In this guide to record stores in Tokyo I’ll point out each shop’s strong points and choice finds, comparing the prices I paid, next to their supposed market value. my place), I’ve decided to buy cleaner copies of mostly newer music, or obscure ones that I’m just discovering.Ĭaveat: Discogs is just a guide and its projective market values might not necessarily match Japan’s current tastes. With limited space at Chez Musique Salon Mignon (a.k.a.

Personally, I’m not interested in finding the cheapest vintage copies of vinyl from the 60s-70s, etc., because they’re often dirty, moldy and exhibit poor fidelity. That way you’ll know you’re not overpaying. If the median rate, cover and media conditions are fine, drop some dough, so you can drop the needle. Input a record to the record database app Discogs and this will give you estimates of the lowest, median and highest market value for records. Ultimately subjective, there’s still a method to the madness of record collecting. So here’s a guide to the top 10 record stores in and around Tokyo.

For the past several years, I’ve hunted for records throughout the Kanto region, from Yokohama to Chiba and Saitama to Tokyo. I’m an unapologetic record collector living in one of the best places on the planet for vinyl lovers: Tokyo.

Vinyl record store near me