Telescope Shop in Tokyo

Kyoei Sangyo Co., Ltd. was established in 1959 and opened its first shop in Osaka in the same year. Located in short walking distance to Akihabara train station, adjacent to the popular and world-famous electronics district of Tokyo, Nature Shop KYOEI-Tokyo was opened in 1984.

KYOEI carries domestic- and overseas-made optical instruments and accessories for astronomy and bird watching, including Celestron, Explore Scientific, iOptron, Kasai Trading, Meade, Skywatcher, Takahashi, Vixen, William Optics, you name them. KYOEI is also reputed for its Mauna-Kea line of observatory domes, but you would hardly carry one back home from Japan. All branches and warehouses combined, KYOEI is a large player in the Japanese astronomy market.

The stores are open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and closed only on Sundays (and New Year).

URL: http://www.kyoei-tokyo.jp/ (Japanese)

On October 1, 2019, the consumption tax in Japan has been hiked from 8% to 10%.

KYOEI ships products with a value of over 30,000 JPY to addresses in overseas, exempted from Japanese consumption tax, however, a shipping fee is added depending on the destination, while you may be required to pay local import tax on products you ordered. If you are currently visiting Japan, you may make great deals, especially with Japanese brands, while you can try before you buy, though the "Tokyo nightsky" is Class 9 Bortle.

KYOEI Tokyo's Store Manager, Mr Shinobu Tsutaya (pictured), was virtually born as an astronomer. Shinobu is a highly experienced expert working for KYOEI since 25 years. He is also engaged with local social activities supporting children and students. His professional advice and recommendations are wrapped in ❤ for astronomy.

KYOEI is used to dealing with foreigners. The author is not sure to which extend the shop staff can communicate in English, but if you too are an avid astronomer, hobby or professional, you will get along very well and enjoy your shopping and chats. Their websites and online shops are currently available in Japanese only, but e-mails in English are welcome -- and answered.

Market

Although the Japanese population is half that of the United States, the astronomy community in Japan hardly counts 10% compared with the American, in that it does require interest, devotion and affection to run a business as small and tight as this, also considering severe price competition and cross-border online shopping. Often, prices, say, for a simple metal bracket or so, appear to be 'astronomical', but one needs to consider that such specialized parts are not produced in lots of millions, so they can't spread their fixed costs over as many units. Actually, this largely applies to telescopes as well.

Opportunities

Several times a year, KYOEI campaigns Clearance Sales offering exceptional deals, both in shops and online. Occasionally, products are made available in outlet sales and sold second hand. Last, but not least, used products are traded in or acquired (residents in Japan only).