Updated (with directions, shop info, a map, and a US Toys (collector run) blog link): November 16, 2010
The other day, I made my first trip to the US Toys store, which isn't too far from Osaka station. The shop has been open for 4 years, but US Toys (which makes awesome kaiju toys) has been around for 25 years.
First off, let me give you directions and info for the shop.
Address: 大阪府大阪市淀川区塚本２丁目２５−２３, Japan
Phone number: +81 6-6303-0016
Shop hours: 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM (closed Mondays)
The shop is located near Tsukamoto station. To get there, first, go to Osaka station. From there, you just go one stop on the JR Kobe Line or JR Takarazuka Line. The shop is a 3 minute walk from Tsukamoto station. Click here for a Google map of the exact location.
The moment you walk inside, your senses are floored by the sights and smells. US Toys is a clinical old school toy shop - jam packed with toys on shelves, floor space, nooks, crannies, and hanging from ceiling hooks. In the little alleys and passageways of the shop, there's literally no space for two people to stand side by side. If you want to pass each other, you've got to break out the semaphore flags to maneuver for space. ^_^
The Hand of John...
The store has a nice mix of old and new toys. Most of the stock is from the last 10-15 years or so, but there's also some nice vintage on the shelves.
And of course, there's also a great variety of toys made by US Toys.
I was *stoked* to find a couple of jems in this box of crystal goodness!!!
One of the back nooks of the shop also has a beautiful display of (long sold out) US Toys figures.
Drool....
The owner is a really nice guy.
Here's his kaiju cave where he works. So cool...
If you have a chance when you're in Osaka, make sure to check out the store. There are very very few of these "classic style" sofubi shops left in the big cities, having been replaced by the likes of Mandarake and Liberty (which are cool in their own right.) But they can't hold a candle to the "toy shop feeling" of places like US Toys!
To learn more about US Toys, click here to visit a blog run by a US Toys collector.
3 comments:
Just stumbled across you guys. Great stuff. I'm in Kobe and I'd really love to check out US Toys in Osaka. It'd be rad if you could post some more detailed directions, if you'd be so kind! Thanks and keep up the good hunting!
Hey M.M. Sorry for taking a while to get back. KK has been dormant for a bit. ;-)
I'm afraid the post is about as detailed as I can be, since I mostly followed a buddy. But you should be able to Google Map the address from the US Toys website (Actually, I think that's what we did). It's not at all far from the station, so it should be pretty easy to find. Good luck. :O)
Post updated with detailed directions!!!!!!!
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