Tokyo Soundings

Gallery Le Deco
Towa Bldg. 2F-6F
3-16-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
(03) 5485-5188
Directions: (See Shibuya map) On Meiji Dori south of Shibuya (JR Yamanote; subway Ginza & Hanzomon, Keio Inokashira, Tokyu, etc. lines) Station. There is a sign out front. This is an art gallery, but sometimes has live shows. Also has a gift shop for good postcards and the like.

Mandarake
Beam Bldg. B2F
31-2 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku
(03) 3477-0777
Web site
Directions: (See Shibuya map) From Shibuya Station (JR Yamanote; subway Ginza & Hanzomon, Keio Inokashira, Tokyu, etc. lines), take the Hachiko exit and go north towards Tower Records. Pass to the right of the big Starbucks. Pass McDonald's and make a left into the big street under the bridge between the two Seibu buildings. When you come to the fork in the road, there's a Disk Union on your left. Take the right fork. Ahead on the right is a McDonald's and Tokyu Hands. On the left, just before the McDonald's, is the Beam building. There's a Haagen-Dazs in the front. Go into the building and take the elevator to the second basement. Giant manga store. Be prepared to stand in line just to get in.

Mandarake
Nakano Broadway 3F
5-52 Nakano, Nakano-ku
Directions: From Nakano JR Station (Chuo and Sobu lines), take North Exit and cross the bus and taxi area. Enter the Sun Mall. There is a sign at the mall entrance for McDonald's, which is in the Sun Mall near the opposite end on the left. Pass McDonald's and enter the Broadway Mall at the end of Sun Mall. Take the escalator to the third floor. When you get off the escalator, there are two Mandarake shops on your left. Mandarake has other shops on the second and fourth floors of this mall as well, carrying things like vintage toys and other collectibles. This is the original branch of the big manga shop. Lots of stuff, including collectible cards and figures.

Taco Che
Nakano Broadway 3F
5-52-15 Nakano, Nakano-ku 164-0001
(03) 5343-2333, 5343-3010
(03) 5343-4010 (FAX)
Open daily 12:00-8:00
Directions: From Nakano JR Station (Chuo and Sobu lines), take North Exit and cross the bus and taxi area. Enter the Sun Mall. There is a sign at the mall entrance for McDonald's, which is in the Sun Mall near the opposite end on the left. Pass McDonald's and enter the Broadway Mall at the end of Sun Mall. Take the escalator to the third floor. From the escalator, Taco Che is a little ways down on the right. Small bookshop with lots of unusual stuff, including a small but decent selection of CDs and books on music. Numerous videos, including some good music videotapes (e.g., a PSF Fushitsusha video). Nothing in English.

Vacuum Records
Jingumae Square 201
3-22-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku 150-0001
(03) 5414-3346 (phone)
(03) 5414-3347 (FAX)
Open daily 11:00 to 9:00
Directions: Between Jingumae (Chiyoda line) and Omote Sando (Chiyoda, Ginza, Hanzomon lines) subway stations and near Harajuku JR Station (Yamanote line). From the intersection of Takeshita and Meiji Avenues in Harajuku, go east under the "Harajuku St." sign. Take your second left. Vacuum Records is on the second floor of a building on the left. A recently opened Tokyo branch of the Osaka-based novelty store. Vacuum Records used to make and sell lots of novelty record players, including a portable for 7"s. Now the only one they sell is their trademark Vinyl Killer (a little van that drives around on the surface of a record and plays it). They now deal mainly in Lego and Playmobil, but still worth a visit. The Tokyo location is much brighter and more spacious than the Osaka shop, which is basically in a closet, like many small Japanese retail businesses. Despite its name, you won't find records here.