This FAQ covers camera stores in Japan, stock photography agencies, buying vintage photos, renting camera equipment in Japan, and photo schools.
What is PhotoVendors?
It is a list of major camera stores in Japan.
Which camera stores do you recommend in Japan?
Yodobashi Camera is the biggest. Their megastores in Tokyo (Shinjuku, Akihabara, Kichijoji, etc.) have almost everything. They have stores in other major cities like Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. Bic Camera is also good. In the suburbs and regional cities, you might find large electronics chain stores like Yamada Denki. They’re good too.
Where’s the best place to buy new camera equipment in Tokyo?
In Tokyo, Shinjuku is well-known for having the highest concentration of camera shops in Japan. It makes it easy to shop and compare prices. With regard to product selection, Shinjuku is No. 1 in Japan, as is Akihabara for electrical appliances. However, ever since Yodobashi opened a megastore in Akihabara, you might as go there to shop.
With regard to price, it is almost impossible to say where you can find the cheapest prices. Competition is extremely fierce in Japan and you may find little difference in prices between a large retailer and a neighborhood camera shop. Prices are pretty uniform. You can go to a few stores and compare prices.
If you can read Japanese online, you should check prices at kakaku.com which serves up the current cheapest prices for almost everything. Most of the cheapest vendors are online stores with no physical shop. If you order from them, it is highly recommended that you pay cash on delivery unless you know them to be trustworthy.
If you want a film-based camera, Shinjuku is the place to go. Yodobashi Camera’s main store (west side of Shinjuku Station) is large and comfortable with the largest selection of equipment on display. Then you can walk over to Bic Camera or Sakuraya to compare prices. Sakuraya’s main store is on the East side of Shinjuku Station.
Yodobashi is widely recognized as the best camera shop in Tokyo, mainly for the product selection. You can find photographic equipment for both amateurs and professional photographers (as well as hair dryers, refrigerators, and computers). It has several branches in Tokyo and major Japanese cities including Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Sapporo. Other major camera stores in Tokyo include Sakuraya and BIC Camera.
Any camera stores which sell to customers outside Japan?
We do not know of any camera retailers in Japan which accept international mail orders.
However, we have just started a proxy shopping service where you can obtain stuff from Japan through us. Contact us to request what you want, and we will give you a price quote.
Are camera prices cheaper in Japan than in the US or Europe?
We can no longer give a blanket statement on where camera equipment is cheaper. Once upon a time, it was cheaper in Japan (or Hong Kong). Then it became cheaper in the US. Later, it again became cheaper in Japan. It seems to depend partially on the exchange rate. You also have to factor in other costs such as shipping or plane fare.
Now, it could be the same or either way. You’ll just have to compare prices yourself. Note that this would be a question only for people who are able to visit Japan and buy stuff to take back to your home country. It does not apply to mail order shoppers because no camera retailers in Japan sell overseas via mail order.
I want to know the street prices of camera equipment in Japan.
If you and your computer can read Japanese, see Yodobashi Camera’s Web site at www.yodobashi.co.jp/ or Amazon.co.jp. They list prices of most major camera equipment. Their Website also accepts mail orders but only within Japan. Their prices are also more expensive than the cheapest vendors which you can find through kakaku.com.
If you can’t read Japanese, you can use a free Web translation service provided by @nifty. You can also join a mailing list for Nikon users, Canon users, etc. The mailing list might have a subscriber living in Japan who is familiar with the street prices in Japan or who is willing to check prices for you.
Can I ask PhotoGuide Japan to check the street prices of cameras in Japan?
We will charge a fee for such a request.
Which is your favorite camera shop?
Yodobashi. They offer the widest selection where you can touch and feel all the cameras. But for Macintosh computer equipment, there are better shops like Sofmap in Akihabara.
What about used camera shops?
Ginza in Tokyo has many used camera shops. If you are a camera collector, it’s the place to go. English is spoken at most shops. Also see the used camera ads in camera magazines such as Nippon Camera and Asahi Camera. A copy of Nippon Camera magazine can be ordered from PhotoGuide Japan.
Do any of the camera shops in Japan have web sites in English?
None have web sites in English.
What about camera shops in other cities?
You can retrieve a list of camera shops in other major cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Sapporo by accessing the Japan phone directory on this page:
http://english.itp.ne.jp/
In the Search box, enter the name of the city for “Region” and enter “CAMERA & PHOTO SUPPLIES” for the “Category.” A list of camera shops for that city will appear. Addresses and phone numbers are provided in English.
You can also obtain a more complete list of camera shops in Tokyo if you enter “Tokyo” for “Region.”
How do you rent equipment?
Most of the rental outlets require a hoshonin (guarantor) usually a family member or company superior. If you are not a resident of Japan, chances are that you will not be able to rent equipment.
