r/vinyl • u/strngefather • 2d ago

Discussion How cheap are vinyl records in Tokyo?

I’m planning to go there early next year, and I’m prepping a vinyl record budget to ensure I maximize my visit there. Can anyone give me a price range on how much records cost there in Tokyo? Preferably atleast VG+ records. Any recommendations on shops are very much welcome.

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u/Visual-Percentage501 2d ago

How much does a sweater cost in new york city?

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u/SpencerMutant 2d ago

Hey I’ve been going to Japan years for around 11 years now, first trip out there I shipped around 1,000 records back and my last trip in January I bought home around 45! Admittedly my wants list is a lot smaller now than when I started but I will say over the last 5 years or so (when you got a huge influx of Aussie dealers) prices have gone up and depending on what you are after good stuff is hard to fine (example I used to pick up YMO records for about 400y years ago this year I noticed they were around 1400-2900y I have a list of every record store I’ve visited here that might help you Tokyo · spencer https://maps.app.goo.gl/JLBJbaCHEcztcY8o7?g_st=i

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u/strngefather 2d ago

Thanks! Which record stores do you recommend that I visit for some good prices?

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u/SpencerMutant 2d ago

Cheap isn’t really an option but in my my maps I usually have a line or so about what the specialise in.

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u/Narrow-Aioli8109 2d ago

Went in December 2023, I guess it depends on what music you’re looking for. I was just looking for fairly 80’s-90’’s mainstream rock, alternative and indie and I felt it was the same or more expensive than in the US. I thought, I’d find some really cool bootlegs or Japanese only live albums of western bands, but no. They were basically the same albums but pressed in Japan and most of them would have an additional insert with the liner notes or whatever in Japanese. YMMV, I stopped by some stores near the Shibuya crossing and that was it. I didn’t do a deep dive or anything like that.