Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Tokyo bike shops?

Hey international Bikeforums folks.
I have a friend visiting Tokyo next week for the Tokyo Game Show. As an aside, I am hoping I can guide him to a convenient store to pick up some parts for me. He'll be staying near Akihabara. Is there anything near there?

Thanks
Alex

i'm going there next month and i don't know any bike shops. can't wait to see some answers here.

Tzukumo Cycles in Meguru-ku is the Kalavinka shop. Go to the Gakugeidaigaku station and head east. It is not a factory, if that's what you're expecting. It's two small rooms crammed full of stuff, and Tanabe-san and an assistant.

Thanks jrowe. I was just now looking at the kalavinka website. I would love to visit that shop myself. In their gallery they show pictures of them teaching some guy how to build bikes? Awesome. Would that be a good place to send a non-fixed friend and tell him "buy me some cool ****"? I have a few parts Id like specifically, but maybe I should just ask him to get me a keychain?

You going to be in Tokyo in time for Mixpression? I'm thinking of hitting the Game Show while I'm there, but I've already got a trillion plans for that short span of time.

I'm actually going to be there from 9/28 to 10/8 myself, so I'll be interested to hear the results of this thread... I've already planned a trip to Kalavinka, but any other recommendations in the Tokyo environs would be greatly appreciated.

-s

Not a bike shop, but bike related:
http://cycle-recycle-depot.com

Ceya told me anout that place, but I didn't get the chance when I was there.

cycle recycle depot says they carry njs stuff but dont list or show anything. bah.

Spokemon... gotta catch 'em all.

cycle recycle depot says they carry njs stuff but dont list or show anything. bah.
To my understanding, it's mainly bars, stems and the like. They've also got frames from time to time, not unlike RELoad.

I also like to know if anyone out there know any shop in Osaka.... I am going to stop by there in Nov.... Also heard that Nagasawa facto is close by Osaka also..
Peace

well, it's not in Tokyo, but the bike shop to go to in all of Japan is Takizawa. it's in in Maebashi. approx. a 2 hour train ride from Tokyo. then it's about a 15 min hike from the station. I would say they stock the most NJS parts of any place, IN THE WORLD!!! for real. this site will tell you how to get there, http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/ exit the station on the side with Matsumoto Kiyoshi, head to the left a few blocks, take a right, then head towards the NTT cell phone tower. once you pass the NTT building it'll be on your right. if you hit the Saty shopping center you went too far. there's a crappy bike shop on the corner, it's right next to it, under a big ass apt building

Depot cycle is a good place to check out, a bit of a schlep but a little of everything: frames, parts, tshirts, etc. If you're out there, you should also check out Kiyo Miyazawa. Lots there too. Both shops are very easy walks from the train line from Akihabara.

this is where potus, ceya, and i went when i was there:

http://www.cycleland.jp/

the owner is the RAP framebuilder, and a super guy.

I've heard from our old friend Ceya. Somebody told him about this thread. Of course he doesn't post here anymore, but he says he might be in Tokyo late Sept to early Oct, and would be happy to show some people around.

I've heard from our old friend Ceya. Somebody told him about this thread. Of course he doesn't post here anymore, but he says he might be in Tokyo late Sept to early Oct, and would be happy to show some people around.
I don't mean to make you the go-between, and I'm sure he's familiar with them already, but someone should tell him to be at Mixpression in Tokyo and KyotoLOCO in...well...Kyoto. Sept 18 & Sept 23/24 respectively.

Welp, I'm back. I had a very, very serious touristy schedule so I was only able to visit Tanabe-san's shop, which happened to be a few minute walk from my sister-in-law's house. My mother-in-law, fortunately, speaks Japanese and was able to translate back-and-forth with Tanabe-san, who was in the process of building a frame.

We talked a bit about his shop (tiny, with 2 assistants there), his frames (he had 2 built and 3 in for repair), and about US people coming to visit. I mentioned that I had heard of his shop through Tomity, and he became very animated and wanted to show me the two used frames he had on hand.

The first was a gorgeous 53cm pearl white Bomber Pro with gold decals, but unfortunately too small for me. The second was a rather beat-up looking frame he had in the window of the shop with Shimano sponsorship decals all over it, which initially didn't look much.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/naga01.jpg

Upon closer examination, Tanabe-san's animation about the frame became apparent.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/naga02.jpg

Apparently this frame was one of Mr. Nagasawa's first frames as an independant builder, with the only serial number on the bottom bracket being "14". This was a sponsored ride at some point, but unfortunately I cannot say who it was -- too many language difficulties.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/naga03.jpg

I'm really, really unsure to what to do with this frame. I'd love to refresh it with full Nagasawa regalia, but its provenance (beat up or not) may state otherwise. Vee shall see.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/naga04.jpg

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/naga05.jpg

The other score was less of a "find" in the sense that I decided on it before I left for Japan, but my sister-in-law was able to place an e-framebank order before I left, and the box was delivered to her right as I got into Tokyo.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/pana01.jpg

Panasonic NJS frame, "Hand-Built Made" of Ishiwata 019. Gorgeous pearl-pink paint. My wife is 'unsure' of the color ;)

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/pana02.jpg

I love it. Looks like Barbie (tm) brand nailpolish, or something. I'm not going to go full NJS, just put some nice parts on it and ride it like hell.

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/pana03.jpg

Yay Japan. Most interesting thing of note: The standard granny-looking mixtes that pretty much everyone was riding (with Nexus 8spd internally-geared rear hubs) cost around $1000 new! Pretty crazy considering the pricing for the frames...

Nice scores with Tanabe san . too bad I wasn't able to ome there. They are waiting for me to come. Nagasawa is freaking awesome..

S/F<
CEYA!