While not an extensive list, this page is here to help you find some
places online where to buy Japanese music. Click these links to find out
more about each site.
Need a currency converter? Visit XE.com.
Buying Japanese CDs online
Japanese music for download
Looking for concert tickets?
If you want to learn about buying tickets to gigs in Japan,
please have a look at Tokyo Gig Guide's very useful
"Buying
tickets in Japan" page.
YesAsia
Hong Kong-based large and established online entertainement shop
YesAsia sells
throughout Asia as well as the rest of the world.
Notably, it offers free shipping on orders over US $39!
(At the time of writing.)
CDJapan
The English branch of the large Neowing online CD shop,
CDJapan ships
CDs to the world, even via
Economy Air Mail (SAL) for as cheap as 500yen (one CD to
North America or Europe). See their greatly informative
page about shipping.
You get to earn 3% back in points that you can use on your next order.
CDJapan also has various other rewards,
even giving you free points when it's your birthday.
HMV Online Japan
This online branch of one of the largest CD retail shops in Japan,
HMV, has an interface
completely in English. Use the link in the top-right corner of any page
to switch languages.
HMV often has promo goodies to go with important releases. We try to make
note of these whenever possible.
They offer discounted prices on DVD and CD+DVD pre-orders.
Also look for their "multibuy" campaigns.
Shipping fees start at ¥1200 for North America and ¥1500 for Europe.
HMV usually offers 1% back in points.
Do keep your eyes open for those x5 and x10 point
campaigns!
Amazon Japan
Amazon Japan has a
site in Japanese, but on each product page you'll find a useful "Click here to
see in English" link on the right-hand side.
The great thing about Amazon is that they offer rebates on DVDs and also CD+DVD
sets, sometimes over 25% off for DVDs! The best is to pre-order to get
the best deal.
Shipping to North America starts at ¥1700 plus ¥300 for each item. Add ¥1000 for Europe.
See the international shipping rates.
Play-Asia
Play-Asia,
a service based in Hong Kong has a large selection of Japanese CDs, and ships
worldwide for cheap. Shipping fees are clearly shown on each item page.
Jet Set Records
Jet Set Records
is a remarkable shop from Kyoto, with a location in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.
Their selection consists mainly of vinyl, and they truly support Japan's
indies club music scene.
Jet Set often have promotions where they give away
various goodies, sometimes you'll even get a free 7" when pre-ordering a CD!
Their web site is bilingual and of course ships internationally.
They ship via EMS or Economy Air Mail (SAL) which starts at ¥580 for a
CD to North America or Europe.
Tokyo Recohan
Tokyo Recohan is
an online CD shop selling selected used Japanese CDs, focusing on Shibuya-kei
and indies. Cheap prices make it an opportunity to try something new, or
you might find something that had been missing from your collection.
Shipping defaults to regular air mail, which starts from ¥330 (+¥60 packaging)
for one CD sent to North America or Europe.
The site can be viewed in English or French.
iTunes Music Store
Many Japanese labels make their music available on iTunes Japan.
In order to buy music from iTunes Japan, you must have an iTunes Japan
account (which is separate from an iTunes account in another country).
To create one, you need either a Japanese credit card... or an iTunes Music Card!
iTunes Music Cards can be purchased from outside of Japan at
JBOX.com,
Play-Asia
and Amazon Japan.
(If you know of other good places where to buy iTunes Music Cards from overseas, please
let us know, we'll post it here.)
iTunes also publishes some of its Japanese content in other countries.
Following the iTunes links on this site should take you to your country's
iTunes if the album or song is available there. (Sometimes it might be
necessary to search again within iTunes, as the album ID could be
different in your country.)
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