TRAVELING TO JAPAN! Recommendations for shops for cartridges?

@lewm I think it depends on the store, since they have several, but the one I visited had a strong game with HiFi and prices were 50% lower than US, obviously mostly Japanese brands for example Luxman, which I don’t think its for kids since prices can go up to 20K here. 

@sammyshaps there are a couple of stores on Akihabara neighborhood that also have a strong game on HiFi, Dynamic Audio is one of them, watch out because they have 7 floors if they do not have what you are looking for they can guide you 

That was my experience in Japan in July 20023, I was able to buy some of the best cables at 50% less price than USA but you have to look for things 

@lewm  Disc Union? Thanks I did not know; I'm going to look at the online store. 

Look for DS Audio optical cartridges. I have the entry level DS E1. FANTASTIC.

dave, I went into the BIC that is near Yodibashi in Akihabara.  I made a quick tour of every floor, but the emphasis is on "quick"; I might have missed something, but I saw no evidence that they were selling the TOTL gear of any well known manufacturer.  Which is to say they might have been selling Luxman products, but not the TOTL ones.  Whereas, you can walk into Yodi and buy a TOTL Luxman preamplifier right off the shelf.  I was specifically looking for a Viv Float tonearm; Yodi sells Viv, but they were out of stock and did not expect any product for two months.  I never visited any other BIC store, and I certainly yield to your personal experience if yours differs from mine.  Good to know Dynamic Audio still exists.  Ten years ago, I bought a Koetsu Urushi from Sound110; they seem to be kaput as of May.  They were alive and well prior to the pandemic.  I am fearful that the Japanese high end businesses are having a bit of a struggle, just as many of our brick and mortar stores had 10-20 years ago, before going under.

@lewm all good man, you are right the one on akihabara is not that good I visit that too but the one I recommend is on Yurakucho, that one is very centric very close to Gynza. I bought so many good things there and a lot that I could not buy because the power is 100 V 

@sammyshaps I just listen digital I am not into vinyl but I am sure you can find anything in Tokyo from what I saw.