Full of record shops! Go dig some in Kyoto!! Complete guide to come across LPs, EPs, and CDs.

It’s been a quarter of century since analog record has been taken over by CDs. However, ever since it has become advanced information oriented society, even the medium of music, CDs has become obsolescence. Music is listened online. You stream all the music data online using Wi-Fi, then you link that to a speaker via Bluetooth. Music’s in the air without people being there to play it. Then the question is, “where’s the sound coming from!?”.

The recent record trend could be coming from those who questions this digital society and going back to their roots of record, now a relic. Dropping the needle onto the black coloured disk. The bumps in the microgroove is amplified through a cord to a speaker. Not only by your ears. You can see it. It clearly tells you “This is analog” through your eyes. Like when Beatles were saying, “get back, get back”. Let’s go back to that time.

Since you’re visiting the Kyoto with a history that goes well back, why don’t you search for the roots of music. Fortunately, there’s so many record shops in Kyoto. You’re not meant to look for music with a swipe and a click. It’s meant to be found with your feet and your fingers. This blog will introduce some record shops that will definitely back you with good old piece of music. LP, EP, SP, CD, books, etc.

 

Kyoto Record Map

 

Kamigyo-ku

Honto Record

Genre : Soul,funk,jazz,reggae,ska.

Address : 4F Yoshinari Bldg,325-2 Shintomicho Kamigyo-ku

Open : 14-22

kuremona

Address：3F 234 Tsukiyamaminamihancho Kamigyo-ku

Tel:075-748-0957

Open：11-20（closed on Wed.except national holidays）

Nakagyo-ku

HAPPY JACK

Right in front of Kani Douraku in Sanjo Teramachi. It contains everything and it is very customer friendly. The shop is full of famous pictures and posters of movie stars.

Genre : Rock,Jazz,Punk,blues,soul,Folk,Japanese rock,Okinawa music.

Address : 224 Eirakucho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-213-3338

Website : http://www.happyj.net/

Open : 12-20

yozora-sha

Genre : CD,books.60’s 70’s rock.

Address : 1F Yamamori Bldg.126-1 Higashisawaragicho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-741-7546

Website : http://yozorasha.com/index.html

Open : 11-19(closed on Mon)

SILK RECORDS(in HiFi Cafe)

A cafe in a old house selling books and records. Enjoy the nice little browse around the shop after relaxing with a cup of coffee. Famous for their Youkan (Japanese sweet bean paste jelly).

Genre : Rock,pops.cafe

Address : 41-2 Fujikicho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-201-6231

Website : http://hifi-cafe.com/

Open : 12-19(Open10am Sat,Sun,Nationalholidays,irregular holidays)

L-COMMITTEE RECORDS

Genre : All genre,soul,funk.

Address : 2F 92-8 Enokicho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-255-6575

Website : http://l-committee.shop-pro.jp/

Open : 12-19(closed on Wed)

100000t alonetoco

Shop that stores every genre. They have not only records, but books related to other cultures. You can also talk to the friendly owner. This shop drives the record events in Kyoto. Take a quick look when you visit the city hall.

Genre : Rock,jazz,soul,Japanese rock&pops,books.

Address : 3F Moris Bldg.485 Kamihonnojimaecho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 090-9877-7384

Website : http://100000t.com/

Open : 12-20

HOHOHO-ZA

Open in November 2016. It’s a sister store of the shop in Sakyouku, Joudoji started by a group of people who sells general goods, and archive books, also organises events and gatherings. A very Kyoto-like style shop is enjoyable to just walk around. It’s just at the foot of the Sanjo Ohashi. Good idea to take a break at a cafe too.

Address : 126-1 ishiyacho kiyamachisanjo Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-253-6696

Website : http://www.hohohoza-sanjo.com/

Open : 11:30～19:00(cafe L.o 18:00)

POOH YOKOCHO

Genre : Acoustic guitar,country,rock.

Address : 370-1 Kameyacho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-231-3835

Website : http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~slice/pooh/

Open : 11-19(Sun and holidays are closed)

POOH YOKOCHO

Genre : Acoustic guitar,country,rock.

Address : 370-1 Kameyacho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-231-3835

Website : http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~slice/pooh/

Open : 11-19(Sun and holidays are closed)

WORKSHOP records

Genre : Rock,soul,jazz,blues,reggae,latin,Japanese pops&rock.

Address : 3F Maurice Buillding, 485 Kamihonnojimaecho, Teramachi Oike Agaru, Nakagyoku

Tel : 075-254-6131

Open: 12-20

Close : Thursday

Website : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Workshop-Records-Kyoto/474794205981870

JET SET

The spacious store some what reminds you of the 70s. Good variety of choices. You can feel a sense of affinity to the fact that it features local, and young artists. It also sells a lot of house and techno music. The best shop for record beginners.

