Need help with my list of shops to visit in Tokyo

[Super Dave]

Hi,

 

I’m travelling to Tokyo in a couple of weeks and will be in Shinjuku.  I need some help narrowing down the stores to visit.  I’ve made a list below but would appreciate some guidance in prioritizing the list based on the following.  

 

I’m a new fountain pen enthusiast and my interest is in Japanese pens.  I really like the vintage pocket pens and have tried a couple of models from Pilot, Sailor and Platinum.  I also have a few of the larger Pilots and really enjoy writing with the Elabo SEF, 74 SF and 74 SMF.  (I enjoy writing cursive and SMF is my current limit for width.)

 

Specifically, I’d like to try the 912 FA, Elabo SF, SMF, and the #10 and #15 nibs in various offerings.  Does Pilot still have a branch in Tokyo where I can try their pens without feeling like I’m wasting the staff member’s time?  I plan to check out Sailor and Platinum but the priority will be on Pilot.  

 

For out of production, I’d be interested in checking out a striped Myu.  I’d also be interested to check out a Pelikan 140 with a softer nib.  

 

I’m going to bring the Platinum in the photo with me and hope to get it fixed while I’m there.  It’s a beautiful pocket pen but only writes if the nib is rotated left.  I found two shops that can do a fast repair: Eurobox and Kawakubo Fountain Pen Store (a little out of the way but I’ll go if Eurobox can’t do it).  Any other suggestions?

 

Any tips on paper / notebooks, etc would also be helpful.  I’ve been using the premium HP copy paper and it works pretty well.  I have a Mnemosyne notebook and it’s nice with the wider nibs but feels a little sticky on the finer nibs.  And, the ink seem to be a little more muted.  

 

If you have any suggestions for good restaurants I’d love to hear about that also. 

 

Thanks so much,
Dave

 

Fountain Pens Current Production

Itoya (I went here over the summer before my fountain pen interest and found it super crowded and overwhelming.)

Maruzen  (Which is the best location?  Some say the Marunouchi store and others say Nihonbashi branch is the best.)

Ancora (Ginza)

Yodobashi 

Shosaikan 

Daikanyama-Tsutaya, 

Marui Shoten, Ueno

Seikaido

Lichtope

Tokyo Quill Pen Shop 

Marui Syouten (small shop, limited selection, big discounts)

Loft (main store is in Shibuya)

 

Vintage Fountain Pens 

Eurobox https://euro-box.com   (They will be open for one of the days I'm visiting)

Kingdom Note (near Shinjuku Station)

Bungubox  https://bungubox.shop/en/pages/shop_info   

Pen Cluster (Vintage, Secondhand, Small Makers)  https://pencluster.com  need appointment one day in advance

 

Stationary

Stationery Station at Mitsukoshi Main Store Nihonbashi 5th floor

https://www.stationerystation.co.jp

https://www.galenleather.com

https://teriw.jp  

Kakimori 

Hands

 

 

[Mew]

I won’t comment on the other stuff since all of it has been covered in similar threads earlier, but EuroBox won’t repair the pen on the spot for you. Might take time and there is a chance that you won’t be in Japan when they are done with it. 

[Super Dave]

Thank you for letting me know about Eurobox.  

 

It sounds like you are a fond of the Mew / Myu.  Where would you go in Tokyo to look for those?

 

I appreciate the help.

Dave

 

 

[mke]

6 hours ago, Super Dave said:

Thank you for letting me know about Eurobox.  

You haven't asked yet?

[mke]

On 3/4/2025 at 8:59 AM, Super Dave said:

Maruzen  (Which is the best location?  Some say the Marunouchi store and others say Nihonbashi branch is the best.)

Visit both, they are very near to each other. You just need to cross the Tokyo station area. On the left side of Tokyo Station is Marunouchi Oazo, this is where Maruzen Marunouchi is located, Nihombashi has the red flag.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Marunouchi+Oazo,+1+Chome-6-4+Marunouchi,+Chiyoda+City,+Tokyo+100-0005/MARUZEN+Nihombashi,+2+Chome-3-10+Nihonbashi,+Chuo+City,+Tokyo+103-8245/@35.6817239,139.766759,17z/data=!3m1!5s0x60188957cd9695fb:0xdb78b1e66734b90!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x60188bf91efa97d9:0x17b6702ba591fbf3!2m2!1d139.7664058!2d35.6834589!1m5!1m1!1s0x60188bfd7b5b551f:0x56558ba849eecf18!2m2!1d139.7724752!2d35.680953!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

 

[Mew]

16 hours ago, Super Dave said:

Thank you for letting me know about Eurobox.  

