⚡ 30-second answer: Top 20 stores including Disk Union, HMV record shop, and Face Records. Bargain bin ¥500, standard used ¥2,000-6,000, rare LPs ¥10,000-50,000. City Pop, Japanese jazz, and kayokyoku are global favorites, with growing English support and international shipping.
Quick Reference Value Bargain bin ¥500-1,500 Standard used LP ¥2,000-6,000 City Pop classics ¥8,000-30,000 Rare originals ¥15,000-50,000 Last verified June 2026
Photo: Yen Finder Editorial
Japan is one of the world's vinyl paradises. Disk Union has flagship locations in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, and Kichijoji, while Shibuya's Udagawa-cho neighborhood is the indie hub for HMV record shop, Face Records, JET SET, and Manhattan Records. City Pop (Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi, Taeko Onuki), Japanese jazz (Masabumi Kikuchi, Sadao Watanabe), kayokyoku, and Japanese rare groove are red-hot with overseas collectors. Junk runs ¥500-1,500, standard used ¥2,000-6,000, and rare LPs ¥10,000-50,000. The standard combo is tax-free shopping (¥5,500+) plus Wise or Revolut payment.
| # | Store | Area | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disk Union Shinjuku Main | Shinjuku | Largest cross-genre stock in Japan |
| 2 | Disk Union Jazz Tokyo | Ochanomizu | Japanese jazz and West Coast jazz |
| 3 | Disk Union Shimokitazawa | Shimokitazawa | Rock, punk, indie |
| 4 | Disk Union Shibuya Club Music | Shibuya | House, techno, DJ-focused |
| 5 | HMV record shop Shibuya | Shibuya | Strong City Pop and Japanese groove |
| 6 | Face Records Shibuya | Shibuya | Favorite of overseas buyers |
| 7 | Manhattan Records | Shibuya | Veteran HipHop/R&B store |
| 8 | JET SET Shibuya | Shibuya | Club and house |
| 9 | Coconuts Disk Kichijoji | Kichijoji | Deep catalog 7-inches |
| 10 | Recofan Shibuya | Shibuya | Cheap lots |
| 11 | Tower Vinyl Shibuya | Shibuya | Focus on new vinyl releases |
| 12 | Disk Union Soul / R&B | Shinjuku | Japanese and Western soul |
| 13 | TECHNIQUE | Shibuya | Techno/house specialist |
| 14 | Big Love Records | Harajuku | Indie rock |
| 15 | DESPERADO | Koenji | Punk, hardcore |
| 16 | Hi-Fi Record Store | Shibuya | Original Japanese jazz LPs |
| 17 | Et Cetera Records | Nakano | Prog, psych |
| 18 | Flash Disc Ranch | Shimokitazawa | Soul, jazz, funk |
| 19 | King Kong Shinsaibashi | Osaka | Kansai's biggest rock store |
| 20 | Waltz-do (Joe Shibuya branch) | Nagoya | Chubu-area originals |
Typical prices by genre:
Condition grading (M / NM / EX / VG) follows the global standard. Japanese shops tend to grade strictly.
Disk Union Shinjuku Main, HMV record shop Shibuya, and Face Records have English-speaking staff and Discogs-linked search terminals. Tax Free gives an instant 10% refund on purchases of ¥5,500+ with passport. Many shops (Face Records, Disk Union) ship internationally via EMS/DHL/FedEx; expect ¥6,000-15,000 for 30 records. Since the City Pop boom, English-, Chinese-, and Korean-speaking staff have multiplied, and hot titles sometimes sell online before hitting the bins. Timing matters, so plan multiple visits across different days.
Most stores open Sundays, though Shimokitazawa shops often close on Tuesdays.
Q1: Are Japanese record prices cheaper than overseas? A: Standard titles are roughly on par, but City Pop and Japanese jazz are often cheaper here.
Q2: What's the tax-free minimum? A: ¥5,500 at one store, with passport, for an instant 10% refund.
Q3: Can they ship internationally? A: Disk Union, Face Records, and HMV record shop handle EMS/FedEx; ¥6,000-15,000 per 30 LPs.
Q4: Is the OBI worth extra? A: Yes — complete with OBI adds 20-50% premium and is in high collector demand.
Q5: Can I listen before buying? A: Most stores have listening stations; you can also request a play for rare records.
Editorial: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026.
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Last verified: 2026-06-08