Thanks for the shoutout and link Yong! Excellent video as always. It’s so nice to see the old store again. You have captured it in great detail! I guess the new store will need time to grow it’s own soul.😅
Thank you again for letting me use your video in mine. Yours too captures the new in great detail. I will miss the old store. I’m sure the new will develop its own character over time as well.
The new one is definitely bigger (and brighter) and I didn't feel like blocking others when I was browsing. It also has some seats and a café area so wife/gf could have a place to wait, LOL.
I was there this past August. The new store is very spacious, but I bought my Tamiya models from Yodobashi Camera, Radio Kaikan, and Tam Tam. I will return next August and I’m trying to find a way to buy a lot of Tamiya paint and ship them by boat to the USA.
I don’t think Tamiya minds buying from others. It’s a flagship store showcasing the best but their distributor network is huge and can do better discounts. What’s important is to have a strong presence especially in Tokyo.
I was at the new store a couple of weeks ago, very spacious and the cafe is nice touch..,but the pricing is a bit more expensive than other stores but it's still worth a look
It was a great store to visit with such an awesome range to look at but not the best place to buy, it was quite a bit more expensive than all the other stores i visited in japan.
You are right as it is the flagship showcase store. I don’t think Tamiya minds buying from others their distribution network must be worth so much more, it’s the presence in Tokyo that’s important for us to go to.
I wrote this in other videos and sitghts, the new store is simply a tourist trap. If you are visiting Japan from outside and your exchange rate is good then maybe ok. As a Japan based modeler the new shop isnt as great. The old shop use to stock extra decals from kits, it used to stock parts from kits, it used to stock airbrush replacement parts, all of which is gone from the new shop. The prices are boxed prices, if your visiting Tokyo, gou can find the same kits at cheaper prices at other shops at more convienent locations. Nice to visit once, it it really isnt that geat. You really wont be see Japan based modelers shopping there. Essentialky the old shop was for modelers the new shop is for tourists.
Heya! Others have said the same that the prices aren't as competitive as other model shops. Tamiya's distribution is huge and makes much more than just one store. Maybe the intent of the shop is a showcase of the newest, latest and greatest. And it's also to make the hobby cool again, towards a lifestyle choice with a cafe for parents / wifes / girlfriends to wait. It also helps to bring in new blood to the hobby with a more accessible Modellers Square on the ground floor. That's my theory anyway but I do understand the trade off is there is less product. If Tamiya still intends to make the extra parts and can make it readily available elsewhere, then it shouldn't be a problem. I also wanted to share, it isn't that bad to make it a tourist trap. Tokyo has always been an international hub / exchange. It helps export the Tamiya brand overseas which makes great business sense for Tamiya. Yeah... but I will miss the old store, will miss the feel of an old school hobby shop filled with every part imaginable and with surprises everywhere. I hope Tamiya is listening and does something to the shop for the domestic market as well. Only time will tell if the new shop will grow into something more. Happy New Year!
Thanks for the shoutout and link Yong! Excellent video as always. It’s so nice to see the old store again. You have captured it in great detail! I guess the new store will need time to grow it’s own soul.😅
Thank you again for letting me use your video in mine. Yours too captures the new in great detail. I will miss the old store. I’m sure the new will develop its own character over time as well.
The new one is definitely bigger (and brighter) and I didn't feel like blocking others when I was browsing. It also has some seats and a café area so wife/gf could have a place to wait, LOL.
lol… a place for the wife to have coffee is a great improvement!
My head is exploding! I love Tamiya and could spend all day in that store. I need to go to Tokyo now. Great video!
I would love to go immediately too to the new store!
Such a great video, thank you for sharing
Thank you. Wishing you a blessed new year!
Excellent video, I am looking forward to my visit in 2025 🤩✌👍
Thanks for the kind comment. Visiting the store / Tokyo is a great experience. Hope you enjoy the trip. Happy New Year!
I was there this past August. The new store is very spacious, but I bought my Tamiya models from Yodobashi Camera, Radio Kaikan, and Tam Tam. I will return next August and I’m trying to find a way to buy a lot of Tamiya paint and ship them by boat to the USA.
I don’t think Tamiya minds buying from others. It’s a flagship store showcasing the best but their distributor network is huge and can do better discounts. What’s important is to have a strong presence especially in Tokyo.
I was at the new store a couple of weeks ago, very spacious and the cafe is nice touch..,but the pricing is a bit more expensive than other stores but it's still worth a look
If it impressed, then the concept would have done its job at making you buy although at another shop. 😂
It was a great store to visit with such an awesome range to look at but not the best place to buy, it was quite a bit more expensive than all the other stores i visited in japan.
You are right as it is the flagship showcase store. I don’t think Tamiya minds buying from others their distribution network must be worth so much more, it’s the presence in Tokyo that’s important for us to go to.
I wrote this in other videos and sitghts, the new store is simply a tourist trap. If you are visiting Japan from outside and your exchange rate is good then maybe ok.
As a Japan based modeler the new shop isnt as great. The old shop use to stock extra decals from kits, it used to stock parts from kits, it used to stock airbrush replacement parts, all of which is gone from the new shop. The prices are boxed prices, if your visiting Tokyo, gou can find the same kits at cheaper prices at other shops at more convienent locations. Nice to visit once, it it really isnt that geat. You really wont be see Japan based modelers shopping there. Essentialky the old shop was for modelers the new shop is for tourists.
Heya! Others have said the same that the prices aren't as competitive as other model shops. Tamiya's distribution is huge and makes much more than just one store. Maybe the intent of the shop is a showcase of the newest, latest and greatest. And it's also to make the hobby cool again, towards a lifestyle choice with a cafe for parents / wifes / girlfriends to wait. It also helps to bring in new blood to the hobby with a more accessible Modellers Square on the ground floor. That's my theory anyway but I do understand the trade off is there is less product. If Tamiya still intends to make the extra parts and can make it readily available elsewhere, then it shouldn't be a problem.
I also wanted to share, it isn't that bad to make it a tourist trap. Tokyo has always been an international hub / exchange. It helps export the Tamiya brand overseas which makes great business sense for Tamiya.
Yeah... but I will miss the old store, will miss the feel of an old school hobby shop filled with every part imaginable and with surprises everywhere.
I hope Tamiya is listening and does something to the shop for the domestic market as well. Only time will tell if the new shop will grow into something more.
Happy New Year!
Heaven,
The basement would be a brilliant man-cave!
Not really a better store it has a very sterile type look to it the older store had a very comfortable homely feel to it when i was there
I couldn’t agree more with you. We will have to see how the new store evolves over time.