Tokyo, tips, film and processing availability

[mexipike]

I am going to Tokyo in about two weeks for the first time. I now own a Leica Monochrom and will definitley be bringing that along so I won't need as much film as usual (please don't hate me!) but I also intend to bring my Mamiya 7 and maybe my Rollei 6008. One of the reasons I bought the Monochrom is because my favorite BW film is Delta 3200 and I have gotten very tired of traveling with it, the argument at the X-ray is always a pain.

So my question is what kinds of black and white film might I find in Tokyo? I'm guessing mostly the fuji varieties, do they only make ACROS 100 now are there any high speed BW films? My thoughts were to just pick up film there and process it there possibly. Are there any good labs to process BW maybe even with good scans? I may shoot some color too, any suggestions there? In the states for color I send everything to Richard Photo Lab because the scans come out pretty much ready to go for my use, would it not be worth trying out one of the labs in Tokyo? It would be nice to buy film there get it processed there and take it all home with me, avoiding x rays, however if I could buy film there and take it home to process it's still only one pass through the Xray, or discussion to not!

Any general Japan tips would be greatly appreciated as well. I will be there for 10 days.

Thanks,
John

 

[howardpan]

I live in Taiwan and travel frequently to Tokyo. Film can easily be purchased at Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera and Kitamura Camera. There are other locations but these are the large chain stores. They are usually located next to the train/metro stations, and you can easily find them on Google Map. I usually go to Yodobashi at Shinjuku (west side entrance) or Akibahara. Fuji film is much cheaper in Japan than any where else I found. Oilfield and Kodak, on the other hand, are more expensive. I usually stock up on my Fuji film when I visit. Bring your passport when you go. Non residents are entitled to tax free shopping where the refund is given immediately at the checkout counter. For color film, Fuji makes an 800 film called Natura. Lastly, Japanese airport security will honor your request for hand inspection of your film without any argument or any further explanation.


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[howardpan]

Here's a link to the 135 film being sold online at Yodobashi

http://www.yodobashi.com/35ミリフィルム/c...chtarget=prodname&sorttyp=COINCIDENCE_RANKING

And here's the link for 120 film

http://www.yodobashi.com/ブローニーフィルム/...chtarget=prodname&sorttyp=COINCIDENCE_RANKING



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[howardpan]

I just checked and saw that Natura is actually a 1600 color film.


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[Colin Corneau]

Yodobashi in Shinjuku or Akhihabara is indeed a bit of a Mecca for film photographers. I picked up Fuji Natura 1600 film and really really loved it...just great stuff.
On a side note, I got some static from security when I very politely asked for hand inspection on film - I finally gave up rather than cause a problem but in my experience last spring it wasn't so easy. Maybe it will be, who knows...but assume going in that it won't be.

I would look up and follow the Tokyo Camera Style blog online. It's made by an American living in Tokyo the past decade or so and its archives have a ton of good tips on film, developing, sourcing for both and photobooks and galleries. A good source of information, for sure.

 

[Nuff]

The only time I had an issue with film at Japanese airport was when I gave them a hasselblad back loaded with half finished delta 3200 to hand inspect. I think they thought I'm giving them some kind of a bomb. I had to finish it off the roll and they were more than happy to do hand inspection on the previously mentioned bomb and its content. And yes, I was really pushing with this request, but you never know unless you try it.

Ilford and Kodak film is pretty expensive here. At yodobashi you can get a 10 pack of tmax 100/400 at decent prices, but I think the trix 10 packs hot discontinued, since I haven't seen it in a while.

I would be wary of getting BW film processed by a shop, since it can take a while and it's not a 2 hour process.

Although there are dark rooms you can hire here and process them yourself.

Anyway, Tokyo is still a bit of a Mecca for film photography.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Lots of good advice already given here. I buy most of my film at Yodobashi Camera, they have everything from Fuji to Kodak to Ilford to Rollei to lomo branded films, so you should be alright. Most of the time you pick up an empty box of film from the display and bring it to the counter will they will give you the real film. Kodak 10 packs are still around - not on the shelf, but behind the counter - you have to look and ask for them.

