Part IV: Tool Shops in Japan

[superautobacs]

I just spent my vacation in Japan and came back with tools and photos to share for the GJ community.

As the thread title suggests, this is part IV, in what has become a sort of a series. Part III was posted here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268974

I went back to the same stores I visited in 2014, so I only took a few additional photos. These photos just supplement the large number of photos posted in Part III. Anyhow, enjoy!



From the amazing tool store in Osaka. It's the place to go for any tool aficionado that wants to see many of the best from the world!
































































more to come

 

[Krolik]

Now THIS is cool

 

[dutchgray]

The hardest part would be deciding what to spend all my money on in there, there is just so much choice in top end tools there.

 

[3baygarage]

How much for everything?

Gosh I love these posts!

The Stahlwille wrench production sign- that's sweet!

 

[superautobacs]

Dutchgray,

No doubt about that. Even if you go there with a particular tool purchase in mind, the eyes just get distracted with all the other eye candy available.

 

[LXCam]

Wow that's cool. I wish places like that existed here.

 

[Skin]

Didn't even know MAC made those 1 piece universal/extension sockets. Wonder if they're NOS.

 

[Monte]

nice pictures ! Thank you !!!

 

[Fedwrench]

Thanks for sharing

 

[superautobacs]

Didn't even know MAC made those 1 piece universal/extension sockets. Wonder if they're NOS.

I said the same thing too!













These are additional photos from the same Home Center in Mishima, Japan:

















Proxxon on this side, Dremel products on the other side of this shelf:













Some Permatex, Loctite, and even Recoil products:









Over the years, these have become more widely known in North America (ie. Vampliers). I took some shots of the cool packaging.






On the back side, "Push" and "Look into jaws!"





Some power carving tools:






MAX pneumatic nailers (Japan):








Makita's -- made in Romania (left) and made in the UK (right)
Most were made in Japan though, with the exception of some cordless impact models being China.





This one was made in Japan though:






Hitachi 6.0

 

[lightning02]

dude must have some deep pockets to keep such a huge inventory of highend tools. also he most have some good security lol

 

[north]

As always, much appreciated.

 

[superautobacs]

To complete Part IV, here are photos from a store called "World Import Tools". I went to the sister store back in 2012 and I posted a lot more photos in this original thread: Part ll: What's the tool situation in Japan?

These photos are from their head store in Itabashi:










Some Bahco rolling cabinets:

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Some funny looking tools... older KTC (Japan) chicken drumstick ratchet, a WTools (William Tools (Taiwnese)) curved handle ratchet, and a SAM (France) pipe socket wrench







"Vanatub"






Some IR stuff. Look near the bottom....yes, you can bring your pneumatic impact and hook it up to the torque tester, free of charge!:






Lobster rivnut setter:






The anatomy of a Stahlwille Manoskop:






Can't forget the good ol' Norbar:












PB Swiss deadblows and even an umbrella







This is why their deadblows are the best:






Go ahead and stand on it:






Anyone need a Swiss made hoof cleaner?







or some fridge magnets?







Hazet's new push-button water pump pliers. Push the button with your thumb and adjust. OEM = Knipex?







That's all folks!

 

[woody 73]

They would never get me out of that store...Thank you for those great pictures! Way cool.

 

[BolognaBlake]

Super cool stuff! Thanks for sharing.

 

[laser3kw]

nice!
clean up on aisle 5....

 

[fech]

Awesome pics!

 

[Dookie2122]

Awesome post and pics, appreciate you sharing.

 

[Phantom552]

Holy.... Why cant we have stores like that here? lol. Now I have to plan a trip to japan

 

[drink]

Can't you simply stay home and buy a lot of those brands here? What; No Milwaukee?

No really, you found a really neat place to shop. I appreciate you showing us what tool stores in Japan are like.

 

[drink]

Did you take any neat Japanese restaurant photos? Any sushi on conveyor belt pics?

 

[BK13]

Cool stuff, man. You are probably responsible for my pending KoKen bender, LOL.

What is that to the right of the T72? SK Tuff1?

 

[engineer2]

106 yen = $1 USD. Move the decimal over a couple of places and you'd be about right.

 

[shockwave]

I really like that small sk ratchet in the first pic is that from the facom era

 

[superautobacs]

Did you take any neat Japanese restaurant photos? Any sushi on conveyor belt pics?

Funny you ask. I had one of the best sushi in a looong time, and it was at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. I took a short video of it, but deleted it this morning!

Only thing I took on my cell was this (at the train station platform). She looked a little sad with no diners.

Cool stuff, man. You are probably responsible for my pending KoKen bender, LOL.

What is that to the right of the T72? SK Tuff1?

I really like that small sk ratchet in the first pic is that from the facom era

That's my guess too, a Facom era SK.

 

[jeremy v]

Wow, thanks for those pictures. I love looking at that stuff. Are there very many shoppers going in and out of those tool stores during an average day? Most of the pictures I see show stores with one or two shoppers max.