 

It sounds like you are a fond of the Mew / Myu.  Where would you go in Tokyo to look for those?

 

I appreciate the help.

Dave

 

 

hello,

 

I have tried using Myu, but they are too small for me. I just use Hakase or Namiki Emperors now. My username comes from the Pokémon Mew. 
 

As for getting a Myu (pen), eurobox has it sometimes but still quite uncommon. Yahoo auctions might be a good place to look but condition of the pen might be an issue 80% of the time. 

[Super Dave]

Thank you both for the tips.  I appreciate your advice.  

I have been pretty active on the Yahoo Auctions and will continue to buy on there.  I'm pretty excited to see all these models in person.

 

I have a question about the sales people at the larger stores.  Do they get a commission for the pens they sell or do they work on a set salary / wage?  I'd be more comfortable taking my time in trying a bunch of pens if their wages are fixed.  Thanks for the help.

[mke]

4 hours ago, Super Dave said:

Do they get a commission for the pens they sell

 

In Japanese shops you either find salaried people or people paid by the hour - I am sure people getting paid by commissions exist but I doubt that for pen/stationery shops. Just my guess.

What you should not expect is that the people in shops are very knowledgeable about pens (especially if they are paid by the hour). They cannot consult as they are mostly untrained sales people. 

But your biggest problem will be to find English-speaking personnel.

 

In your list is a shop where they had a Namiki Urushi emperor on display very near to a lamp. When I went there again many months later, it was still unsold (it was identifiable by some dust on the nib). I am pretty sure the Urushi coating was not in best shape anymore. So, for really expensive pens, go to Shosaikan or Itoya or even KingdomNote. 

 

You also need to check which shops offer tax-free shopping (beware of the minimum).

 

How about Eboya or Nakaya? I think they also have shops.

 

[Prof Drew]

Have a fun trip! You might want to check out this list that Fudefan created https://www.fudefan.com/buy-from-jp/ or

https://estilofilos.blogspot.com/p/tokyo-pen-shops.html

(which is by the author of the Chronicas Estilographicas blog, which you will enjoy and find a great resource). It's a bit older, but includes the discount shops in Tokyo's Ueno-Ameyokocho market (cash only).

 

Tokyo Inklings is a podcast you might enjoy for more info on Japanese pens and stationery world. Check out old episodes to find things of most interest.

 

I also suggest the video series that the Wet Pen created on YouTube about searching for custom inks in Japan. Of course many of those shops sell fountain pens. He also has reviews of papers, as does Blake's Broadcast. More fun informative videos on shops and the like with https://www.youtube.com/c/InkyRocks.

 

If you don't speak Japanese, you are more likely to be able to have more support with trying different nibs in a shop at large stores or airport shops.

 

Depending on where you will travel (and your Japanese ability), I found that you can get more help at smaller locations. The Itoya HQ in Ginza is wall to wall people these days, but I was able to spend a lot of time at Itoya's Yokohama branch which was in the Takashimaya Department Store at Yokohama Station. It is quite small, but was more relaxed. I don't recall if anyone spoke English though. If you do duty free, I think you have to get that handled at the main Duty Free office in the basement.

 

I am happy that you have Lichtope on your list. It is a bit hard to find unless you use Google Maps, but the woman who works there is a wonderful nibmeister who speaks English very well. It is a nice walk to Daikanyama, which is also home to the Tsutaya T-shop, which is an amazing bookstore/office goods shop. Fun neighborhood with many places to eat too.

You might call to make an appointment and make sure Lichtope is open. The same goes with Eurobox too. 

 

For vintage pens, it is a bit harder to find at brick and mortar shops. Kingdom Note in Shinjuku has several, but I imagine they get raided online quickly. 

 

Since you are quite interested in Japanese pens, you might enjoy browsing 趣味の文具箱. My library gets the magazine via the Libby app. With the online version you can try using a translation application. It has reviews, news, info on shops, nibs, papers, inks and the like. It is a bit of work, but is an interesting Mook (book/magazine) and shows the passion of Japanese fountain pen fans. Speaking of Japanese fans, there is a fun YouTube series by Penguindo in Japanese, but you can create subtitles in English using the settings option. She shares trends like the upcoming price increase, but more fun things too.

