Buying In Japan?

[pl212]

Right, so on the chance that any of you gents have been to Tokyo before, and seen any good shops/districts for Tamiya items -- be they new or vintage -- thought I'd post a query. Obviously exchange rate and how to get it back on the plane need to be taken into account, but anyone think this might make sense?

Also, anyone with experience traveling to the Tamiya headquarters while there?

[HunterZero]

Right, so on the chance that any of you gents have been to Tokyo before, and seen any good shops/districts for Tamiya items -- be they new or vintage -- thought I'd post a query. Obviously exchange rate and how to get it back on the plane need to be taken into account, but anyone think this might make sense?

Also, anyone with experience traveling to the Tamiya headquarters while there?

Akihabara seems to be the district for everything hobby and electronic.

Tamiya is in Shizuoka, about an hour out of Tokyo by bullet train. They do have a showroom with some 1:1 cars on display, and many RC models on display, but only a small shop. Plus they sometimes have a grab bin with a souvenir plastic model on a single sprue. I haven't been there personally, but other members have and have posted pictures.

- James

[Tamiya1/10]

If you do buy a lot, forget about bring them on the plane with you, just mail or courier them back. I think the new stuff would be available and maybe at a good price. As for vintage, you just have to keep your eyes open and unlike several years ago, most Japanese now knows the world market value for the vintage stuff. As for buying from Tamiya headquater, I don't think you will get a deal as the factory has to protect its retail supplier unless you are just afte Tamiya's Head office souvenir. The best bet to know the prices from your LHS to ebay seller and you can judge if you got a deal or not.

[Keyser Soze]

In Akihabara you will find Rc Champ...with very good prices!! Not so far from the underground station...

Then there is the Plamodel Factory, in Tokyo too, but never been there.

In Shizuoka, near the Tamiya headquarter and the track there is Rainbow ten, but prices are a little bit higher...But the Tamiya head quarter worth a visit for sure...Shizuoka is such a quiet place if compared to Tokyo!

The only problem is the transportation in the plane...but about shipping, rc champ in tokyo doesn't ship, at least one year and half ago. While the one in Osaka should do it.

[30cms]

take a big suitcase

bin all your clothes and pack the case with tamiya kits

[bjr250]

Sorry for the cut and paste from an earlier topic:

I usually go to Champ (the Osaka shop is a TC site sponsor), Super RC, Rakusei and Futaba Sangyo.

I do have a set of directions but here is an online set Akihabara RC Shops.

Just be aware that English (or any other language other than Japanese) is not spoken by the staff so it is best to know your part numbers first that way you can give them a list and they can tell you if it is in stock if you cant find it.

Champ and Super RC put a large catalogue in some of the Japanese RC magazines but they also put it online,

Champ click on each of the links running down the left of the page (1-14) for PDF's of the pages.

Super RC click on the links running down the page for the PDF's.

These prices will stay the same for the month (occasionally cheaper in store). The cheapest price listed for the kits is usually without any extras and the next one is with bearings included getting more expensive until batteries and full radio is added. Also keep in mind that Japanese kits do not come with an ESC included.

/paste

For me with the price differential compared to what Tamiya kits and parts sell for is definitely worth it (our importer sells to shops higher than what the full retail price is in Japan) but you would have to do the maths yourself to make the comparison for what you can buy things for locally.

The prices at the Tamiya shop at the headquarters and in the Plamodel Factory shops is at full manufacturers recommended retail prices but the other shops in Akihabara are significantly less. The headquarters building is worth a look but the are only two museum rooms as well as the foyer (and shop) so it is not a whole day destination in itself but you can incorporate it into another trip if you want.

As for getting the kits home do what I do and buy as much as your luggage limit allows and post your cloths home seamail