Tokyu Hands
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47)
Sat 2007/12/01 12:00
Tokyu Hands is a blessing from the good lord for residents of Tokyo and visitors alike.
As a visitor to Tokyo when I was still back in ol Blighty, every year I would make sure a trip to Tokyu Hands was on the schedule. You can buy just about everything under the (rising) sun here. Everything from Gundams to bags, to clocks, accessories - anything.
For folks living here, Tokyu Hands is also the place to go for DIY stuff. have a look at this previous article on how I got materials from Tokyu Hands to make shelves for my figures.
I remember there being a few decent DIY stores in the UK - although I've long forgotten the names.
I remember there being a few decent DIY stores in the UK - although I've long forgotten the names.
These pics were taken on the 2nd floor at the Shibuya Flagship store - a ton of fasteners needed for my armor.
Flexible metal rods useful for...something.
Ball bearings useful for tripping people up.
Steel rods useful for picking your nose.
Was going to pick up some of these metal plates and use em as a background for figure shoots - the light would shine through or something.
Rubber and plastic blocks of all shapes n sizes - got some to dampen the rattle on my armor.
More rubber stuff.
Use these to hang my Strike from the ceiling.
Polystyrene blocks - more expensive than the real thing ^^;
You can also get wood, fabrics, electronic diodes etc etc. Do drop by if you have the time. Get off at Shibuya station, walk down Center Gai and ask directions from there.
You can also get wood, fabrics, electronic diodes etc etc. Do drop by if you have the time. Get off at Shibuya station, walk down Center Gai and ask directions from there.
In an attempt to bring you more of Japan, I'm starting a new series called "A week in To...(more)
Tue 11/27 01:25 comments (55)
Photo taken in Takada No Baba - home of Waseda University. The yellow sign is an offi...(more)
Sun 11/25 10:00 comments (38)
We used to have this place called Axeman, and they would sell all this kind of stuff, but I don't think they extist anymore. They also sold stuff for popular hobbies, like paints, models (no gundams though), doll stuff.
(ID #65556) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:16
All I need is rope, an excellent DIY tool I say http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5052/ropefq5.jpg
(ID #65557) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:26
icie in Australia
Not so much DIY as a proper hardware place. The chain called "Bunnings" has huge warehouses full of DIY stuff. Giant planks of wood? You got it, stored down the back. Flooring, roofing, every kind of need, you can find there. By comparison, hobby shops are more specific to models and stuff, but are like an expensive and smaller little brother to the big-ole hardware houses.
(ID #65558) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:36
radical anime fan in Singapore; starting to freeze up. Mmm, end-of-year weather. (Registered on 2007/01/25 22:08)
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
That's really convenient.
(ID #65559) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:37
Service desk support
goddammit!! A shop in japan which has everything I would need for making any model kit (save for paints). Man I wish i had a place like that instead of having to to to 3 different shops for stuff...
(ID #65560) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:38
looks like the Japanese equivalent of Home Depot to me, DIY stuff rocks
(ID #65561) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:38
Yep we've got Home Depot and Rona over here in Canada for most of that stuff.
(ID #65562) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:45
In the U.K we have B&Q for DIY stuff..... the big stores are full of everything you could possiblt want for any job around the home. Still doesn't look as big as one of those stores
(ID #65563) Posted on 2007/12/01 12:46
Overpaid Computer Nerd
Tokyu Hands isn't really comparable to Home Depot or Lowes in the US. Yes, they are both DIY type stores but Home Depot and Lowes focus exclusively on home improvement. Tokyu Hands is more like a massive hobby store. A few of the floors focus on home improvement but the other floors focus on other hobbies. In the US we have many other hobby stores to take care of those things. I guess the biggest difference can be made by the observation that you can walk into a Home Depot and buy EVERYTHING you need to actually build a house with your own hands (you can actually order houses at Lowes) Tokyu hands does not have that. They might have enough to do the trim work. All that said, Tokyu hands is still one of my MUST VISIT places when I'm in Japan.
(ID #65565) Posted on 2007/12/01 13:38
Part human, part student, 100% loser
I need to go different shops to get different things but Tokyu Hands sure is convienient...
(ID #65566) Posted on 2007/12/01 14:20
Student Of Japanese, in Japan
I LOVE Tokyu Hands! We have one in Nagoya and I go there often, just to mill about and see what's there. There's so much!!