As for underwater photo equipment, they can also be rented from scuba diving shops.
How do I find a rental studio?
If you can read Japanese, check Commercial Photo magazine’s Web site for a list of studios: http://www.genkosha.com/st2/arh.shtml
The magazine also had ads for rental studios and the Aug. issue includes a rental studio directory. But everything is in Japanese.
You can also access the English phone directory called Town Page at http://english.itp.ne.jp/ and do a search for “photo studios” in the target Japanese city. Note that the results will include portrait studios (non-rental).
How about renting a computer?
We don’t know of any shops where that you can rent and take home a computer.
However, you can do pretty much everything with a computer at a kinko’s store. kinko’s is a business service center offering a wide range of photocopying and printing services, and they also rent on-site Windows and Macintosh computers with all the software and peripherals you need. kinko’s has many convenient locations in the major cities (especially Tokyo). All their computers are also connected to the Internet.
What happened to your list of stock photo agencies?
We used to list the major stock agencies in Japan, but we deleted it in March 2005. It did not receive many hits and it was too much to maintain. You can always find a stock agency in Japan with Google, etc.
How can I get a stock photo catalog from stock agencies?
These days, just look at their Web site. Most agencies used to send you a paper catalog for free. But most sample images can be viewed online now.
I want to submit my slides to an agency in Japan. How do I do this?
Contact the agencies directly and find out what kind of photos they want or need. If you have what they need, make arrangements to ship samples for them to examine.
Where can I find a complete list of stock photo agencies in Japan?
A more complete list can be found in Japanese in Commercial Photo magazine’s Stock Photo Guide supplement issued every April. The magazine also has photo agency search page here (Japanese only).
I want to know more about the stock photography business in Japan. Who should I talk to (in English)?
Talk to Andy Barker who is a long-time stock photographer in Tokyo. He holds photography classes and workshops in Tokyo. You can either attend one of his stock photo workshops or hire him for a private advice session. For more details, see his Web site at photospace b.
Can I make a living as a stock photographer in Japan?
No, don’t quit your day job. Income from stock photography is not enough to live on.
Where can I buy vintage photographs in Japan?
The best place would be Yahoo Japan Auctions or eBay. There are more vintage photos of Japan outside Japan too (as you can see at eBay).
In Tokyo’s Jimbocho, there is Abeno Stamp and Coin and Shinsendo Shoten. Most of the stuff they have are not that rare or top-notch. But you never know.
There are also flea markets and antique fairs where you might find vintage photos and postcards.
If you want high-quality vintage, you’ll have to contact leading dealers such as Old Japan.
I’m an established photographer and I have many photos of so-and-so genre. Can you recommend any agencies to approach?
Sorry, but we cannot make any recommendations, endorsements, etc.
I’m a picture editor for a magazine and need a certain photo of Japan. Can you recommend any agencies to approach?
You can ask me for any images. See my large collection of photos and let me know if you see anything you want.
Where can I study photography in Japan?
Assuming that you can understand Japanese, there are a number of ways to study photography in Japan as ranked below from most difficult to least difficult:
1. Enter a four-year university and major in fine arts or photography. Nihon University in Tokyo has a well-known photography department. You will need to pass the college entrance exam.
2. Enter a 2-year vocational school (senmon gakko) specializing in photography or art. There is no entrance exam, but you will need to understand and read Japanese. You have to be a high school graduate and show that you have enough financial resources to pay the tuition.
3. Take a short-term course at a vocational school or culture center. These are usually held in the evenings or weekends.
4. Take a short-term course held by an organization (camera clubs, photo museums, etc.) or pro photographer.
5. Work as a photographer’s assistant.
Taking a photography class is a great way to meet people having the same interests. The instructors teaching the courses have a wealth of information and knowledge.
Are there any photo schools which teach in English?
No schools teach in English. However, in Tokyo there are a few photography workshops and classes conducted in English by independent professional photographers. One is called photospace b, run by Andy Barker in Zushi, Kanagawa Pref.
You may find ads for photo lessons in English magazines such as Metropolis (Tokyo), but be wary before signing up. Meet the teacher first and obtain a clear explanation of what you will get in return for a good amount of money. Or contact us for recommendations.
What’s it like to attend a photography school (shashin senmon gakko) in Japan?
Well, you do learn how to use different cameras and studio equipment and have a few fun photo sessions with live models (always female and sometimes nude). But the school does not really train you to become a real artist. Attending a photo school in the U.S. is much better.
Nevertheless, attending a photo school in Japan will enable you to meet a few teachers who are prominent Japanese photographers and you can make a lot of friends among your classmates. Knowing people can lead to jobs.
Posted under PhotoFAQ
This post was written by philbert on September 20, 2008
