I may be going on a trip to both Tokyo and Toyama in the next month and I was wondering what stores I might check out. Ideally, I'd love to get a solid table goban (approximately 2 sun thick) with nice 32+ sized stones. In an ideal world, a 1-piece kaya board would be great but I live in LA and worry about dryness/cracking. In other words, it will be easy to sway me to composite boards and various woods by the stock that they have in store.

Any recommendations?

In Tokyo, THe Nihon Kiin seems like a must-see. Kurokigoishiten soulds like a place I'd love to see but I'm not sure if that's doable if my trip consists of Tokyo-Toyama-back to Tokyo. Any suggestions?

My other passion is fountain pens so if you have some suggestions for that universe, please feel free to pipe up!

Yes, I am aware that the exchange rate sucks right now 70Y/1$ is beyond miserable. But the situation being what it is... Beggars can only beg some more!

I would also very much like to know some nice go-related addresses in Tôkyô, as I'll be going there as well at the end of september. I don't know if there's much go books to be found in there, but one district I'm definitely visiting is Jinbôchô, which is full of used bookstores. The district has its own website at http://jimbou.info/, where you can look up rare books which might be hard to find anywhere else. You can find some impressions of the district here: http://www.kirainet.com/english/jimbocho-the-neighbourhood-of-the-old-books/

There are a few shops listed, and linked to maps, on Japan - Cool Places.

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Dave Sigaty
"Short-lived are both the praiser and the praised, and rememberer and the remembered..."
- Marcus Aurelius; Meditations, VIII 21

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http://tchan001.wordpress.com
A blog on Asian go books, go sightings, and interesting tidbits
Go is such a beautiful game.

In Tokyo, the Nihon Kiin in Ichigaya and Akashiya in Jumbocho are must see places. There are scattered places to play all over that are pretty good.

In Toyama, I'm guessing you'll be out of luck for much. I spent some time in Kanazawa which is close by and about the same size city and there was only one go club I could find.

Here are some things google shows...
http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=%E5%9B% ... de3,0&z=14