it is on the left, the Beam Building, looking like a large filing cabinet or similar office furniture. Or maybe an electric heater.


... RECOfan is on the 4th floor, or "4F" as they say in Tokyo. Say hello from me.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tokyo Record Shops: DISK UNION in Shinjuku

Disk Union is a chain that has quite a few branches in Tokyo. The store in Shijuku is preeeeetty nice. EIGHT floors of music. Some nice Brazilian stuff, tons of used rock and jazz and even a copy of the first Bill Fay LP. Maybe it's still there.
I found some very unexpected bargains in the J-pop section in the basement, not expensive at all. I left the shop with a skip in my step, and was 30 minutes late for an important appointment (sorry Toshi!).

HOW TO GET THERE

Leave Shinjuku station via the EAST CENTRAL EXIT, if you can find it, look for the street corner with the Benetton shop and turn left down that street.


...walking in the direction of this sinister looking building on the horizon...


... keep walking past the Scottish hamburger restaurant on the left...


... keep walking straight ahead...


... there it is, up ahead on the left...


... and here you are.
(Watch out for bikers though)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Put The Needle On The Rekkid


Shortly, I will be posting details of a few groovy record stores in Tokyo.
Until then, here's a drawing of a record I made earlier.