Genre : Japanese indie,hiphop,house,jazz.
Address : 6F Unity Kawaramachi Bldg.410 Shimomaruyacho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-253-3530

Website : https://www.jetsetrecords.net/

Open : 13-21

VINYL 7

Genre : Rap,hiphop,disco,rare groove,soul,funk,jazz
Address : 492 Shimohonnojimaecho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-221-3337

Website : http://www.vinyl7.net/

Open : 12-21(closed on Mon)

PROTOTYPE RECORDS

Genre : Jazz,soul,reggae,rock,newwave

Address : 2F ION Badg.340-1 Daimonjicho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-256-0112

Website : https://twitter.com/prototype1968

Open : 13-21(irregular holidays)

Parallax Records

A very nicely located shop on the second floor of building along Shin Kyougoku. It mainly stores noise musci and modern music. The audience is mostly deep fans of those genres.

Genre : Noise,electronic music.

Address : 2F utanokoji Bldg.407-1 Sakuranocho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-211-2543

Website : https://www.parallaxrecords.jp/

Open : 11-20

pocoapoco

Go South from Sanjou Teramachi and enter underground. This place has re-located in 2015 and has a very kind atmosphere. Caters for varieties of genres like, jazz, rock, classic, pop, and soul. Also sells documents, posters, and some little goods. The shop mascot is very cute.

Genre : Jazz,rock,soul,world,Japanese pop,classics.

Address : B1F Daishin Blodg.Teramachidori Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-212-8021

Website : http://pocoapocokyoto.com/

Open : 11-20(irregular holidays)

ART ROCK No.1

Genre : Rock,new wave,club,jazz,japanese,book.

Address : 4F FSS Bldg.442 Shirakabecho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-212-0113

Website : http://www.artrock-1.com/

Open : 12-22

SECOND ROYAL RECORDS

Genre : Japanese independent pop,Bags,T-shirts.

Address : 3F FSS Bldg.442 Shirakabecho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-212-1915

Website : http://www.secondroyal.com/

Open : 12-20

TORADRA RECORDS

Third floor in a building between Shin Kyogoku street and Kawaramachi Street, Rokkaku Street. As it is in a very convenient place, you can visit while you’re shopping elsewhere. This place also caters for many genres so you’ll definitely find something interesting. Many customers from far away visit here as well, and it is a purveyor to record fanatics.

Genre : New wave,old rock,jazz,soul,japanese rock.

Address : 3F Yogi Bldg.456-6 Matsugaecho Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-231-1126

Website : http://www.toradra-record.com/

Open : 12-20(closed on Wed)

HOT STEP

Genre : Jazz

Address : 3F OCT Bldg.592 Urateramachi Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-221-7486

Website : https://www.facebook.com/jazz.hotstep/

Open : 13-20(closed on Mon.except national holidays)

Tower Record Kyoto

説明不要。NO MUSIC,NO LIFE.

Address : 9F kawaramachi OPA Nakagyo-ku

Tel : 075-212-7058

Website : http://tower.jp/store/Kyoto

Open : 11-21(irregular holidays)

Sakyo-ku

Taiyou Record

A speciality shop that sells Japanese Pops. It of course caters for Western music. The atmosphere of the Showa era, makes you realises the good part of the not affected turn table. When you pay a visit to the Heian Shrine, reach a little to this shop.

Genre : Japanese pops.

Address : 10 Okazakitokuseicho Sakyo-ku

Tel : 075-771-7475

Open : 13-20(irregular holidays)

Roman Shouten

Genre : 60’s Japanese pops,anime,80’s idol,60’s~rock,pops,soul,funk,jazz.

Address : 2F Grantack Higashiyama Nijo 280-2 Ishiharacho Sakyo-ku

Tel : 075-751-0236

Website : houten.blog.fc2.com/

Open : 13-21

Llamalabo Record

Genre : Jazz,rare,rock,club music.

Address : 2F 14-1 tanakanishiokubocho Sakyo-ku

Tel : 075-703-3566

Website : http://llamalabo.shop-pro.jp/

Open : 12-20(irregular holidays)

Shimogyo-ku

ENGELS GIRL

Address : 5-24 Chudoji Kushigecho Shimogyo-ku

Tel : 075-822-8006

Website : https://twitter.com/engels_girl

Open : 14-20(irregular holidays)

Minami-ku

BBG RECORD / BBG AUDIO

Address : 1F fcube rakunan 9 karatocho kamitobaminami Minami-ku

Tel : 075-672-9633

Website : http://bbg-audio.com/

Open：10ー19:30

In a local city like Kyoto, there’s so many record shops compared to the population. There’s way too many disks to dig into… So it’s a bit of a pain. I was surprised once again on a discovery of these shops. Dang, another day’s gone with more and more disks in my house…