Buying 120/220 Film in Japan (Tokyo, etc.)

[howard_b]

Heading for Japan, curious about how easy it is to find 120/220

film (Fuji for color, Ilford for B/W) in Tokyo. Can I safely bring NO

FILM from the USA, and simply pick it up at (please name

specific stores)?

 

What about Kyoto? How about smaller towns like Kanazawa or

Kursashiki?

 

Thanks for the quick response� leaving real soon!

[david_littleboy__tokyo__ja]

It's not available everywhere, but the larger places have lots of it, and even a few of the funky ma-and-pa holes-in-the-wall that have been around since before time started have 120, although the package may be a tad dusty...

 

Yodobashi in Shinjuku (Tokyo) has just about any 120/220 you can imagine.

 

Bottom line: not a real problem, but you should stock up if you are going to be away from Tokyo or Osaka for any length of time.

[kevin_ing]

Hi. I agree with David about the availability of 120/220 film -- it's no problem to find it in the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

 

But if you're planning to head out for day trips, be sure to buy and take all the film you might need. Finding roll film in small towns can be quite difficult... perhaps one or two shops may carry it, but you don't want to spend your time hunting for them.

 

Well, if you do get into a pinch, look for a Kitamura Camera. They are in most cities across the country (except for when you get WAY off the beaten path) and usually stock at least some 120 film.

 

By the way, finding Fuji film is usually no problem. Away from Tokyo, and Ilford gets a bit harder to find. Stock up in Tokyo. =)

 

Just FYI, prices for Provia 100F in 120 are usually around 480 yen per roll. Velvia is about 420 yen. Ilford XP2 Super is about 400 yen if I remember correctly. You can usually get a (negligible) discount if you buy a 5 or 20 pack. The current exchange rate is about 130 yen to the US dollar.

[andrew l. booth]

Can you recommend a reliable pro-lab in Tokyo? I'm also considering a trip later in they year, and I'd like to process all my film (E6 220 and 4x5 quickloads) before returning. I'll be staying the last day or two of a 3 week vacation in Tokyo, so Ideally I'd like < 24hour turnaround.

[akira]

Howard,

 

Yes, you can get virtually any 120/220 films you need at Yodobashi-Camera or at Sakuraya, both in Shinjuku.

 

Andrew,

 

The reliable pro-labs in Tokyo are Horiuchi-Color and Sigma-Lab, the latter used to be the subsidiary of Kodak (and called Kodak-Sigma) but last year it became the subsidiary of Horiuchi-Color. Anyway, both are very popular among the japanese professional photographers and one of the Sigma-Lab is located just several minutes on foot from Yodobashi in Shinjuku. Most of the labs can develop the reversal films within the day or at least until the next day.

 

You can check out the locations of Horiuchi-Labs also in english at:

 

http://www.horiuchi-color.co.jp

 

But if you plan to come to Japan in November and are going to have the films processed in the latter half of the month, you should be careful. Around this time we have sort of festivals for children becomming 7, 5 or 3 years old (called "Shichi-Go-San", meaning 7-5-3) and all the parents takes pictures of their children at these ages either privately or at photo studios and all the labs become extremely busy processing and printing these pictuires. You won't then get your films processed as quickly as usual even at pro-labs!

 

Hope this helps and whish you enjoy your stay in Japan.

[h.d._shin1]

I'd also add that Delta 3200 is unavailable in Japan, to the best of my knowledge. Not at Yodobashi, not at the pro shops, not even B&W specialty places such as National Photo in Harajuku. I also had difficulty finding regular TX400 in 220, although I didn't look quite so hard.

[h.d._shin1]

I should have said Delta 3200 in unavailable in 120 format. It is avaiable in 35 mm.

[andrew l. booth]

Akira - thank you for your help.

 

I've actually visited Tokyo before on business. I had time to visit Yodobashi in Shinjuku, so I know the area a little. I'm planning to travel in September for a 2 or 3 week vacation this time (I want to avoid the football in July/August!). I'll check out the Sigma lab.

