Train Shop Map - A Hobby Map for us

[disturbman]

I've started a Google Map project in order to help us locate places where we can buy model trains in Japan (and around the World). The idea is to give members ideas where to shop when they are abroad.

 

I've for the moment added only two dots. I don't know many shops in Japan but I'll be soon adding some shops located in Paris and Berlin. This is an open project and invite all of you to contact me by pm if you have other adresses to add to this map. If you give me your email adresses I'll send you an invite so you can mod this map and add new shops to the list.

 

It could be interesting to add some desription (the type of product they are selling, the size of the shop, the size of their inventory, if they sell second hand...) plus the date of your last visit (this is unfortunately a dying hobby and shops tend to dissapear). Anyway, if someone have something to say about the infos given in this map, if they need corrections or else, leave a message here.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=fr&msa=0&ll=35.701274,139.770354&spn=0.001146,0.002642&t=h&z=19&lci=transit&msid=114074710234106649283.000481843669b2bd0b312

 

 

List of shops:

 

Asia

Osaka: 10 locations

Tokyo: 4 locations

 

Europe

Berlin: 4 locations

Kamen: 1 location

[disturbman]

Ok, I've added 5 locations in Osaka. Please correct me if I've a mistake and don't hesitate to give me new adresses (with google map links), it will help me a lot. At the moment I'm trying to find TamTam/Hobidas adress.

 

Thanks.

[Darklighter]

Great idea!

 

More stores in Tokyo:

 

Yodobashi Camera Akihabara

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=11460785675326182551

 

TamTam Akihabara

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=782265183692683125

 

Sakuraya Hobby Store Shinjuku

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=4911021438401386971

 

 

Last visit: October 2009

[Guest ___]

That's a great idea, thanks Vince. Google maps is a great tool, but can be a bit triteful at times to work with.

[disturbman]

More stores in Tokyo:

 

Yodobashi Camera Akihabara

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=11460785675326182551

 

TamTam Akihabara

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=782265183692683125

 

Sakuraya Hobby Store Shinjuku

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=4911021438401386971[/quote

 

Thanks for that! I've added them. Do you have any idea on which floor was located the model trains in Yodobashi Camera?

 

That's a great idea, thanks Vince. Google maps is a great tool, but can be a bit triteful at times to work with.

 

You're welcome! I hope this will come handy. It's very ahrd to locate hobby shops when abroad, even more when you don't understand or read the language. In Europe it's usually quite straight forward, shops are on street level but in Tokyo for exemple... you really have to know where to look at. Anyhow, between Google Streetview and the given urls, it should help people to find interesting places. It will even be easier if I could link those marks to their Japanese equivalent which give images of the building and/or the shop interior.

 

I know this project will help me a great deal next month. :)

[bill937ca]

 

Sakuraya Hobby Store Shinjuku

http://maps.google.de/maps/place?cid=4911021438401386971

 

 

Last visit: October 2009

 

 

All Sakuraya stores closed Febraury 28, 2010 including the Hobby Store.  Bankrupt.

 

http://www.dannychoo.com/fusion/en/12789/Sakuraya+has+closed+in+Shinjuku.html

 

 

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/ja/25412/%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%88%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF.html

[Darklighter]

Do you have any idea on which floor was located the model trains in Yodobashi Camera?

6F (toy department, behind tons of Gundam kits)

 

All Sakuraya stores closed Febraury 28, 2010 including the Hobby Store.  Bankrupt.

Oh, that's a pity.

[Guest ___]

Gundam, the Japanese word for Hobby.

[to2leo]

I thought I shared my hobby stores location using Google map with you all already back in Nov when I was on my week long train trip.

 

If not, shame on me.

 

I have also included hours of operation, website and as much info as possible.

 

Osaka

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.000475c59e9a1d45d0536&z=13

Tokyo

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.0004737f7d7177aa1e401&z=11

Kyoto and Nara

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.000475e73df5525fadb23&z=10

[yakumo381]

Going to be in Japan next month (April) - does anyone know of a good train shop with N Gauge that is close to either Nagoya or Okayama Stations?

[disturbman]

I thought I shared my hobby stores location using Google map with you all already back in Nov when I was on my week long train trip.

 

If not, shame on me.

 

I have also included hours of operation, website and as much info as possible.

 

Osaka

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.000475c59e9a1d45d0536&z=13

Tokyo

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.0004737f7d7177aa1e401&z=11

Kyoto and Nara

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117365055412492863846.000475e73df5525fadb23&z=10

 

Now, I feel useless! This is great Leo!

[to2leo]

@Distrubman

Nah, I created them because I really need to go and plan my time accordingly to see as many shops in as little time as possible.

 

@yakumo381

2 well known franchise shops in the Nagoya area are

Tam Tam

http://www.hs-tamtam.jp/modules/tinyd2/index.php?id=3

Hobbyland Pochi

http://hobbyland-pochi.net/hpgen/HPB/entries/1.html#nagoya

[Guest ___]

Quick update. I hit the Shinosaka shop a few days ago. All I can say is for a store the size of my bathroom. (I kid you not the shop was so small that three people could not stand in the store) he had an amazing selection. He was high on his cost for trains, but really low on TomyTec and scenery supplies. I swear this store was the size of a five mat room and it was floor to ceiling with stock, none of which was sorted in any order whatsoever. On top of his low prices, he also gave me a discount so I bought a TomyTec Koban, and a ton of cars for about ¥1000

[to2leo]

So glad you had a fruitful shopping experience in Osaka!  We still need to combine out maps somehow!!!