(ID #65567) Posted on 2007/12/01 14:24
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Yeah... Tokyu Hands. Where half the money I took to Japan stayed. :P Yes, it has tons and tons of stuff for hobbysts, but it's not only that. At least Tokyu Hands in Tokyo... I think there are 3 different stores, and I've been in all 3. Shibuya, Ikebukuro and another one. Anyways, what really caught my attention was the toys/weird stuff session. Being a tourist and all, I wasn't interested in home supply, bags and other stuff... though they had all of it. Books, kitchenware, electronics, gardening supplies, etc etc etc But I wish so much I had one of those near my place... we don't even have a decent hardware store around here. Nothing to help on DIY tasks.
(ID #65568) Posted on 2007/12/01 14:42
I was in Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku, when I was in Tokyo at the end of march for two weeks this year. I was surprised how much stuff they sold!
(ID #65569) Posted on 2007/12/01 14:49
Sorry my bad that should have been Shibuya! :X sorry!
(ID #65570) Posted on 2007/12/01 14:50
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
The real reason for Tokyu Hands (Pardon the shoddy phone camera quality ^^;) http://www.moeside.net/downloads/Pictures/tokyu1.jpg http://www.moeside.net/downloads/Pictures/tokyu2.jpg http://www.moeside.net/downloads/Pictures/tokyu3.jpg
(ID #65572) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:03
Web Developer (i.e. Otaku)
I spent hours in the Shinjuku branch. I bought some lovely wacky birthday cards in there that I've not seen in the UK, although I regret not buying the Yamanote Line alarm clock.
(ID #65573) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:10
Anyone in KL knows any shop like that here? There are some DIY shops i know, but much much smaller than that
(ID #65574) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:19
Drawing in North America
I am just really impressed that they have a section with leather sewing tools and leather on sale to make hip leather pouch and another section with scientific equipments (beakers and such). Kind of expensive, all in all, though.
(ID #65575) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:30
Japanese Student
Tokyo Hands... I could spend hours just going around and around and around it. So much stuff to see, buy and want. I've been to some branches out of Tokyo, too. It's where you go for anything.
(ID #65576) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:30
Got, but the one i see not very big.
(ID #65577) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:31
trying to stay relevant
Yes, Tokyu Hands is a goldmine. However I spent a long time in there looking for sticky parcel tape last time, (seems there are 748 different kinds of sticky tape in Tokyo), then found you can get the same stuff from 100 yen stores for less...I like the woodworking department where you can have wood cut and shaped to order. They used to have a model department but it closed some time ago.
(ID #65578) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:32
Policy & Research Officer
Ah shucks, we dun have a one stop shop for all these stuffs in singapore
(ID #65579) Posted on 2007/12/01 15:42
J Carlton in Connecticut
Auuuugh. Why can't I find out about places like this when I need them. This place looks like just the place I need around here. My friend who had to close his hardware store recently could have dome something like this and filled a need that the local Wal Mart and Home Despot don't fill. I love that place. I'm going to make sure I visit the next time I go to Japan
(ID #65580) Posted on 2007/12/01 16:07
Student
OH my god. That place is like heaven for me. Too bad I can't go there =(
(ID #65581) Posted on 2007/12/01 16:48
McMaster Engineering Student Fall 08
I don't recall there being a store entirely themed with the "DIY" moto in mind here. Either way, I still get my hands on cool stuff like this just going to a couple places around me :). Though it'd probably be much more convenient to have it all in one place just like the store featured in this post :p!
(ID #65585) Posted on 2007/12/01 19:06
Now that really looks like a one stop shop. Sadly there's none of that resort where Iam. I usually have to go to several store to get all that i need. Sometimes not even getting all of it.
(ID #65586) Posted on 2007/12/01 19:39
Student Engineer
Yes there are quite a few in Dutch Country (Pennsylvania). I have a kuzans right off the campus that I can get everything DIY for. They sell all sorts of stuff- wire, wood, crafts, etc. I get my stains for my wood bases from them (cheaper). They are quite convinient and I don't have to be in a crowded Wal*Mart. Power to Mom and Pop stores!!!
(ID #65587) Posted on 2007/12/01 19:47
Home Depot, and Lowe's. Maybe you have heard of them? We also have Ace Hardware, and a bunch of mom and pop stores. Since I fix stuff around the house a lot, and do my own electrical and plumbing work, this helps a lot. I think there are 734 DIY shops around my house in a one mile (1.60934 Kilometers) radius around my house. Hmm.. I might be exaggerating a little.