 

Andrew

[msitaraman]

Andrew,

 

I searched in vain in Tokyo and Kyoto (whilst living in Japan for two years) for a wide selection of 120/220 negative film. Sure, you can get a few types, but curiously nowhere near the wide range you would find at a B&H. In all my time there, I never found NHGII, for instance.

 

A Time magazine photographer I talked to explained that the Japanese pros prefer to use reversal film.

 

As for labs, I recommend Nihon Hasshoku in Akasaka (across the street from the Ark Hills buildings-you just cross at the light under the elevated highway and walk about 50 yds to the left). Absolutely the gold standard I've seen in 25 years for processing chromes and printing them, though it is almost entirely Fuji oriented.

 

The chain stores mentioned above are also very good. I like the Fuji Media labs Frontier everywhere, especially the big ones in Akasaka (about 200 yds the other way from Ark Hills on the same side of the street).

 

Processing in Japan is a treat. Huge emphasis on cleanliness and quality results in general. But then the Japanese are that kind of people. Its their thing.

[akira]

Mani and Andrew,

 

I would like to mention that the Fujifilm calles its products, especially negative films differently in Japan than in the States. Plus it seems that there are not so many variations of ISO 400 and 800 films in 120/220 format available in Japan. For exsample, the NPZ (ISO800 and with the 4th colour layer) called "Fujicolor Pro800" and NPH (? sorry, I'm not sure, but anyway an ISO 400 film with the 4th colour layer) is called "Fujicolor Pro400". That's about all for the Fuji high-speed negative films you can easily get at Yodobashi, for example. For the slower negative films, Realas and 3 different ISO160 films are easy to find in 120 and/or 220 format. Reala is sold as "Reala" (maybe Reala Ace) but the ISO 160 films have different code names, which are: 160NL (tungsten-balanced), 160NS (for portrait in daylight, better for 1/8 sec. and shorter) and 160NC (also for daylight but can be used for longer exposure time and in mixed lightings), according to the Fujifilm website.

 

Hope this helps.

[peter_kaskan]

Hello, as others have pointed out, Yodabashi is a good place for buying film. With respect to labs, I bring mine to Spot-Shokai:

 

http://www.spotshokai.co.jp/

 

They are friendly, professional and honest, though most that work there do not speak much English. They also do large pictography prints from scanned negs and chromes - and it is cheap. I just had 5 done and I'm honestly amazed!

 

Tell them Peter sent you ; )

 

Best wishes!

 

PS I didn't think Ilford made 3200 in 120 format.

[tom_bowling1664874721]

<<PS I didn't think Ilford made 3200 in 120 format. >>

This must be a peculiarity of Japan or the US. It's certainly available in England and I use it regularily.

[mark_brown2]

<p>The best guide English guide to pro labs in Japan on the web is on the <a href="http://photojpn.org/DIR/lab.html">PhotoGuide Japan</a> site.</p>

 

<p>Horiuchi Color is a decent pro-lab but is a Kodak specialist so you'll be out of luck if you want to buy Quickloads, for example. For processing and buying Fuji films, try ProLab Create. They have several branches in Tokyo. They also have a branch in Kyoto, and sell all current Fuji films in all sizes, so should be able to take care of your 120/220 needs. The branch I use in Osaki has a Frontier, Pictrography and Lightjet machines if you want digital proofs, as well as standard develop and print packages.</p>

[mark_brown2]

<p>The best English guide to pro labs in Japan on the web is on the <a href="http://photojpn.org/DIR/lab.html">PhotoGuide Japan</a> site.</p>

 

<p>Horiuchi Color is a decent pro-lab but is a Kodak specialist so you'll be out of luck if you want to buy Quickloads, for example. For buying Fuji films and Fuji processing, try ProLab Create. They have several branches in Tokyo. They also have a branch in Kyoto, and sell all current Fuji films in all sizes, so should be able to take care of your 120/220 needs. The branch I use in Osaki has a Frontier, Pictrography and Lightjet machines if you want digital proofs, as well as standard develop and print packages.</p>

[howard_b]

Thank you for your many responses.

