Ultimate Guide to Copic marker shopping in Tokyo, Japan
Because my previous guide "Where to buy COPIC markers in Tokyo", was an all-time hit with 30,000 page views, I decided to do an updated version for all illustrators who are planning to buy COPIC markers in Tokyo.
- Sketch: 380 yen (410yen with tax)
- Ciao 250 yen
- Classic 380 yen
- Various Ink (refill): 380 yen
Sadly, the popular 72 colour sets of COPIC sketch markers had been discontinued and replaced with these new versions:
- Comic Illustration 24 colour set
- Basic 12 colour set A
- Basic 12 colour set B
- Basic 12 colour set C
- Basic 24 colour set
- Basic 36 colour set
Marker shopping had suddenly become not exciting... zzz😪 I suspect the 72 marker sets had been discontinued because too many people had been snapping them up and the factory cannot keep up with the demand.
Tax-free shopping for foreigners
Nowadays many shops has tax-free counters. Art materials like markers and papers are considered consumables, so the minimum for tax-free shopping is 5,001 yen (excluding 8% tax). This is pretty easy to achieve for artists *wink wink*
Once you have your basket-full of goodies, go to their cashier and say you would like to do tax-free and show them your passport. You need to pay the total with tax first and then proceed to their tax-free counter to get back your 8% tax in cash and they will staple a copy of the receipt in your passport. You are supposed to go to the customs counter after security check when you are going back home for the officers to take the receipts out. Items are sealed at the shop's tax-free counter and you are advised not to open the bag until you leave Japan but...ehem, they never check at the airport :P
Once you have your basket-full of goodies, go to their cashier and say you would like to do tax-free and show them your passport. You need to pay the total with tax first and then proceed to their tax-free counter to get back your 8% tax in cash and they will staple a copy of the receipt in your passport. You are supposed to go to the customs counter after security check when you are going back home for the officers to take the receipts out. Items are sealed at the shop's tax-free counter and you are advised not to open the bag until you leave Japan but...ehem, they never check at the airport :P
Below are the shops that carry COPIC sketch markers, with those that offer tax free first:
Shops that are tax-free
- Tools (Shinjuku)
This is my favourite shop to buy all my COPIC markers, papers and pens because you can apply for a membership card to accumulate points and redeem for a discount in the future. It is also located inside a mall (LUMINE EST) right above the train station, so you can do tax-free there too. However it seems very popular with tourists now (maybe after I introduced it in my blog?😅) so supplies like marker papers run low.
- Itoya (Ginza)
Itoya has 2 buildings in Ginza. The main building focuses on pens and pricey products so if you want to buy COPIC and other art supplies, you have to go to the back building called K. Itoya.
Itoya doesn't seem to have a membership system and all art materials are at full price. So although they have a good collection, I still buy my copic markers from Tools Shinjuku and other art supplies from Sekaido, which sell at 20% below usual price.
- Tokyu Hands
Tokyu Hands now require tourists to follow their social media account before getting a 5% discount. With the 8% tax free, it could mean some significant savings. I believe only their bigger stores carry the COPIC markers, which means their branches in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. Their range of COPIC goods was quite decent. The above was shot at the branch in Takashimaya, Shinjuku.
Unfortunately they locked up all the markers so you could not test them on the spot! 😦 OH MY!😦 You can ask the counter to open up for you but I'm not sure if they would mind you testing the markers one by one...
Shops that are not tax-free
- Tools (Ochanomizu)
If you don't care about tax-free, Ochanomizu has a number of nice art shops that are mainly patronised by locals. The Tools branch here is located in its own building so there is no tax-free counter from the shopping mall like the one at Shinjuku.
But yup, they have everything... *drools*
- Lemon Gasui (Ochanomizu)
Just a few minutes walk away from Tools is Lemon Gasui, another art shop that opens till a later time. The atmosphere here is just awesome.
- Animate (Akihabara)
Animate's selection is significantly limited but hey, they are mainly a comic and anime goods store. Only buy here if you happen to be there for your anime shopping.
- Animate (Ikebukuro)
Animate Ikebukuro is even more pathetic and only carried these... so if you are serious in buying your markers, I highly recommend the first few shops I recommended above.
With that, wishing you the best in your COPIC marker shopping! ＼(≧▽≦)丿♪★
boleh tanya tidak? d toko mana kira2 ada copic yg multiliner SP 1 set? ato smua toko yg anda cantumkan ada?
ReplyDeleteThey don't have the markers locked up at Tokyu hands (Shinjuku) anymore, they however do ask you not to test them, all the markers are in great condition though.
ReplyDeleteI see, thank you for the update! :D
DeleteI agree, open stock art supplies are not open stock for testing, they are there to take what you want. This is why I never buy open stock colored pencils, too many carless people 'testing' them, dropping them, ruining the leads.
DeleteSame goes for paint brushes, you shouldn't touch the bristles because of the sizing in the bristles. People crack them all the time, I haven't bought a paint brush in a shop in years. The only shops I will buy them from are the ones where brushes are kept behind the counter, which are far away from me. When I buy them I get several online and keep the ones that look good, after carefully soaking I do small tests but I have never had to return a brush that looks good with the sizing in it.
Markers have a sell by date, which they are good for way past that date, the sell by is recommended so customers can be sure they are getting perfect markers. A reputable shop will keep track of turn over and when the stock is getting old they will stop restocking and have a super sale to liquidate their old stock. Super sales are rare though since markers are so popular.
TLDR::: Open stock is Never ever ever meant for product testing!
Will the 72 sets come back by 2018? please let me know
ReplyDeleteUnlikely? That's why they discontinued in the first place.
DeleteDoes Tokyu Hands sell Copic Ciaos?
ReplyDeleteYes, at least I know the one at Shinjuku Takashimaya carries them. The 2nd photo with the ciao sets are taken there.
Deletein tools in your picture there is like a booklet saying 72 sketch color set is that meant to show the colors in each 72 set?
ReplyDeleteYes it was actually a small flipchart showing the respective colours in each set. They no longer sell the 72 set though.
Deletedoes the lumine est tools have all the copic colors also some good dipping pens? thank for the help :)
ReplyDeleteIt has all the copic colors when I was there. I believe they have dipping pens too but I'm not sure about the selection. Tools at Lumine est is a rather small shop so I recommend checking out Sekaido main branch nearby too. It's walkable ard 10-15min.
Deletethank you
DeleteIs there anyway i can buy the copics from this store and they ship to usa??
ReplyDeleteNope, or you could try rakuten to see if they have?
Deletedo any of the stores in tokyo carry x-press it blending card
ReplyDeleteOmg this is an abomination, how could they discontinue the 72 set! I was looking up for prices for 72 set just to buy them! ( I’m just going to lay on the corner and cry)
ReplyDeleteTokyo Hands doesn't offer the additional 5% discount. I tried explaining it to the cashier but they didn't seem to know about it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they discontinued the promotion...
DeleteWow like heaven when I see that Copic color but Im too broke to buy that brand so I bought Touch Five (cheap version of Copic) instead, because i see a lot of people say the look looks good (for beginner like me)....I wish you good look for next webcomic
ReplyDeleteIs there any way the tools items could be shipped to Australia? If so, do they have an official website to buy products? or if not, are there any other places that I could buy tools products?
ReplyDelete