When envisioning a 'camera store', one typically pictures a smallish shop in the local mall, or maybe a larger store occupying a single floor in a medium-sized building. So when you see the world's largest camera store – it's quite mind-blowing to witness a bustling six story building festooned with neons and advertising billboards.
The Yodabashi Camera Shinjuku West Store in Tokyo is actually the original, and subsequently the flagship store to more than 20 Yodabashi camera / electronic stores throughout Japan. Interestingly, this particular camera store is one part of a whole complex of 12 pavilions – which in turn are located in 9 adjacent buildings!
This complex of stores sees more than 80,000 visitors per weekday and even more on the weekends, which equates to more than half a million people visiting per week.
Sheer volume of customers aside, visiting this camera store is a bit of a sensory overload. There is so much camera equipment and services on offer you don't really know where to start. Should you take the lift to the sixth floor and walk down? Or walk up and explore each level and marvel at the myriad of gadgetry.
There are of course the camera brands we all know and love, but there are also a lot of interesting unique gadgets such as: water resistant hooded jackets that enclose you and the camera in one go (I bought one and even thought the rain is kept out, you seem to sweat a lot); Or large rubberised lens hoods that enable you to shoot through glass without reflections; or rain umbrellas with white interiors that double as reflectors; and of course funny furry animals that you attach to the camera to make the sitter smile.
One of the best parts of the Yodabashi experience is that you can pick up, handle and test most of the equipment. There was a Fujifilm GFX100 with lens just sitting on a counter with a combined worth of around $15,000. They are able to display all of this expensive gear out in the open as Japan has such a culture of respect, that people wouldn't even think of stealing them!
You can break down each store level to these categories:
B1: Photo frames and albums
1F: DSLR & Mirrorless, video cameras
2F: DSLR & Mirrorless & lenses
3F: Lighting equipment &
astrophotography
4F: Tripods & Camera storage
5F: Camera bags & gadgets
6F: Event space for talks & exhibitions
And then they have photo printing and a dedicated film camera store located separately in other nearby buildings.
One of the most bizzare things about the store is the 'Yodabashi Camera Song' that is played on a constant loop. The song mimics the theme of the 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'.
If you ever wanted to know what it is like to work at a Yodabashi store, you can hear a sample this song that plays for 10 hours below (if you dare). So this clip simulates what it would be like to work a full day at the store. I actually feel sorry for the mental torture of the store workers who have to hear this same song over and over and over again, day in, day out, for years on end. It's actually cruel!
In fact, just thinking about this song – is already doing my head in...
All-in-all, like the B&H store in New York City, the Yodabashi Camera Shinjuku West store is definitely worth the visit if you make it to that city. You can expect to spend at least an hour traversing through the place and discovering products that are not found outside of Japan.
The store is located at: 1-11-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, 160-0023.
The best subway exits to take are: JR Line Shinjuku Station West Exit
or 3 min. on foot from JR Line Shinjuku Station South Exit.
Opening hours are 9:30am – 10pm every day.
