Japanese DJs?
Sending a shout out to any DJTT readers in Japan – I’m heading out there at the end of this month and would love to connect with other DJs; I’m planning to hit Tokyo, probably Kyoto and perhaps Kobe. Anyone out there have some tips for travelers, or want to meet up? Cheers!
ride a taxi and say HUBBA HUBBA Honcho! you have to spend a night in those coin operated hotel/beds. Ride the subway during rush hour. Yell GODzilla, I did, in okinawa. Eat as much street food as you can.
Actually just eat as much food as you can. I really think the Japanese take culinary from Mc Donalds to other restaurants to a whole new level. I know it sounds stupid, but I didn’t have sushi until like my third trip, it just didn’t cross my mind, freaking amazing. Be prepared for a lot of pointing at pictures, I rarely encountered someone who was proficient in the language, I’m happy with nonverbal communication so it wasn’t a big deal.
Go shopping for weird electronics, I’ve seen tons of devices that never crossed over, at least in the same form. Hit the stores and get immersed. Love the way the whole things operates as a system of people, they have some other kind of mentality that I think everyone can learn something from observation.
Literally go to any ramen joint. Food is amazinggggggg there. Also head to ropponngi for some club action. I’ve been to Japan several times and its so good there. Also go to Tsukijii fish market. Best sushi in the world there, literally lines of Japanese people waiting in line for sushi there. Its literally the best sushi in the world, amazingly good.
Thanks, just as background, I have been to Japan twice before (short visits, like this one will be; the last trip was 4 years ago), so I’m a little familiar with the really basic things (and yes I definitely plan to eat tons of great food!) I still have pics up from my last visit online somewhere; including Tsukiji market 
I was thinking more in terms of stuff specific to DJ and music culture but definitely any thoughts are welcome. And in terms of food, I would love any tips on reasonably priced and memorable kaiseki-style meal experiences in any of the areas I mentioned. But yeah I pretty much loved all the food I’ve encountered in Japan from the ramen shops to street vendors to sushi to izakaya…
edit found my pics - http://turntablepoetry.com/japan/ - each link is a different photo set
Very Jealous of your trip! Im going in december (seems a year off) to visit my brother one exchange in Korea and were gonna stop off in Japan for about 10-12 days.
Lets us know how it goes!
Bump! Anyone know any record stores in Tokyo that I ought to check out?
Watch for ninja’s - although you won’t see them, obviously…
Funny as FUCK!
disk union has multiple shinjuku locations that are genre specific. always a blast.
http://diskunion.net/st/shop/e_index.html
technique records is in shibuya and worth a look. on the map, 109 shibuya building is an easy location reference.
jetset is super impressive, in shimokitazawa. there are a lot of other small shops to check out in that area as well, with some web searching to reveal more, relative to your genre interests.
http://www.jetsetrecords.net/location
and the dub store, for all your dub needs!
http://www.dubstore.co.jp/en/shop.php
tower and tsutaya are decent for general stuff, magazines, plus kinokuniya for books, etc…
and definitely hit five-g music in harajuku. it’s right at the JR station to the right of takeshita dori. there’s a little entry way to the elevator, and then take it to the 4th floor to see an incredible synth shop. all the classics plus the future.
http://home.att.ne.jp/yellow/fiveg/MAP.html
(if that piques any interest you always have big city music in studio city to visit locally.)
Many thanks for all this info; I will definitely check out some of these spots! Thanks for the tip on Big City Music too; I was thinking the other day I should look around for a store that will have x0xb0xs on display…
One last bump before I split… any other tips on traveling Japan? Probably going to hit these events:
80kidz 8 hour DJ set in Tokyo: http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?379938
And this looks interesting in Osaka but I have no idea
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?387834
DJ Shadow is also playing while I’ll be in Tokyo but I dunno…
Forgot!!! Got to goto the JP 7-11’s, Lawson, and take a picture. OH! and random pix with vending machine in dark alley with Boss Coffee.
will definitely bring back some photos of stuff like that the convenience stores are off the hook!
Just got back from studying abroad in Osaka.
All of the places downtown are really relaxed and fun. Most of the foreigner friendly places are pretty excited about new music and new DJs. If you have your own equipment (anything all in one) then its super easy to find places to play. If not, just bring a computer and expect to play on DVS.
Everywhere I went that used any kind of in-house system was either CDJs with scratch live or DVS with scratch live. Depending on what type of music your into you may want to research into which places look good beforehand. The busy spots may be harder to get to play so try to go on a night that is not busy. Generally speaking, they are pretty excited about having something in common with a foreigner- especially a hobby. Dont neglect the night life in Kyoto, either! Its 45 minutes away via Keihan line and has some pretty great lounges / bars.
last protip: bring $$$. Japan is always expensive (as I am sure you know, having been there).
がんばってね ~_^
Quick update on this one since I just got home. Most of my trip was a bust unfortunately; I caught bronchitis my second day there and the next week and a half consisted of dealing with clinics without speaking the language, getting handfuls of pills in little plastic baggies from doctors (totally looked like street drugs), and laying in tiny hotel rooms groaning in pain in between bouts of vomiting 
Even when I finally got better I was really weak, and then I had a conference in Hadano (tiny town in Kanagawa; stayed in Ebina) so I really didn’t do shit in terms of nightlife, drinking, partying, or even that much sightseeing. I stayed in Shinjuku the first few nights, checked out some izakaya and spent an afternoon in Kagurazaka, and then went to Osaka but I was still pretty sick at that point so I only got out a bit. Didn’t make it to Kyoto this time (it is probably my favorite place in the world); had to go back to the clinic in Osaka and the doctor there spoke a little English so he helped get me sorted (and told me to throw away about half the drugs the other doc had prescribed). From Osaka I went to Kanazawa and started to feel better but was pretty weak so I only really got out and about 3-4 hours a day; checked out the Kenroku en gardens, and randomly found out they had a Phonograph museum so of course I checked that out – hundreds of old Victrolas and other record and cylinder players; they did demonstrations and everything. Very cool. I did hit a few record stores along the way; Time Warp records (I think that was the name) in Osaka may have been my favorite; tons of old R&B, Doo-wop, and Rock n Roll records and 45s and of course it’s Japan so every single record was meticulously wrapped in plastic, labeled in Japanese and in great shape. And expensive… I found a great little record shop in Kanazawa where they had tons of reasonably priced disco 45s; I left with some Abba and Prince (among other things) on Japanese labels. Grabbed a couple random anime 45s for the hell of it too. Didn’t get out to any parties but a buddy of mine who came to the conference stayed all night in Shinjuku to see DJ Shadow play at 2:30 AM; I was hella envious but no way in hell I was able to forfeit a night’s sleep in my condition.
Thanks again for all the tips; being that sick in a foreign country is awful (and it didn’t help that it was bloody hot as hell, more humid than a swamp, and I had way too much baggage to lug around train stations).
VERY true, especially given how shitty the USD is doing these days; this was a really expensive way to spend most of my time laying in bed groaning as you can imagine. On the upside, I didn’t waste any money on alcohol, which certainly would have set me back a hell of a lot more yen. Prices haven’t changed much in the past 4 years but of course the exchange rate has so it was a lot more expensive to do anything. Still, I found there was plenty of reasonably priced food options - a lot more than LA - and most of my hotels were under $100 US a night.
Best advice ever!
Damn that sucks to hear. At least you were able to somewhat recover and get back out. I’m due back out there next year. Hopefully I can not get sick and party in Shinjuku as well.