Welcome to the next installment of my guide to used camera stores in Tokyo, also known as ‘camera-ing on the cheap.’ Last time I was looking for bargains and deals in Shinjuku. But this time I find myself in the much fancier Ginza, and to my surprise there are quite a few more stores in the area than I realized. Though in Ginza the focus is certainly on film cameras, specifically Leica, don’t let that put you off as the other brands are still well represented and there are some digital cameras here and there. Even without the intention of buying anything, there are many pieces worthy being in a museum and that alone makes it worth the journey. It’s like a trip into the history of cameras and photography.
With the intro out of the way, let’s move on to the guide. Once again, the stores are in no particular order in this list.
Tokyo Metropolis
Capture skyscrapers, reflections, and people in impressive compositions of Tokyo architecture.
1. Diamond Camera
This is a small shop carrying a wide variety of very unique film cameras. This one can be a little hard to find via the map as it’s underground, but the easiest way to find it is to go down the stairs of the A3 Exit of Hibiya Metro Station and it’s at the bottom of the stairs, opposite The Camera and Watch Bar Okadaya.
2. The Camera and Watch Bar Okadaya
This is a small shop with a small selection of unique cameras. The shop really doesn’t carry a wide selection and is really only worth having a look if you happen to have visited Diamond Camera which is directly opposite. As mentioned previously in reference to Diamond Camera the map doesn’t accurately describe the location, but you will find it at the bottom of the stairs of the A3 Exit of Hibiya Metro Station.
Tokyo Cyberpunk Streets
Step into a world straight out of Blade Runner and photograph neon-lit back streets, dark passages, and colorful characters.
3. Lemon camera
Lemon Camera has a chain of stores around Tokyo. They have a large selection of new and used film and digital cameras and lenses. All the major brands as well as some older, rarer brands are also present. If you need to stock up on film, they also carry a selection of various types. They are definitely worth a visit, situated on the 8th floor of an olive brick-clad building next door to a church.
Tokyo Old Town
Take it slow in the quaint, old-school districts of Tokyo’s old town, riddled with narrow alleyways and ramshackle houses.
4. Shimuzu Camera
Shimizu Camera has a large selection of (mainly film) cameras with the odd digital camera thrown into the mix. Most major brands are represented here and it is easy to find on a street corner at ground level. The stock is well arranged in the windows and makes for a great showcase of classic cameras—perfect for a casual browsing and window shopping.
5. Sukiya Camera
Sukiya Camera carries a large selection of Leica film cameras and lenses. Also a selection of Nikon cameras and lenses. Rolleiflex and other vintage brands also represented. The entire store is comprised of film cameras and equipment except for a lonely Nikon D200 which appears to have somehow sneaked through.
6. Katsumido Camera
Katsumido Camera has a large selection of digital cameras while a significant portion is also dedicated to film cameras. There are also some old, rare cameras and lenses located inside. Most of the digital selection is displayed in the window at the front.
Tokyo Metropolis
Capture skyscrapers, reflections, and people in impressive compositions of Tokyo architecture.
7. Sankyo Camera
Sankyo Camera carries a large selection of Leica film cameras and lenses I also noticed a reasonable number of Voigtländer bits and pieces. Overall there is a reasonably large selection of vintage equipment. The first floor is dedicated to cameras and lenses from overseas, while the third floor contains mostly Japanese cameras. I didn’t notice any digital equipment anywhere within the store.
8. Kitamura Camera
Kitamura Camera is hidden in the corner on the 7f of the Marui shopping center just outside Yurakucho Station. The range is mainly made up of mainly used cameras with a small selection of new models. The used selection ranges from newer equipment through to quite a selection of film cameras. They also carried some film.
9. Fujikoshi Camera
Next to Shimbashi station tucked away inside an old shopping mall named New Shimbashi Building, which I’m sure at one point in time made sense is Fujikoshi Camera. It’s can be found on the second floor in amongst the massage parlors. I guess they took the tactic of not setting up next to their competitors. They carry some newish gear and a reasonably extensive range of older gear. It is worth a look although is not necessarily that close to the other stores, but is only one short train ride away.
Urban Geometry
Perceive light and shadow through the eyes of a master of high-contrast black & white street photography in urban heart of Tokyo.
Well, that concludes this round up of used camera stores in Ginza. Send us an email if you happen to know any I missed or if you have any questions or ideas for photography related blog posts and we will endeavor to make them a reality.
Gone but not forgotten
Coco Gin-ichi Camera Salon (alternative location)
Coco Gin-ichi Camera Salon was a place that featured a small selection of gear, but from a wide variety of manufacturers, including Hasselblad, Leica, Nikon , Canon, and other brands of film cameras. They carried various types of film and imaging equipment as well as books on photography, which were mainly in Japanese. After a little research I have discovered the company still exists and they have another store. I’m not sure if they moved or these stores were open concurrently, but they have another store that appears to be going strong, but looks from the photos to be carrying new equipment. It is located near Tsukishima Station on the Yurakucho Line. So, this is a gone from Ginza, but not a gone from Tokyo.
Nikon Lens corner (Permanently Closed)
This store came with an enter at own risk, as over the years the owner had built himself a reputation for being unpleasant to tourists and foreigners in general. A quick glance at the Google Maps reviews which have since vanished, like the store revealed the victim’s experiences. If you had been able to get to the sale point without getting ushered out of the shop, then you would have loved its great selection of Nikon lenses (as the name of the shop suggested). They carried both digital and film cameras and well nothing now. From what I could find online the store closed on August 20, 2020. Its hard to say how much this one will be missed.
