A "Tomix" Hobby Center?

[Kingmeow]

Is there such a thing similar to the Kato Hobby Center but for Tomix?  I VAGUELY remember reading something like this a long time ago with their shop being in Tokyo but now I can't seem to find that info.

 

I'm looking for a particular pantograph that everywhere seems to be OOS.  I figured maybe a Tomix factory store, like KHC, might have a better chance.  I know it was somewhere in Tokyo.  Maybe they closed up shop?

 

Heading there in October.

 

Thanks!

[Kamome]

No where near the same as at HCK but they currently have a showroom near Kanda station. I’ve not been myself and I’m not even sure you can purchase much, if anything, there. 

 

https://www.tomixworld.jp

 

They used to have a reasonable shop in Saitama city, stocking a good range of their products including clearance items. This has long since closed but was certainly not on the same scale as Hobby Centre Kato. 

 

For parts, you may have better luck in places like Imon, Tam Tam or Poppondetta. If none of these are showing stock, you could email Tomix customer service using their online form to see if they even have it. Replies are usually pretty prompt. They do however have a general policy to receive the full item back and then see if they can repair it so you may need to be assertive as to how they can best help you when explaining the situation.

 

 

[Kingmeow]

Thanks for the great info!  I'll see what they have.  But I'll definitely drop by Imon as I missed it last time in Tokyo.  And probably Popondetta too even though I have been before but ran out of time.

[Madsing]

I confirm that you cannot purchase anything at Tomix World. It is quite small (a single room) but definitely worth a visit. I went there last year, the staff is super friendly and the demo layout alone is worth the trip. 
 

marc

 

[jappomania]

it was Tomix World - Tec Station in Omiya, closed 5 years ago, some special items has been released and available only at this shop (code 93xxx for complete trains but also single locomotives and freight wagons, hard to find now and expensive, especially Shinkansen limited items)

for what I remeber, probably for a complete list the only way is to find the last numbers of Tomix Kilopost (the small booklet published bi-monthly - more or less - ceased in the same period

 

ciao!

 

Massimo

[KateM]

Tec Station remained as an online shop, still selling a wide range of replacement parts and original goods. Currently they have e.g. C58 239 in 2023 livery and gloss finish, or 3-car set of Shiki 1000. 

[Kamome]

The Tec station Shiki are a strange animal, in that they have just blackened out the old Nippon Express logo compared with the regular version which is pretty much how they look these days. To be fair, Tomix have also numbered them correctly iirc.  They still didn't see fit to blacken the wheels though which are shiny silver. When you're looking at this train and 24 axles in quick succession go past, they're really going to stand out. 

 

They also produced a limited run of the DF200-200 in Ai-Me livery in HO scale. These sold out almost immediately and now fetch double their original selling price on auction sites.  Tomix HO-941 for anyone who missed it.

 

As far as I can tell, the Tomix Tech station carries a slightly expanded inventory of the regular spares that Tomix generally produce, mostly listed in the back of their catalogue. If you want anything else, you have to contact them directly and go through their warranty and repairs department. 

I honestly prefer the Kato methodology of "here are all of our parts, fix it yourself"  but each to their own.

Actually, having seen the documentation that Kato send out to their listed stores, it's quite substantial each month with new release posters, faxable order sheets for all the new releases and associated Assy parts (yes faxable, its Japan after all) and update info on any delays, changes, recalls etc..

 

My main issue with Tomix, despite their service being consistently excellent, is to request you to send them the whole item, which when you've recently purchased it, seems an annoyance in to my case of minor cosmetic replacements. I could understand with more difficult issues with thinks like performance.

 

Kato you can just usually buy the part, Zoukei Mura were happy to send a new axle for their DD54 due to a split gear, so just wish Tomix would give the option to send the part.

[Kingmeow]

So I'm assuming that Tec Station is a mail order only place and they don't have a physical store in Japan?  Do they ship to the US?  Their FAQ seems to indicate Japan only based on who the delivery company is.

[jappomania]

7 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

So I'm assuming that Tec Station is a mail order only place and they don't have a physical store in Japan?  Do they ship to the US? 

 

YES, only on-line and NO, only inside Japan but you can ask to Modeltrainplus (Nariichi) or RG-Rokko (Tokonami) or Zenmarket like personal shopper

for example the fake 500 EVA 02 hard cars was available onlyfrom Tec Station, at the end the final price is a little bit more high (no discount available for resellers/wholesaler) but is the only way 🤔