Uncover the Best Record Stores in Tokyo
Tokyo boasts a vibrant vinyl scene, with neighborhoods like Shibuya and Shimokitazawa offering a treasure trove for enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a casual listener, the city's record stores cater to all tastes.
All Record Stores in Tokyo
Jazzy Sport Shimokitazawa
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 2-chōme−19−１７ サワダヤビル 3F-A
Coco-isle Music Market
Japan, 〒150-0041 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jinnan, 1-chōme−3−２ 不二ビル 4F
Shinjuku Record
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 2-chōme−10−１５ マルシェ下北沢205B 2F
Upstairs Records & Bar
3-chōme-27-1 Kitazawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0031, Japan
Recordshop Base
4-chōme-23-5 Kōenjiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0003, Japan
UPTOWN RECORD STORE
Japan, 〒166-0002 Tokyo, Suginami City, Kōenjikita, 3-chōme−8−１２ フデノビル 402号室
Beams Records
1F, 3-chōme-25-15 Jingūmae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
next records
Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawachō, 11−１１ Ryukou Building, 2nd Floor
Tower Vinyl Shibuya
Japan, 〒150-0041 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jinnan, 1-chōme−22−１４ 6F
BIG LOVE Records
Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingūmae, 2-chōme−31−３ 3FA
Record City Shop
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 7-chōme−8−３ 1階
Tower Records Shibuya
1-chōme-22-14 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan
Flash Disc Ranch
Misuzu Bldg. 2F, ２丁目-１２-16 北沢 世田谷区 東京都 155-0031, Japan
VINYL TOKYO
Japan, 〒100-0005 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1-chōme−9−１ JR東日本東京駅構内1F グランスタ東京
Ella Records
1-chōme-14-10 Nishihara, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0066, Japan
Record Station
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 3-chōme−30−１ 下北沢かどやビル 2F
Tower Records Shinjuku
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3-chōme−37−１ フラッグスビル 9～10F
Disk Union Shimokitazawa CD Record Store
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 1-chōme−40−６ Kashiwa 3rd, １階
HMV record shop Shibuya
Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawachō, 36−２ １Ｆ／２Ｆ
RECOfan MAGNET by SHIBUYA109
Japan, 〒150-0041 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jinnan, 1-chōme−23−１０ 6階 MAGNET by SHIBUYA109
HMV record shop Shinjuku
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3-chōme−30−１３ 8階
JET SET Shimokitazawa
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 2-chōme−33−１２ 柳川ビル 201号
NAT RECORDS (ナット・レコーズ)
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 2-chōme−10−１０ 4F
Vinyl - 2nd Hand Records
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 7-chōme−8−２ 福八ビル 2F
The Vinyl Scene in Tokyo
Tokyo is widely regarded as the best vinyl-shopping city on earth, and the numbers back it up: hundreds of specialist shops spread across distinct districts, immaculate condition standards, and a secondhand culture that treats records with extraordinary care. The legendary Disk Union chain alone runs genre-specialized branches across the city, while independents like Flash Disc Ranch and Jazzy Sport in Shimokitazawa, BIG LOVE Records in Shibuya and the Koenji shops give the scene its character. Japanese pressings are prized worldwide for their quality, quiet vinyl and meticulous packaging, and Tokyo's used stock is graded conservatively and stored beautifully. Whether you're after rare jazz and soul, city pop originals, audiophile pressings or club 12-inches, Tokyo rewards both the casual browser and the obsessive collector willing to climb a few staircases to upstairs shops tucked into multi-floor buildings.
Best Neighborhoods for Record Shopping
Shimokitazawa (Setagaya) is the bohemian heart of Tokyo digging, packed with shops like Flash Disc Ranch, Jazzy Sport, Record Station, JET SET and a Disk Union branch all within a few narrow streets. Shibuya is the heavyweight district: Tower Records' dedicated Tower Vinyl floor, HMV record shop, BIG LOVE (indie), RECOfan and numerous Disk Union specialists cluster around Udagawacho and Jinnan, long known as one of the densest record-shopping areas in the world. Shinjuku adds Disk Union's flagship genre stores, Shinjuku Record and more, while Koenji (Suginami) offers a grittier, crate-digger feel at UPTOWN Record Store and Recordshop Base. Each district has its own personality, and most shops sit on the second floor or higher, so look up and follow the signage into the buildings.
What Genres & Pressings to Look For
Tokyo's specialty is depth in every genre. Jazz, soul and funk are exceptional — Flash Disc Ranch, Jazzy Sport and Record Station carry deep stocks of originals and rare imports in superb condition. City pop remains the city's signature hunt, and original Japanese pressings of Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi and their peers are sought worldwide, though prices have climbed sharply. Collectors also prize Japanese pressings of Western rock and jazz, often pressed on quieter vinyl with obi strips that significantly raise value when intact. House, techno and hip-hop 12-inches are plentiful given Tokyo's club culture, especially in Shibuya and Shimokitazawa. Look for the obi (the paper spine strip), insert completeness and the conservative Japanese grading — a record marked VG+ in Tokyo often plays closer to near-mint by Western standards.
New vs. Used Vinyl in Tokyo
Tokyo excels at both. For new releases and reissues, Tower Records (one of the last great Tower locations) and HMV record shop stock current titles, Japanese editions and audiophile represses, often with bonus inserts unavailable elsewhere. For used and rare records, the Disk Union network and the independents are unrivaled: stock is cleaned, graded strictly and priced by genre specialists who know exactly what they're handling. Secondhand prices can be high for sought-after city pop and jazz, but condition is consistently outstanding, and bargain corners still exist if you dig. Many shops accept cards, but carry some cash for smaller independents. If you're buying to take home, ask staff to help confirm the obi and inserts are present, since completeness is central to a Japanese pressing's value.
Record Store Day & Local Vinyl Events
Record Store Day is observed in Tokyo each April, with participating shops in Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa stocking Japanese and international exclusives — popular titles move quickly, so arrive early. Beyond RSD, Tokyo hosts frequent record fairs and flea-market sales, and Disk Union and individual stores regularly run restocks, sales and in-store events tied to the city's deep DJ and club culture. The concentration of shops means an event in one district often coincides with sales in neighboring stores, making weekends during fair season especially rewarding. Checking each shop's website and social media is the best way to track release lists, fair schedules and the rare-stock drops that Tokyo collectors plan their week around.
Vinyl Shopping Tips for Tokyo
Look Up — Shops Hide on Upper Floors
Unlike Western cities, many of Tokyo's best record stores occupy the second, third or fourth floor of narrow buildings rather than street level. In Shibuya and Shimokitazawa especially, the great shops are reached by staircases and small elevators, so watch for vertical signage and don't assume a district is 'shopped out' just because the ground floor looks quiet.
Prize the Obi Strip and Inserts
On Japanese pressings, the obi (the printed paper spine strip) and original inserts dramatically affect value and desirability. A record complete with its obi can be worth several times one without. When buying city pop or Japanese rock pressings to resell or collect, always check that the obi and inserts are present and ask staff to confirm.
Trust the Conservative Grading
Japanese shops grade strictly and store records meticulously, so a disc marked VG+ in Tokyo frequently plays closer to near-mint by Western standards. This makes Tokyo one of the safest cities in the world to buy used vinyl unseen, but it also means genuinely mint copies command premium prices — budget accordingly for top-condition rarities.
FAQ - Record Stores in Tokyo
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