 

Paper is a big topic. I like writing lots of notes, so I'm a big fan of getting sets at MUJI. Doodlebud has reviews (like this one), but beware that MUJI has different paper options and labels are not always helpful. Different locations also have different stocks. I picked up a set of something like 5 notebooks for less than $10. I use them all the time, but I use an EF nib and sensible ink.

 

Kokuyo's CAMPUS notes are also good and affordable. You can have fun visiting their CAMPUS shop in Shinjuku if you have time. They also have airport branches. Even their basic paper is good for me. Your mileage may vary. Nemosyne and Tsubame and others are great. Most lines have grids and different size rules and blank papers so do try them out. You can also find nice Bank paper and Iroful and the like.  Even some of the notebooks at Daiso/100 yen shops are not too bad. Some are bad though. One can spend a fortune on notebooks if price is no limit. I love the APICA CD notebooks for more serious writing.

 

OK, that should give you enough things to explore before you go. Have fun.   Enjoy exploring nibs. I also like the FA and SU and EF nibs. 

 

(I imagine you like EF nibs, so if you want to try something American I suggest the Esterbrook with cool independent nibmeister special grinds, like the Journaler. You can also get their adapter to use their vintage nibs. I just ordered their MiniStub and am looking forward to how it works.    Aloha!

 

[Prof Drew]

PS @Super Dave, I just re-read your message. EuroBox does a great job with repairs, but they usually take a week If I recall. Their hours are quite infrequent. Check the website. He specializes in European pens. The building itself is fun too (historic) with many small galleries and ateliers.

 

I don't know if Platinum has a repair facility in Tokyo. I visited Pilot and was able to get some work done on a Capless. I am not sure if they usually deal with tourists, especially if a pen was purchased overseas. Vintage pens are often more problematic as parts are in short supply. They might usually have you get work done at the shop where you bought it. 

 

I don't think Lichtope does pen repair per se, but this might be a nib issue. She apprenticed for years under a master of nibwork.

 

I have cards of two other people who do pen repair, but think they were in Chiba or Saitama, which presumably is out of your way.

[mke]

7 hours ago, Prof Drew said:

Kokuyo's CAMPUS

I think, there are a number of different papers under the brand name Campus, even recycled paper. Better try out first before you buy several. I once measured the weight and thickness of papers and in the case of Campus it varied strongly - even on the same page.

AFAIK, the two on the left are recycled paper. I used #3-4 in the office. With EF nibs and Waterman Serenity Blue, they were acceptable. With wet inks, not so. I have to say, I totally dislike show-through.

 

I liked the black Kokuyo more - see picture below, it comes in different page sizes and number of pages. But for what I really like see the bottom of this post.

 

 

First of all, I do not recommend the fancy stuff where a 32 page notebook costs $20 or more. This is more the specialty of some stationery geeks/influencers.

 

I recommend 

a) Maruman paper - I am using the loose-leaf paper of them. Haven't tried their notebooks because I like Apica and Midori.

b) Apica notebooks - but NOT the premium ones (C.D.Premium) - their basic notebooks are MUCH better IMO. The code was something like 6B30, 6B50 or 6B80, depending on the number of pages.

c) Midori notebooks (a bit more expensive and yellow paper)

d) Kleid notebooks are interesting if you want to get a 2mm grid paper. I think they were OK, afair.

 

Muji paper comes in several types as @Prof Drew already said. The quality range is from "better throw away" to "acceptable/not bad". But I think it also changes depending on where they get it produced. I didn't try all their notebooks as I found the ones I like (Apica, Midori) and I am mostly using loose leaf anyway.

 

As already mentioned, some Daiso notebooks are good but here the quality change can be strong when they change their provider. And actually, they are not so cheap if you compare with Apica. 

[mke]

7 hours ago, Prof Drew said:

I don't know if Platinum has a repair facility in Tokyo

 

You can ask them: overseas@platinum-pen.co.jp

[Prof Drew]

Love the paper review @mke.  I love a good affordable notebook. I use them for article / presentation drafts and lecture notes. I agree that one doesn't need to spend a fortune for something as long as it is a functional size like B5 and has paper that will behave nicely with a fountain pen.

Good to know about your suggestions including cheaper options on Apica.

I hadn't tried a Kleid notebook yet. They look great and seem reasonably priced.

