J-Pop Shopping in SF/Bay Area

[orangeland]

Hey everyone!

I'll be going to SF/the Bay Area for spring break and I was wondering if anyone knew the best places to go for good deals? I've been once before and all I know is that Kinokuniya is crazily overpriced .

Thanks!

[sexysaucestar]

As far as SF goes, I think Kinokuniya may be your best bet. The prices are not so bad really--I think of some of the prices being somewhat equivalent to what you would pay in Japan (maybe a little higher). There are other shops in Japantown but unfortunately those shops have bootlegs priced roughly around the same as the real, authentic versions at Kinokuniya.

I'm not sure about places in the surrounding Bay Area though.

[AyUta]

The China town in SF has about one or two stores there that sells J-music CD's. Surprisingly. You could try your search there, if you'd like. When I was walking by the stores, I heard either Ayu, or Ai Otsuka playing in one of the stores.

But I also second Kinokuniya as well. It's your best bet. Even though the prices may be a bit high, it's your best try. Albums range around 30-40 dollars. New albums, such as Ayu's GUILTY and Koda's KINGDOM, are a bit higher considering they are really famous artists and it's new.

[Amai Yume]

Originally Posted by soysaucestar

As far as SF goes, I think Kinokuniya may be your best bet. The prices are not so bad really--I think of some of the prices being somewhat equivalent to what you would pay in Japan (maybe a little higher). There are other shops in Japantown but unfortunately those shops have bootlegs priced roughly around the same as the real, authentic versions at Kinokuniya.

I'm not sure about places in the surrounding Bay Area though.

I second this idea since I love shopping there. It's where I get all my J-Pop CDs that I don't order online. And prices are good - sometimes album prices seem a little high but overall it's good prices for good authenticity.

[greggerz189]

Hm...there's Taiyodo Records, but beware of a bootleg shop just down the hall from it! I'm afraid Japantown is not the place to go if you're looking for cheap JPOP. I buy all my CDs online, and Japanese food in Japantown. haha

[sexysaucestar]

Originally Posted by greggerz189

Hm...there's Taiyodo Records, but beware of a bootleg shop just down the hall from it! I'm afraid Japantown is not the place to go if you're looking for cheap JPOP. I buy all my CDs online, and Japanese food in Japantown. haha

I haven't been in Taiyodo in awhile since I was scared off by Mikado down the hall (the shop you're referring to in regards to bootlegs). What's Taiyodo like?

Also, I wouldn't be too sure about the shops in Chinatown--not to diss my own people, but we're known for having bootlegs in the shops as well.

[orangeland]

Thanks for all the responses everyone!
I'm not necessarily looking for cheap CDs, but just reasonably priced. I'll give Kinokuniya another try, but from what I remember, I saw (miss)understood at the Saratoga Kinokuniya for like $65. That was enough to scare me off lol.

Also, if anyone knows where to get overseas versions, that would be great too! Thanks a lot.

[CHE.R.RY]

Kinokuniya is practically the only place you can go to. I'm sure there are other stores but I doubt there selection is as big...and as far as price goes...errmmm..well it's like $35.99 and up for most albums. At least, that's what I've experienced everytime I went. Idk if that's expensive to you or not but just letting you know. (and please don't attack me if I made a mistake )

[Smart Computer]

Kinokuniya is the best shop to get authenic Japanese CDs and magazines...but the prices for CDs and DVDs are crazy, so higher than online! I only buy magazines from there and sometime some CD singles which when they're on sale...
Last time I went there, I got Ai Otsuka's single Yumekui CD+DVD and Tackey & Tsubasa's Ho! Summer CD Only First Press...for just $3.00 USD each! So cheap is that?!

[sexysaucestar]

^ Did you go during their random sale? I know back in December they had a random sale on random CDs and I got Ayu's "glitter/fated" single for $3 USD.

[Smart Computer]

I'm not sured...I just went like two weeks ago...They have a lot of J-Rock's artists singles on sale, and some pop...I saw Utada Hikaru's Passion single there too...! Yeah! How lucky you got Ayu's single...I can't find any Ayu nor Kuu stuffs on sale there..!

[sexysaucestar]

^ You live in the Bay Area? o_o Well, I haven't been to Kinokuniya in about a month now...guess I'll go check it out soon.

[Bashumaru]

Lol, I never heard of that store, Maybe I should go there next time XD, but then again, I've only been to Japan Town once >_>.

[sexysaucestar]

^ You haven't heard of Kinokuniya? o_O; It's probably the largest store they have in Japan Town.

[Kaiouforever]

They have Mitsuwa and Kinokuniya in the same shopping center in San Jose, it's great for food/music/dvds etc.

[Kikaru]

There's this mall called pacific east mall in east bay (like 20 minutes away from berkeley) that have Japanese CDs and magazines (that's the store I go to get my cds) and are not that expensive. Though you might have to search for its specific location...

but yeah, I don't go to Japan town much because I thought the stuff there's pretty expensive...

[orangeland]

thank you everyone for your input!
i'll be leaving in the morning. if anyone else knows anything, please lt me know!
thanks again

[Bashumaru]

Originally Posted by soysaucestar

^ You haven't heard of Kinokuniya? o_O; It's probably the largest store they have in Japan Town.

Lol, well the one time I went Japan town, I only stayed for 10 minutes and the only thing I remember was that I walked into this really small store and that I wanted to get this Inuyasha movie but I didn‘t buy it and just left.