(ID #65588) Posted on 2007/12/01 20:15
Danny, the ball bearings are also good for throwing behind you when you are on a motorcycle and making holes in peoples radiators if they are driving waaaaay too close to you. Not a nice thing to do, but neither is letting them run me over. *insert evil laugh here*
(ID #65589) Posted on 2007/12/01 20:16
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
man I wanna go back to japan again! I love Tokyu hands! :P When I was staying at Ikebukuro, the tokyo hands had a pet shop type thingie near the top! And there's also a Nekobukuro where U pay to play with cats :P
(ID #65590) Posted on 2007/12/01 20:26
DRAGUN = Modern ninja (using ball bearing isntead of caltrops) with a Halibut on his banner. ;)
(ID #65591) Posted on 2007/12/01 20:37
Odd you should mention Halibut. Since they are like Kryptonite to Ninjas. Little known fact there. Share it, spread it around.... its okay, you can have it. Its yours. I dont even want credit. I guess riding a black motorcycle, with black leathers and a black helmet do make me look ninja-ish. Especially because I always have a katana strapped to my bike. GROWL!
(ID #65592) Posted on 2007/12/01 21:24
We have home depot and city mill here that have a ton of diy items, though you can always ask them to do the work for you for a fee.
(ID #65593) Posted on 2007/12/01 21:39
If I walk into a Tokyu Hands, before I know it it's dark outside and my wallet is empty...
(ID #65596) Posted on 2007/12/01 23:15
I have some DIY stores in my city, both big and small stores. Besides that, there are even bigger DIY stores in a nearby city. I myself am not really a DIY guy, so these stores hardly see me. ^^"
(ID #65600) Posted on 2007/12/02 00:07
Something to do with cars
In Malaysia, these sort of shops/stores are usually referred to hardware shops/stores. There are small ones like only a shoplot big (but sometimes these small shops stocks up stuff that the bigger ones don't have), usually owned by an old guy and his family members. there should be at least one in a given residential area. then there's the bigger store type. ever heard of ACE Hardware anyone?
(ID #65602) Posted on 2007/12/02 00:24
Animation
i love tokyo hands! you can buy everything under the sun. its much more clean then the cluttered don quixote.
(ID #65610) Posted on 2007/12/02 01:49
.NET/Web Developer
We have some around here but they're pretty average. Still missing a few stuff that I'm looking for but I don't do a lot of DIY stuff.
(ID #65627) Posted on 2007/12/02 05:25
Illustrator & Designer
I was lucky enough to pop into a Tokyo Hands once when I was in Tokyo and I picked up some zip tones and full background scenes to use for manga making! Nothing like that here and as someone already mentioned below, all we have is a hardware supplies warehouse chain called Bunnings that mainly aimed at backyard handymen stuff rather than hobbyist in us all.
(ID #65637) Posted on 2007/12/02 08:50
High School Graduate... Now what?
Wow, this is definitely more handier than he OSH down the street. It sure beats having to buy off the net too... Bummer.
(ID #65656) Posted on 2007/12/02 12:46
CG artist, Sunrise Emotion
There's just so much to see in Hands. I frequent it and Kinokuniya quite often when I am in Shinjuku.
(ID #65663) Posted on 2007/12/02 13:35
yea i visited tokyu hands when i was in japan from 23 - 30 nov. was at the takashimaaya at the JR station and one level had tokyu hands and i visited it :D But danny you openned a shop? I spoted this when i was around the asukusa kanon temple http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0271pb9.jpg
(ID #65666) Posted on 2007/12/02 13:54
in SG you can find similar stores, much smaller in size, Sim Lim Square has got a few...
(ID #65667) Posted on 2007/12/02 14:06
Sysadmin
Oh yeah. Tokyu Hands is the shit when it comes to just about anything DIY and then some. Love to snoop around there, getting ideas for casemods and things around the house. We have an ample supply of DIY-shops, but those are clearly focused on DIY stuff; building materials, lighting, paint, furniture and so on, but TH has more diversity. Our DIY-shops don't carry electronic parts; just the end product.
(ID #65683) Posted on 2007/12/02 22:30
anime/cosplay events organizer
we also have some DIY shops here but not as wide ranged as Tokyu Hands. i've never imagined that kind of shop exists where you can buy almost anything ^^ it's japan's Wal-Mart lolz XD
(ID #65728) Posted on 2007/12/03 05:14
Dang... I wish there was a shop like that then I wouldn't have to make all the things myself....
(ID #66228) Posted on 2007/12/07 02:51
Daigakusei [Consular and Diplomatic Affairs]
oooh~ now that is what i call a man's store^^
(ID #66278) Posted on 2007/12/07 12:05
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