BJD Stores in Kyoto?

I've been to Kyoto and am not aware of any other BJD stores there. You should visit Tenshi No Sato, though. Its really neat there. There is a Volks store at Sato so you should be able to get BJD supplies there.

 

Actually, except Sato or Sumika there are no BJD shop.
You can find BJD stuffs on Mandarake , some BJD are really cheap like a SD16 for 25000 or 35000 yens, some wigs or Azone , all are in Osaka.

So try Nipponbashi for Azone and Volks , after Numba and Umeda for Mandarake.

And visit Sato, open only the week-end and you need a reservation and your passport.

 

You have Obistu in azone shop and many place in Japan ^_^ (Kyoto/kobe/Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo) and some Mandarake ! The mandarake wigs are amazing like leekeword but it is another maker but very quality !!!!!!!!!

Enjoy to your trip ^_______^ ! I like Kyoto, i will be back soon !

 

And if you are going to Osaka, there is also the Dolks store which sells a bunch of Korean brands (I definitely remember Rosenlieds, I forget who else) and DollHeart and Dollmore clothes. I've never looked too closely because the prices are higher than just ordering direct from the companies. (Though I am sure if you live in Japan it is a much better deal.) They had a photo area when I was last there in July 2010. They also carry wigs, handmade eyes and at various times have had wings for magnet torsos like Yos have. The owners are very friendly, but it has weird hours and I've shown up there when it was closed. The store is on a side street near the Animate in DenDen town.

Sato is nice but if you don't own a Volks or want to own a Volks it's a lot less interesting. The garden is pretty, though a lot of other places have even nicer ones.

I'm jealous, I want to go back to Japan again badly.

 

Personally, if I was going to Kyoto and I only had one day I would think about visiting the following: Kiyomizu dera and Sanjusangendo, Fushimi Inari and Tofukuji, Kibune jinja+Kurama dera or Ginkakuji and the Philosopher's Path. You could fit some of those things in together, but not all. They're ALL much more rewarding than doll shopping.

My Japanese is not terribly good, but I've gone to nearly all those places on my own.

 

Ah, Ok just because I have seen people travel to Kyoto just for 1 or 2 days just to go to Sato and quite honestly, while I love my dolls, I think that is a huge sad waste. There is so much more to do.

It's really easy to get to Osaka if you have other days for real sightseeing in Kyoto. Again my Japanese is not that great and I've done it. Osaka can also just be fun to visit. If you like aquariums, theirs is superb.

If you're in Kyoto for a full week or more you should see about getting a free tour of one of the Imperial Villas. They're Japanese only, but are the only way to see the villas.

Kiyomizudera is really nice, but I also really loved Eikando. If you have the time Enryakuji is great too, but it's on the outskirts of Kyoto like Kurama dera and Kibune.

Normally for a day trip I would recommend Himeji but the castle is undergoing some restoration. Uji is a very easy day trip from Kyoto (as is Nara) and both are really really nice.

 

Gion by night is gorgeous, and near Kiyomizu dera, my favorites places.

About Sato, yes with no Volks dolls it's not the best but I ever brought a U-noa light and they didn't kick me off.
I think if you go to the garden with another doll, they won't say anything, Volks is for all dolls lovers , no???

You can say you are saving for a Volks doll or you one is too fragile to be carry.

Sato is a museum too, you can see a lot of beauties, try to win a one-off, ^____^
You can find Kimono and artists outfits, not only Volks' stuffs.

 

Arashiyama is a good place for a trip and you have Volks Sato ! You can visit if you subscribe one month before your trip ! ask to Volks via mail on the Volks english web site ^______________________________^

 

Actually, no, Volks is not for all doll lovers. Unoas sort of exist in a different sort of limbo with Volks. I mean if you were bringing in say a PF or LaTiWhite or Pukifee, yeah then they might not notice and you could hide one easily in your purse, but if you decided to bring in your Sard, I don't really know how Volks would react and they might not actually let you in. Volks has a policy against other brands BJDs, in particular Korean and Chinese brands.

Arashiyama is a nice place to visit, Tenryuji is lovely and the monkey park is fascinating. As a foreigner who does not live in Japan you don't need to subscribe anywhere. You just need to apply via the Volks website. You can bring a guest, I've never brought a Japanese guest, just foreign friends.

Again, I am going to be the lone voice and say, Sato is just not that interesting if you have no interest in Volks dolls. The "museum" is a museum of past Volks LEs, which are not all that interesting if you do not care for Volks. Unless you can read Japanese and borrow someone's mailing address in Japan, you can not enter for a One Off because Volks will not ship internationally. You can not order FCS unless you borrow someone's mailing address who lives in Japan, because Volks will not ship internationally. They can have interesting handmade items, but no one will know how they fit in regards to non-Volks dolls and the selection can really vary. I just personally would take the day to sightsee instead. And yes I've been to Sato many many times and still would recommend skipping it if you are not interested in Volks dolls.

 

No lone voice here. I did Sato in April, and...I've done it. I don't need to go back. It really is more thrilling if you're a huge Volks fan, which, while I like some of them, I just prefer other brands (not bashing Volks here by any means - everyone has different tastes ) And I say so for pretty much the same reasons rkold pointed out. It was more a 'have to do just once' thing. And for me, it gave me an excuse to go back to Arashiyama, which I thought was one of the most beautiful areas I'd been to in Japan even before I got into dolls. If you really want to go to Sato, go first thing in the morning, then look around Arashiyama for the rest of the day, because, as others have said, it's worth seeing and has a bunch of temples, a beautiful garden and a bamboo grove worth strolling along.

 

You are right, Sato is not that great, I think so too.
Usually go there when I really need , I'm not really happy, I know I will just take some pics, order what I need and go.
The access is not easy, so now I use car to go there, thanks to my husband and yes, the great think it's Arashiyama is near and after we can enjoy it.

I think it's just interesting to see one, because BJD's shops are rare, and if you can see only one Volks shop, this one is the best one.
It's better to love Volks dolls, and sad to know that Volks are so Volks only especially because Volks dolls are so hard to get.

Thanks for the discussion, very interesting, ^________^

 

My french friend come with me to Sato, she need to ask to volks the date, not me because i have the card ! there is a planning in August can reserved for October ! we have asked to Volks how we can go to Sato and they have reply that !