KATO Kyoto Store - Model Train Paradise

[SL58654号]

During my spontaneously-planned voyage to Kyoto from my home in Kumamoto, I knew that after leaving the Kyoto Railway Museum that there would be at least one more haven of (model) railways that was not-to-be-missed seeing as how I was in Kyoto for the first time in 12 years. The KATO Kyoto retail outlet was excellent. Everything an average to the more refined railway enthusiast of N gauge models could want, as well as OO-9 and HO Bachmann Thomas models as well. Well worth it if you are anywhere near or in Kyoto Station. 
From this store I purchased the two items seen at my seat on the Shinkansen, and a future visit is not out of the question for me! 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen here are one of the "Bug Boxes" that I purchased. Ffestiniog Railway trains obviously resonate with Japanese rail fans since they're so cute. 

A quaint Japanese local station. I've already got one that's planned to be on my unfinished layout. 

A roundhouse and turntable clearly meant to emulate the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum. In good taste. 

[SL58654号]

He's a cheeky little engine, and Japan certainly loves him! 

 

Next time I think I'll pick up one of the Kyoto-themed Chibi Locos.

The George England engines aren't being left out of the picture. I have three thus far. KATO is ramping up their British narrow gauge offerings through OO-9 layout starter sets.

Had my new ED75 1005 tested at the store before cordially saying goodbye. 

 

What a store! Japan and model trains go together like green tea🍵and biscuits! This German documentary seems to agree with my thoughts. 
What exclusive KATO Kyoto items would any of you fellows like to obtain from either the store itself or elsewhere?

While they are sold out here, I'm currently bidding on a KATO Umekoji 8630 SL! Wish me luck! 

[katoftw]

I wasn't wowed by the store.

 

I was there last year.  Nice place, lots of stuff.  But I guess as there wasn't nothing of interest to buy for myself.  I guess it felt like a let down.

 

They had all the common kato range plus a lot of niche stuff.

 

Not my thing, but their HO range inside the store was quite large and surprising.

[Kingmeow]

I was there in 2023.  Nice, very boutique'ish store, but the selection was not as great at their Hobby Center store in Shinjuku.  Nevertheless the more stores there are to spread the gospel the better!  😎

 

The interior store decoration was very zen and it made you feel peaceful with model trains.  😁

[Dillon]

8 hours ago, SL58654号 said:

What exclusive KATO Kyoto items would any of you fellows like to obtain from either the store itself or elsewhere?

The 009 Oscar lol

[SL58654号]

21 hours ago, Dillon said:

The 009 Oscar lol

Ask and you shall receive, although I did not see it on the shelf there. I'm really hoping that (since Bachmann UK didn't make their own) KATO will make a OO-9 Taliesin Single Fairlie sometime! 

[SL58654号]

23 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

 

The interior store decoration was very zen and it made you feel peaceful with model trains.  😁

Zen you say? Interesting. That's just the feeling that I want my layout to emulate once I finish it after I move into my new house in the countryside. It's far more Japanese-looking that my current apartment. 

What might the Hobby Center store have had that was more noteworthy? 

[Kingmeow]

59 minutes ago, SL58654号 said:

Zen you say? Interesting. That's just the feeling that I want my layout to emulate once I finish it after I move into my new house in the countryside. It's far more Japanese-looking that my current apartment. 

What might the Hobby Center store have had that was more noteworthy? 

 

It depends on what you are after.  Noteworthy is only based on your needs.  It does have a layout upstairs where you can run with fellow customers.

 

The Hobby Center has a lot more variety and it feels like, well, a big hobby store.  The Kyoto Station store has more "warmth" given the generous use of wood and Japanese motifs.

[cteno4]

Kato Station looks like it has put a lot of effort into being a more museum like presentation of the trains. This is actually a very good way to show off the variety and interesting looks of model trains to folks not deep into the hobby. I could see beginners totally overwhelmed by a regular japanese hobby shop and the shelves and shelves of cases and boxes. Here you see the trains themselves and the use of the wood and warmth gives a really nice gentle and inviting environment to show off the models themselves and not just shelves and shelves of cases. Its a bit like Cosco warehouse with piles to the ceiling versus a small artisanal market where stuff is displayed nicely and thought is given to making an pleasant environment for the trains to look their best.

 

Nice presentation can make folks drop more money than they realize as well! A very dear (and sadly recently departed) old friend was a professional seller for high end artists at the top shows around the us. She was so sought out as she could increase sales just by redoing how the artists [mainly jewlery, fabric and wood artisans] would display their pieces at shows. I would talk with her about it as a lot of parallels to my exhibit works. She use to say she always worked on placing pieces in positions and groupings to make them “come alive”. She came by this ability from lots of retail experience and just a great talent for it so never really could explain details of why she exactly did or tons of reason, but it worked. I attended a few of the shows she did and watched the visitor flow as I do with exhibit stuff and her artist’s booth just sucked people in and retained them. Booths around the artists she was doing were just as good and some of them maybe even flashier, but hers held folks. 

 

jeff

[Kamome]

I think Kyoto Kato shop fits in with the surroundings. Kyoto being one of the main centres of arts and culture, steeped in traditions long forgotten in other parts of Japan. While every major city looks the same these days with Starbucks, Zara and all other globalised business outlets, Kyoto still boasts many smaller artisan businesses and this is reflected in Kato’s offering. Many of the trains on offer are “finished” models with parts, lighting and other additions so there is a feeling of purchasing an artisan’s work. It strikes a nice balance although as a modeller, it gives me inspiration rather than a desire to purchase, but the many of the items are exclusive to this store giving it the idea you are buying an individual art piece rather than a mass-produced model. 

[Little-Kinder]

Is the store worth checking if you just want to buy? since it's MRP price and not discounted

[Kamome]

Unless you’re looking for a specific item they only sell there, probably better at the usual big sellers. Locos in specific colours or modelled to an actual loco not in the regular range are 3-4x the cost of the base loco. 

[Kingmeow]

12 hours ago, Little-Kinder said:

Is the store worth checking if you just want to buy? since it's MRP price and not discounted

 

Pricing is no different than their Hobby Center store in Shinjuku.  MSRP but they are duty free so if you have a passport it's 10% off.

 

Like Kamome said, if you are in the buying mood I would go for the bigger stores just because of more variety.  Though if you are looking for Kato parts, I found that Hobby Center in Shinjuku is the final say as they seem to be fully stocked, especially DCC things like EM13 and FL12.  If you have a long list for parts, I would go to Kato Hobby Center first else you'll be visiting multiple stores to get everything.  Don't ask me how I know!  🙄

[Little-Kinder]

59 minutes ago, Kingmeow said:

 

Pricing is no different than their Hobby Center store in Shinjuku.  MSRP but they are duty free so if you have a passport it's 10% off.

 

Like Kamome said, if you are in the buying mood I would go for the bigger stores just because of more variety.  Though if you are looking for Kato parts, I found that Hobby Center in Shinjuku is the final say as they seem to be fully stocked, especially DCC things like EM13 and FL12.  If you have a long list for parts, I would go to Kato Hobby Center first else you'll be visiting multiple stores to get everything.  Don't ask me how I know!  🙄

Yes I'm aware I go once every two weeks when they have an event. 

 

I just go for the events and buy a little something like cable or the oil and this way I can also run my stuff on their layout.

 

They also have a huge diorama/decor section with different brands so that's always nice