Here are a few recent pics from trip to Tokyo in December. The first four are from the film store at Yodobashi Camera, the last is from Bic Camera (both in Shinjuku). As you can see, Yodobashi has a much larger selection.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I live in Kyoto and film (slide) processing takes between 3-7 days depending on the process (Kodak or Fuji) and if there are any holidays in between. I would imagine Tokyo would be faster, but I don't know. You can ask the guys at the shop, they should have a list of how much everything costs. Scans take more time (at least a couple of extra days) - at least, they do for me in Kyoto, I'm not sure about Tokyo. (When I lived in Kumamoto, way down south, I could get slide processing done in less than 2 hours (any format) - but interestingly can't get that done here in Kyoto where there are a ton of tourists! Go figure.)

Don't forget to visit the other camera-related floors in building 4 (not the same building for film). I usually start at the top floor (darkroom) and work my way down. Not sure if you are interested in trying some Japanese papers/chemicals, but this would be the place to stock up on some. Even if you don't buy anything, it's still fun to browse.

Also, as Colin has mentioned, the guy from TokyoCameraStyle has a great post about visiting the various used camera stores in Shinjuku.

More from Yodobashi:



(sorry for some of the blurry pics, I was trying to be unobtrusive when shooting with my iPhone, but wasn't always successful with the end result)

 

[Ashfaque]

I shouldn't have seen these photos! You have ruined my afternoon, Rachelle!

On a serious note: Buy as many films from Fujifilm (slides, B&W, colour negatives) and cameras as possible. You can sell them off later if you don't any of your purchase later, especially slides films without loosing any money.

Most likely you're aware of this as well: www.japancamerahunter.com/2013/05/the-complete-tokyo-camera-shopping-guide/

Bests,
Ashfaque

 

[mexipike]

I think a nice plan is coming together! Thanks everyone for the help! I'll probably just stock up when I get there. I can shoot Fuji black and white and I'm sure the 100 ISO film can get through the carry on X-ray once!

I'm really excited to see all of the slide film! A couple of pages down on Yodobashi's site they list Fuji Astia 100F, any chance they still keep this in stock? It's one of my favorite films ever and I would definitely shoot some there and maybe take some home! If I could find a place that does quality processing I could just process the film then figure out scanning in the states.

 

[Ashfaque]

Nop. The one you saw is part of their "out of stock" listing, which they still list. Thus questioning my sanity as to why I didn't start shooting films earlier!

Don't worry about X-ray. If you don't put them in your check-in luggage, they are safe. My films have gone through multiple airports in different continents without any fogging. You can always politely ask for a hand inspection. But always take a bit of extra time. In places like Heathrow, you need to go there early and inform them in advance about your request. IIRC, you can book online/via phone a request in advance. I never bothered.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Agreed. A number of items will show up on their website, to avoid disappointment, you should click the tiny box in the upper right side which says "do not show discontinued products."

Also, no need to worry about carry-on xrays - I've had film go through scans up to 15 times with no ill effects.

 

[Nuff]

Some people get paranoia over the X-rays. On my last trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka I left a roll of delta 3200 in my bag which got xrayed twice. I didn't shoot a thing on it and developed it at 6400 in tmax developer to see if there was anything wrong with it. There was nothing wrong with it! I wish I didn't waste that roll, delta 3200 isn't exactly cheap in Japan.

 

[ericdan]

B/W film, get it processed at National Photo in Harajuku. Very nice place to have your film processed and scanned. Prices are here but I don't know about turn around time.
Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera and Kitamura Camera all do one our color negative developing and scanning on Fuji Frontier systems. Depending on the machines they have they may refuse either Portra or Ektar films but not both. They claim something about drying times certain versions of the machines can't handle.
Slide film can be processed same day at CREATE Pro Lab in Shinjuku or Ginza.
Horiuchi Color also has same day slide processing at several locations in Tokyo.
Find their info here.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Great info Eric!

 

[mexipike]

Thanks for all the info everyone! Eric, that is an awesome list of labs! I may just truck all my film back home and develop it or I may not.

I really haven't had any issues with X-rays on slower film, but it does seem to fog the ilford delta 3200, but so does looking at it the wrong way!

 

[ericdan]

BTW, never had any problems at either Narita or Haneda Airport with hand inspection.
Going home at least you won't have to put your film thru any x-ray scanners. Onboard of the plane you can use lead bags if you're really paranoid. (I am) Always use lead bags on board for trans atlantic/pacific flights.