Pen Stores in Tokyo

[Maurizio]

I know this has been written up before, but I’d like the collective wisdom here to guide me.

 

My darling son, who’s in the US Navy, is now in Tokyo, and messaged me today that he’s going to go to a “pen store” for me for a Father’s Day gift.

 

Which store or stores should I ask him to visit?

 

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

 

[ridiculopathy]

I think it will be difficult to make recommendations with so many unknowns about your preferences, but perhaps you could ask him to learn how to say “store exclusive” in Japanese and then visit Maruzen, Kingdom Note, or Bungubox. 

 

Either way, I hope you enjoy your Father’s Day gift!

[Maurizio]

Thank you for your reply  ridiculopathy. 

 

My son took Japanese during his 4 years of HS, but is not yet fluent, though he may be able to communicate in a crude way; he’s still working on it in his leisure time. He’s an anime nut, loves Japanese food, and excited to be in Japan. 

 

I’m interested in basic good pens all with broad or flex nibs for sketching and have given him a list to choose one of from:

 

- Sailor 1911 Large broad

- Pilot Custom 912 FA

- Pilot Custom 743 FA

- Pilot Falcon broad - I had this pen about 6 years ago before I started sketching and sold it and now regret it. It felt almost like a brush the way it laid ink on a page. 

- Pilot Justus

 

So, a store which offers good prices would be ideal. I know Itoya is supposed to be the epitome and to offer a large selection but the shop also charges full retail price.

 

I’ve also asked him to get me a bottle of the black  Pilot Tsuwairo ink which is not yet available in the CONUS. 

 

I will give my son your list. 

 

Thanks again. 

[Karmachanic]

I've not been to Tokyo, but my understaing is that Maruzen Nihonbashi is the best branch to go to for pens/inks

[Maurizio]

Thanks Karmachanic. I think there’s a typo and you meant to write Maruzen, and you’re the second person to recommend that shop, so thanks again. I will tell my son to make that a priority stop if he can. 

[mke]

I heard a lot about this shop

 

[Maurizio]

9 hours ago, mke said:

I heard a lot about this shop

 

I will add this to the short list of stores I’ll ask my son to visit for me. 

 

Thanks mke. 

[KingsCountyWriter]

My suggestion are to go to Itoya Ginza and Kingdom Note. Itoya is an experience unlike any other I have had in terms of breadth and presentation.

 

Kingdom Note is just a great shop with a wide variety of new and used pens. It's in a fantastic building that sells bicycles, cameras, watches and other things. An amazing building!

 

Happy Father's Day!

[LMpensandthings]

Thank you for this thread - I am planning a trip to Japan soon so this will come in handy!

[XYZZY]

On 6/25/2023 at 9:25 AM, LMpensandthings said:

Thank you for this thread - I am planning a trip to Japan soon so this will come in handy!

Scroll to the top, change the search bar from "This Topic" to "This Forum", and search for "travel visit".  You'll find many more great suggestions.

[gerigo]

I recommend Itoya and Maruzen and not any of the others. Here are the reason why:

• Itoya and Maruzen and located in parts of Tokyo that have other stuff around that a tourist would want to see; IE Ginza and Nihonbashi. They are VERY easy to find and travel to. Maruzen has its own underground entry from the subway so you don't even have to walk out of the subway. Itoya is very conveniently located just a few minutes walk on the main thoroughfare of Ginza. 
• They don't just have pens so are attractive for tourists because there are other things to see in the store, while many of the other recommendations are pen stores with nothing else. 
• They ALWAYS have the full range of pens, and are more unlikely to run out. Never say never. But of all the stores, they will be the ones with the full range and are likely to have what you want. 
• The disadvantage of these locations is that they sell at FULL price and the sales experience is partly why you pay full price. You get to dip test the pens and make choices like nib width that only a user can. Unfortunately this will be lost on your son since he is buying for you. 

What NOT to do:

• While Kingdom Note is VERY conveniently located next to Yodobashi, for the anime nerd in your son, their stock is not consistent and you might not get the pen you're looking for. And they are ONLY a pen store with nothing else in the store.
• Don't even try and send your son to a place like Tokyo quill. It's located in a suburb, requires travel and time and is in the middle of nowhere. 

My suggestion is to locate the pen you want on the pilot.co.jp, http://platinum-pen.co.jp and sailor.co.jp website and give the URL to your son on the specific pen you want. It will be super easy for him to show the staff and you're guaranteed of getting what you want. https://www.kingdomnote.com also has a website and their stock is constantly updated. If there is something there that fits your need, get your son to go and get it for you. 

[mongrelnomad]

On 7/3/2023 at 5:07 PM, gerigo said:

I recommend Itoya and Maruzen and not any of the others. Here are the reason why:

• Itoya and Maruzen and located in parts of Tokyo that have other stuff around that a tourist would want to see; IE Ginza and Nihonbashi. They are VERY easy to find and travel to. Maruzen has its own underground entry from the subway so you don't even have to walk out of the subway. Itoya is very conveniently located just a few minutes walk on the main thoroughfare of Ginza. 
• They don't just have pens so are attractive for tourists because there are other things to see in the store, while many of the other recommendations are pen stores with nothing else. 
• They ALWAYS have the full range of pens, and are more unlikely to run out. Never say never. But of all the stores, they will be the ones with the full range and are likely to have what you want. 
• The disadvantage of these locations is that they sell at FULL price and the sales experience is partly why you pay full price. You get to dip test the pens and make choices like nib width that only a user can. Unfortunately this will be lost on your son since he is buying for you. 

What NOT to do:

• While Kingdom Note is VERY conveniently located next to Yodobashi, for the anime nerd in your son, their stock is not consistent and you might not get the pen you're looking for. And they are ONLY a pen store with nothing else in the store.
• Don't even try and send your son to a place like Tokyo quill. It's located in a suburb, requires travel and time and is in the middle of nowhere. 

My suggestion is to locate the pen you want on the pilot.co.jp, http://platinum-pen.co.jp and sailor.co.jp website and give the URL to your son on the specific pen you want. It will be super easy for him to show the staff and you're guaranteed of getting what you want. https://www.kingdomnote.com also has a website and their stock is constantly updated. If there is something there that fits your need, get your son to go and get it for you. 

 

I am currently in Japan and this absolutely the best advice.

[Karmachanic]

Just to add.  There are two Maruzen stores in Tokyo.  The above mentioned Nihonbashi is the pen heaven, not the Marunouchi main store.

[Maurizio]

Gerigo - thank you  for your advice, it came too late for this trip but I’m saving it for the next. 

 

We are planning to take a trip together when he has leave sometime next year.