[disturbman]

Yes but I won't be back until the the 5th of May, not sure I can do anything about it before. Leo, do you want me to give you admin rights on my map?

[CaptOblivious]

I had thought Google Maps offered an option by which you could copy items from one map to another?

[to2leo]

Okay I think that's how Google Maps does it, I need to invite others to collaborate so that we can combine our maps.

 

Please feel free to e-mail me by PM and I will send the collaboration.

[bill937ca]

This is another hobby shop in the Akihabara area.  Its located near a AMPM on Chuo Dori.  The shop itself appears to be on the 8th floor.  Hope there is an elevator!

 

The shop's web site.

 

http://www.fmodels.jp/

 

http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E5%A4%96%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B0+F+models&sll=35.702077,139.771927&sspn=0.011675,0.012102&g=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E5%A4%96%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B04-6-1&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A

 

Akibamap has an article on F Models dating from 2009/08/06 with numerous photos.  This article is up to date unlike the articles that show the defunct Akihabara Department Store with its model of Akihabara Station.

 

http://akibamap.info/archives/51265962.html

 

The selection looks good.

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_15.jpg

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_04.jpg

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_14.jpg

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_08.jpg

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_14.jpg

 

http://www3.akibamap.net/picview.php?img=img6/0805_fmodels_07.jpg

[alpineaustralia]

Guys

 

I printed off a colour copy of the google earth map with each of the hobby stores highlighted on it and it was invaluable for finding my way around the rabbit warren known as Akihabara.

 

However, one thing that you should be aware of - alot of the stores are right next to porno outlets, maid cafes and other places that you wouldnt want to wonder into with your 6 year old boy.

 

Tenshodo (directly in front of exit 4 of the Ginza metro station) was the easiest to find.

[disturbman]

Well, Japan is like that. Otaku and colector culture mixes well with more kinky stuff. You have to be aware of that. Usually the hardest things are not visible from the streets but are hidden in the higher floor. I remember a shop in Akihabara that started by selling regular anime toys before proposing Cosplay and then real sex toys. If you think about it it the same in our book shops. Usually Playboy is not so far away from the most comon amd harmfull magazines.

 

Too bad you couldn't use the map. It has been helpfull to me in Osaka.

[alpineaustralia]

I wondered into shop called D-Stage which I thought was a train shop (http://www.d-stagerailwaynet.com/index.html)

It turned out to be a porn shop which I hurried out of before my boy could see the posters on the wall.

I was bloody annoyed at that.

The map was otherwise excellent and I would recommend it to anyone 

[disturbman]

That's bad. 

 

And sorry, I mistook invaluable for valueless or something like that.

[disturbman]

So, I've been in Osaka for around 10 days now and I can say sonethings.

 

For new items, I still have to see a cheaper place than Yodobashi Camera. Plus they have quite an impressive collection of Tomix, Kato, Microace and Modemo stuff. If you want some mainstream product go there.

 

If you want second hand, go to Den den towm near Namba. Popondetta has a very comprehensive collection of second hand Microace release. I manage to found two versions of the old Marine Liner there (and one was a painted train), a Yufuin no Mori (that I bought) and so much more. The only sad thing is that there is allmost no stationery in Popondetta. On the other sidewalk, allmost facing Popondetta, you can find Volks, which is a tad more expensive than Ponpondetta, don't have a very big second hand section but has a very nice model train stationery. On the same sidewalk a little further south you can find another shop only dedicated to second hand items. Prices are quite low except for some rare items that hit crazy prices. They also have an impressive collection of single car/loc to look in. And a little further south, on the same side walk as Popondetta you can find a Joshin hobby-shop. The 5th floor is for model trains and they are very good for displaying trains. They have so far the bigest  stationeries I've seen in Osaka and they also use somesort of display to show the inside of cases. Very nice when you don't know by heart all the different trains from Japan, which can be very difficult.

[to2leo]

Hey Disturbman,

Cheaper than Yodobashi and Joshin is Tam Tam located about 15 min train ride at Amagasaki.

You can also get to see the biggest HO scale layout in the Kansai Region.

http://www.hobbista.jp/

 

Also Hobbyland Pochi stores in Osaka have comparable and cheaper prices than Popondetta.

http://hobbyland-pochi.net/

[disturbman]

Pochi is good. This is the second hand place I was speaking about in Den Den Town. And today I went to check out the shop around Umeda and ended up buying my Doraemon train. I was not really planing to buy anything but they had a JR Kyushu Seaside Liner I wanted and then I saw the clerk cleaning the Doraemon set... I couldn't resist.

 

Very good place for nice second hand bargains (better than Popondetta anyway) but they also know how to price their rarest items. The Rapi:t was at 18.000 Yen and the HOT at around 21.000!