Jaunted

As far as store listings go, my previous list is a decent primer. I say "decent" because creating anything truly great would require at least 10 years of living in Tokyo. There are just so many record stores there. Most of them sell bootlegs, so you're in luck as far as availability goes. But bootlegs are expensive, so you'll need to prepare to restrain yourself. Billy, in the Daikan Plaza building described in my original dispatch, is stocked exclusively with live recordings. Speaking of, I hope you like Jeff Beck, because you can not get away from his concerts there...or anywhere music is sold in Japan. Seriously.

One store I didn't get the chance to write about at length upon my return from Japan was Vinyl Japan. You could actually call it a chain, because it has four outposts all on the same block. For classic rock, head straight to Vinyl Japan #3 (pictured above - take exit D5 at Shinjuku-nishiguchi, turn right, and look for the pink sign on a side street to your right, just a few blocks away). This basement store is absolute heaven, and carries a great mix of vinyl and CDs, with a focus on obscure European imports and hard-to-find items. Those rarities are definitely priced accordingly, like the original Luv Machine LP I saw going for hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. (I wonder if anyone knows it was recently re-issued and is perfectly easy to get one's greasy paws on?)

If I only had time for one store in Tokyo, I'd make it Vinyl Japan #3. I also highly recommend asking advice of anyone you meet in town, because there's so much more to see that I didn't have time for. And if you make it down to Osaka, don't forget about Time Bomb Records, another great shop.

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· Record stores in Tokyo [Jaunted]