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I'm gonna be going to Japan for work again next month and hopefully will get a day or two off. Any recommendations of fun stuff to check out in Osaka? Record stores, music stores, venues, bars, etc? I know about Timebomb and plan to go there.

Was in Osaka for a couple days last year, only did the usual touristy things but Namba is pretty rad to explore as full of resturants. Maybe check this out? I'd try to go to Nara, it's like a 40 minute train ride out and was totally worth it.

Kyoto is also a quick train ride from Osaka and is a beautiful city...
Osaka has the noise scene though

osaka for food and/or buying things (so many music stores and instrument shops). Kyoto for seeing architecture and history. Nara for seeing nature and architecture, or just checking out of life and noise and general. I love Nara a lot, but if you are not into quiet spaces and just relaxing without tons of stimulus then it won't be for you. If it was me, i would spend one whole day in Kyoto if you can seeing things. If you have a map or phone, and are physically able/in shape, you can walk everywhere and there is so much to see and learn about if you are into that sort of stuff. Spend the other day hanging out in Osaka or Nara. The food in Osaka is great, especially if you stay off the main paths and go into the tons of hole-in-the-wall shops/restaurants or markets. I haven't lived there for over 4 years, so i don't know what is still around and alive in Osaka that you couldn't find yourself on the internet. Similar to Nara, Mino (or Minoo, Minoh, however you want to spell it when carried over to english) National park is really peaceful too. But from your post above, i am guessing you are looking for things that are more city oriented, which Osaka and Kyoto would be better for. Do you speak any Japanese? I ask this because there are a lot of small shops in Kyoto and Osaka too for vinyl and cds (that i think are still in business), but they are difficult to find sometimes unless you know where exactly you are going.

Kyoto is a neat city, indeed. And Nara is awesome, a lot of cool stuff to see there, and yes, very peaceful.

I didn't mention that i'm going to Japan again next month too.

nah almost no Japanese, just random words I've found useful. I usually go to Tamama and get a day in Fukuoka so I'm sorta used to navigating without being able to talk to anyone. Phone + google maps is a life saver. It depends how early I finish my work, I'm there Sat to Sat and hopefully will finish by Wednesday evening so maybe i'll try and do a day in kyoto too.

Okay, that helps a lot. Yeah, i would really recommend Kyoto then. It is easy to get around and there is so much that you can see and do. I will try to write type down some shops that i can remember in the next few days that are in Kyoto. I am guessing you already know about most of the cultural and historic sites that are there already.

Sorry for the delay. Had some time today so i wanted to get back to you about this. A lot of the smaller shops i visited i can't confirm that they are still around. But here are a few things that you might like that i think might still be around maybe?:

Kyoto (Music stores)
-Workshop Records
-Art Rock No.1
-Toradora Records
-Jetset Records
-Happy Jack
-Bootsy's
-Hotline
-Poco Apoco
-Meditations
-Bar Galaxy 500

Kyoto (Instrument Shops)
-jeugia sanjo stage
-bigboss kyoto
-music land key kyoto
-watanabe musical instruments digikan
-Full Up
-koizumi
-shimamura music kyoto
Kyoto used to have a fair amount of smaller shops too, but i don't know if they are still around or not. You can find a lot online i am guessing, but a lot of the stuff i found when i was there is all in Japanese and was promoted through Japanese bands. Osaka is a lot easier to research about and find things that are promoted in english i think for you.


Osaka (Music Stores)
-King Kong Records
-Time Bomb Records
there are a ton, sooooo many, most you can just google and find, osaka is pretty known and explored. You can find most of this stuff yourself i think for this section

Osaka (instrument shops)
Shinsaibashi has a lot, as does Nipponbashi. A lot of them are holes in the wall though, you just have to run around and just look. BOOKOFF used to be okay too for music and really great books for cheap, with a ton of locations in both Osaka and Kyoto. Ishibashi Music used to be cool too, really awesome gear sometimes. If i remember correctly, it is either this shop or maybe another one i am thinking of can ship whatever you buy over to the USA too if that is of interest for you. They always have great used gear coming in and out all the time. The Kinokuniya shops are huge too for books and music, so you might like looking through them

I am probably forgetting something, but that is what i can remember now. I hope i spelled things okay. Enjoy your trip and please update what great things you find there

Nice, will scope them out while i'm in Kyoto later this month, I'm also staying in Ochanomizu (Guitar Street) when i'm in Tokyo which is going to be a problem.

The Big Boss store in Tokyo was an awesome shop, managed to find some parts for my Edwards LP and all the Staff were hella friendly

That is great! Honestly if i was going to visit again, i would probably use all my money on buying instruments and equipment before i even had time to think about buying cds and music haha. There is so much cool stuff, i hope you can find some deals, enjoy your time, and come back with some great loot

Ochanomizu is a wonderful safe haven. Taniguchi Gakki is literally heaven for me.

There is also an Ishibashi in Ikebukuro that is really close to the station. It's in the same mall that has the Evangelion store. (Evangelion store is the... 3rd floor? if I remember right. Ishibashi is the top floors.)

damn, thanks guys!!


Found this on youtube too, I used to love this band too.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wubC_43Tbu8[/youtube]