I was also able to see how good of a deal I got on the two pairs of Engineer pliers (PZ-56 and PZ-57) I just picked up. They are $18.61 a piece in Japan. I paid $2.06 extra (average each) to get them shipped from Japan to my door within two weeks. Not bad at all. I didn't even have any combined shipping savings, because I bought them from different sellers.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

dude must have some deep pockets to keep such a huge inventory of highend tools. also he most have some good security lol

might just live in a society with less crappy members....

 

[jeremy v]

might just live in a society with less crappy members....

I don't know if that's true. I see quite a few chains, cables, and anti-theft devices in the power tool pictures. Looks similar to a Home Depot or Lowes here. Many of the higher end hand tools at the other shops are in glass display cases, just like they do for smaller expensive items here.

 

[Krokodil]

Thank you so much! Very cool pics.

 

[ADSR]

I like that Kuani mini ratchet! I'm pissed we don't have a Kuani dealer in BC. Some of the princess auto ProPoint air tools are rebranded Kuani, But you cant order anthing.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I really like that small sk ratchet in the first pic is that from the facom era

Sk 3866. I believe the guts match a Facom R.155.

 

[dutchgray]

If you look its an SK 3867 pretty much the same as the 3866 but lower profile in the head, also much smoother than the 3866 (I have both)
I think there is a some on ebay for cheap at the moment.
Not SK's best 1/4" ratchet however.

 

[steveo3002]

looks amazing ...id be broke if we had stores like that

 

[Jim Diesel]

What an awesome selection. Good post mate.

 

[superautobacs]

Wow, thanks for those pictures. I love looking at that stuff. Are there very many shoppers going in and out of those tool stores during an average day? Most of the pictures I see show stores with one or two shoppers max.

I was also able to see how good of a deal I got on the two pairs of Engineer pliers (PZ-56 and PZ-57) I just picked up. They are $18.61 a piece in Japan. I paid $2.06 extra (average each) to get them shipped from Japan to my door within two weeks. Not bad at all. I didn't even have any combined shipping savings, because I bought them from different sellers.

At the small shop in Osaka, I was there for about an hour, and there were 4 people who came to look/order/purchase. The visits to this store, along with the Home Center, were on a weekday. World Import Tools was on a Saturday, but it wasn't that busy.

Good score on those pliers!
Most of my Japanese tools purchases since 2009 have been through web stores and I've found prices are almost always cheaper online than at physical stores.

I don't know if that's true. I see quite a few chains, cables, and anti-theft devices in the power tool pictures. Looks similar to a Home Depot or Lowes here. Many of the higher end hand tools at the other shops are in glass display cases, just like they do for smaller expensive items here.

This is not an uncommon sight in Japan though (this at the store front, shot from the busy street):

I like that Kuani mini ratchet! I'm pissed we don't have a Kuani dealer in BC. Some of the princess auto ProPoint air tools are rebranded Kuani, But you cant order anthing.

Hah, when I saw that, it reminded me of you, so I shot that! Have you looked into the "SP Air" impacting air ratchet?

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Thank you for sharing the awesome photos! Do you know if they have places like this near Yokosuka or Tokyo? I am going to be moving to that area soon for three years and would love to check out some good tool stores

 

[KTMrider]

Drool.... [emoji76]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tim Kennedy]

WOW --- I think I just wet myself! Great post! One question -- what's the exchange rate -- yen to dollar?

 

[jeremy v]

This is not an uncommon sight in Japan though (this at the store front, shot from the busy street):

Yeah, Ole Slewfoot might be right. That's something you wouldn't see here unless there was a attendant standing right next to it to keep an eye on things and "answer any questions you may have". If left unattended it would be The one benefit we have in the US is that most of the criminals aren't very bright. Shop owners can often buy their missing stock back for $20 via CL several days later.

Tim- 1 dollar currently equals about 107 yen.

 

[superautobacs]

Thank you for sharing the awesome photos! Do you know if they have places like this near Yokosuka or Tokyo? I am going to be moving to that area soon for three years and would love to check out some good tool stores

Where do you want to shop at? Factory Gear? WIT (World Import Tools)? Or your local Home Center? You can pick and chose.

For Factory Gear locations:
The first two shops, at the top of the page, are in Tokyo
But since you're going to be closer to Yokohama (横浜), you can go there instead.
Address is: 神奈川県横浜市青葉区荏田町116-1 (make google maps your friend)



For WIT locations (there's two):
Edogawa (江戸川) or Itabashi (板橋) Both are in within Tokyo


For a HF type store, there's Astro Products. You're going to be in Kanagawa Prefecture. THis is the link to a store list: http://www.astro-p.co.jp/shop/

Just do search for 神奈川県 (Kanagawa Prefecture) on that page and there's 8 stores listed.

Yeah, Ole Slewfoot might be right. That's something you wouldn't see here unless there was a attendant standing right next to it to keep an eye on things and "answer any questions you may have". If left unattended it would be The one benefit we have in the US is that most of the criminals aren't very bright. Shop owners can often buy their missing stock back for $20 via CL several days later.

Tim- 1 dollar currently equals about 107 yen.

The exchange rate now isn't that great when you consider that a few months back a dolla bill would've given you 120 yen!