 

I just returned from Japan. Here's what I found:

 

1. In Tokyo, an abundance of large film departments at Bic

Camera and Yodobashi Camera, two large concerns with

multiple stores throughout the Tokyo area. Best was the

Yodobashi store in Shinjuku, where a 7-11 sized room was filled

with every variety of film, much of it refrigerated. No problem

finding 120/200, and other formats.

 

2. In Kyoto, somewhat more specialist. Fewer large stores, many

smaller stores that stocked at least Fuji 120/220 color in various

speeds. Harder to find Ilford, for example.

 

3. In Takayama, a considerably smaller town in the mountains,

nearly every camera store (I visited three) stocked Fuji 120 color

film.

 

4. But in other smaller towns, there was none to be found.

 

Again, thanks for the help.

[tak_ming_leung]

While you fellow photo enthusiasts or pros are in Tokyo, don't forget to get your hands in some of those not-for-export versions of Fuji and Konica films like Fuji's Trebi (135 format) and Konica's Sinbi and Centuria (135 & 120 format). These films are not available in the US market partly because (I suspect) their color palettes do not suit Americans' tastes. However, they are great films in their own rights and can potentially deliver a fresh feel in your images. I've tried all 3 and love Sinbi's unique "earthy overtone", which is great for landscape. Centuria's 100 and 800 speed print films in 120 format are now my standard workhorses - they deliver super-fine grain, super-smooth and accurate colors and super-crisp contrast.

[andrew booth]

A quick follow up question if I may. It's now less than 2 weeks before I set off to Japan. Does Yodobashi specifically stock Provia F in 220? My experience from UK shops is that 220 is often an 'order in' item. I prefer it, especially if I'm travelling (the purpose of my forthcoming trip). Thanks!

[mark_brown2]

Andrew,

 

Yes, Yodobashi in Shinjuku (as well as other stores) has RDPIII in 220 size.

 

Be aware, though, that Yodobashi in Shinjuku has been refurbished and the film department is now in a separate building to the camera department, which is not in the building it used to be in! Still around Nishi-Shinjuku, though, so the best thing to do is to go into one of the stores and ask!

[mark_brown2]

Just a thought - depending on where you'll be, there's a new BIC Camera store within spitting distance of Yurakucho station, one stop down the Yamanote line from Tokyo station. It doesn't have an extensive range of film as Yodobashi, but it carries such exotics as NPC in sheet film, so it ought to carry 220 as well. The camera department (and film) is in the B1 floor. (The name of the store is a misnomer - only a tiny portion is devoted to photography.

[mark_brown2]

<p>Checking Yodobashi's home page as of 02/08/28:</p>

 

<ul>

<li>Provia 100F in 220 (individual rolls): 950 yen + tax</li>

<li>Provia 100F in 220 (five pack): 4680 yen + tax</li>

</ul>

[andrew booth]

Mark, Thanks for your rapid response!! I've been to Tokyo before on business - and I visited the old Yodobashi (this was 2 1/2 years ago). This time I have a 3 week vacation and I plan to travel - Kyoto/Nara/Osaka, Hiroshima, Shikoku then down to Kyushu.

 

I'm still making my mind up on film. I have 10 packs of 220 NPC in the freezer which I was considering taking, but I do also love Provia F. The NPC will be better in mixed light/city stuff, and I like to get prints. The Provia should be better for night stuff, and I like to scan so I can get good prints with it also. I have more experience with Provia.

 

Any advice from a local? I like to stick to one emulsion (maybe a little of a faster film too - some Provia 400 or NPZ). The Provia F 220 is a pretty good price.

[mark_brown2]

Advice: Hmm, at the moment its hot and sticky, so I'd come later! (Not very helpful, I know).

 

Film choice, as you know, is entirely personal. I'd take the Provia 100F and a few rolls of Provia 400F, but you won't go far wrong with NPC either! Either way, I don't think you'll make a "wrong" decision.