 

The state of notebooks sold in the US is so poor. I suppose FP users are just such a small part of the market. It is scary how many notebooks I can carry back with me in my suitcase. I get excited about inks and paper more than pen shopping in Japan these days. You are lucky that you can get all that in town even at your local stationery shop, I imagine.

 

 

[Super Dave]

Thank you so Prof Drew and MKE.  

 

I'll reach out to Platinum.  That's a good idea.  If that comes up dry I'll send it to USA nibmeister Matthew Chen.  I did see that Kawakubo had screwed over one or more members here so I'll avoid him.  

 

Prof Drew, you are on Oahu.  Me too...Kaneohe.  Cool.  Thank you for the resources.  I'll dig into them.  

 

Awesome advice on the papers.

 

I appreciate the help.  

 

Here's another photo of the Platinum.  I got it off Mecari.  It's really a stunning pocket pen.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Prof Drew]

13 hours ago, Super Dave said:

Prof Drew, you are on Oahu.  Me too...Kaneohe.  Cool.

Aloha e Super Dave,

You know of our small Honolulu Fountain Pen Club? We meet quarterly in Manoa. Our next meeting will be in April. There are a few of us who are big fans of Japanese pens. I should have recognized your flower background as something from da 808.

Very nice bokeh, by the way, on your photos.

 

By the way, do you use ink cartridges on your pocket platinum? Do you know of the possibility of using a Platinum European Ink Converter and then using a Kaweco mini converter. It won't hold much ink, but is an alternative to refilling cartridges. You can still find some converters on YahooJapan, although they are becoming more rare.

 

Aloha.

[Super Dave]

Wow, those were some information packed posts with great recommendations.  I've been going through all the suggestions this evening and still have a long way to go.  But, I definitely feel much more educated on the paper side of things.  Thank you so much for providing such good information and recommendations.  

[Super Dave]

Prof Drew, sorry, I didn't see your post.   No I wasn't aware of the Honolulu Fountain Pen Club.  That sounds great.  Hopefully I can attend in April.  

 

I'm using the Platinum Cartridges and I refill with a syringe.  I wasn't aware of the converter option.  Thanks.

 

I was playing with a Sony 135 prime in those photos.  Big and heavy but so smooth... 

[Penguincollector]

6 hours ago, Prof Drew said:

Aloha e Super Dave,

You know of our small Honolulu Fountain Pen Club? We meet quarterly in Manoa. Our next meeting will be in April. There are a few of us who are big fans of Japanese pens. I should have recognized your flower background as something from da 808.

Very nice bokeh, by the way, on your photos.

 

By the way, do you use ink cartridges on your pocket platinum? Do you know of the possibility of using a Platinum European Ink Converter and then using a Kaweco mini converter. It won't hold much ink, but is an alternative to refilling cartridges. You can still find some converters on YahooJapan, although they are becoming more rare.

 

Aloha.

 

  I have bought these Platinum adapters from PenWorld in Belgium. They’re great, but the shipping on a $1.49 item from Belgium is killer, so I usually buy them in additional to something that is either worth paying for shipping or if I go over the $170 free shipping threshold. There might be easier ways to get one now , but when I looked, they were really hard to find. I think they would be a good project for a 3d printer, perhaps.

[mke]

7 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

but when I looked, they were really hard to find

 

A number of shops have them now, including Amazon.

[Dillo]

16 hours ago, Super Dave said:

Prof Drew, sorry, I didn't see your post.   No I wasn't aware of the Honolulu Fountain Pen Club.  That sounds great.  Hopefully I can attend in April.  

 

I'm using the Platinum Cartridges and I refill with a syringe.  I wasn't aware of the converter option.  Thanks.

 

I was playing with a Sony 135 prime in those photos.  Big and heavy but so smooth... 

 

There are ways of modifying a stock Platinum converter to fit in that pen. I've done it many times. It does involve reducing the length of the piston knob. You can also reduce the length of the piston rod just slightly. You need to make sure you still have at least two teeth on each side of the piston rod so it will engage reliably. I also put a plastic ring between the piston and the ring that keeps the piston rod from twisting. The plastic ring is sized so that you can turn the knob until it stops and the piston rod does not stick out the back of the piston rod. You lose a little bit of capacity, but it's negligible. If done right, this will result in a converter that looks and works as though it's factory but is just a bit shorter. If you need help with this, I'm happy to help in some way.