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Name: Bic Camera
Kind: Denki (Electronics) Shop
Where: 35°40’34″N, 139°45’46″E
Station: Yurakucho, Metro Yurakucho Line
Address: 1 Chome-11-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan
Map: BicCamera Yurakucho Store
Phone: +81 352 211-111
Site: biccamera.com
Hours: Closes 10PM
©2024 tenmintokyo.com
Most visitors to Japan have probably happened into one of Tokyo’s famous electronics stores.
One of the biggest electronics chains in Japan is BIC Camera. Headquartered in Toshima (West Tokyo), and founded in 1968 as Japan’s electronics behemoths came of age, BIC Camera today has grown to a whopping 45 stores. Originally a camera-only store, the places have expanded into just about anything electronic you can imagine. Featuring multiple floors containing everything from household appliances to video games, to toys, BIC Camera is a must-see on any trip to Tokyo.
There are several major BIC stores in Tokyo, including ones in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akasaka, Ikebukuro (in fact there are 2 stores in Ikebukuro), but one of the best stores in Tokyo is in Yurakucho – just a stone’s throw from Ginza to the east. There is also a massive 12-floor store in Akihabara.
To get to BIC Camera Yurakucho, take the Yurakucho Line on the Metro subway and exit to the east of the station. Once you exit the red brick passageway, hang a right and you’ll be right at the store’s south entrance. There is also a north entrance just across the street from the Tokyo International Forum. The store’s long wedge shape makes access easy from all sides. There’s also an entrance on the back side of the store down a well-lit alley.
You can also get to Tokyo Station, then head south, then 1 block east to get to BIC. In fact, Tokyo Station is a mere 2-3 blocks to the north and the walk takes less than 10 mins.
Nearly all the BIC Cameras in Tokyo are next to train stations to provide easy access.
The BIC Camera Theme Song
One of the most surprising (and annoying) things you’ll discover at the BIC Camera stores is the official store jingle, which is blasted out over ear-piercing loudspeakers at every store’s entrance and in some interior parts of the store itself. Sung nearly entirely in Japanese, with a pleasant musical background, the jingle ends with the refrain: “BIC-A-BIC-A-BIC-A-BIC-A-CAMEDA!”. After decades of use the company decided to launch a new jingle in July 2023.
Visits
Most of the BIC Camera stores are so large you can easily spend nearly an entire day browsing around all the floors. Unless you plan on spending an entire day for sightseeing, you might want to make a list of what you want so you can save time and not get caught up in the store’s endless floors of merchandise. There’s even an entire floor devoted only to cell phones.
Pointo-cardo
As with some stores in the west, BIC Camera offers loyalty cards, which in Japan are known as Pointo-Cardo (Point Cards). When you buy something at the store, you hand the checkout clerk your Pointo-Cardo and they add your purchase total to it. Once you hit a certain level of points, you can redeem them for discounts on future purchases.
Other locations
The BIC Camera in Ikebukuro is located just at the north end of the main street and is easy to get to. If you exit the east side of Ikebukuro Station, then head north on the sidewalk, the street will loop around to the store entrance in just 2 blocks.
There is also a smaller annex store a few blocks down on the street directly across from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station.
On the right-hand side of the main Ikebukuro store entrance, there are usually some racks with clearance food and drink. If you’re visiting Tokyo on a budget and looking to eat cheap you can pick up some food here for 100¥-300¥ per item.
Akasaka
Located in fabulous Akasaka on the west side of Tokyo, BIC Camera Akasaka is also worth a trip. Also on the area’s main street (Sotobori Dori), BIC Camera Akasaka is located in the .belleVie shopping complex, along with the Akasaka-mitsuke Station on the Marunouchi and Ginza Lines. As a little side note, if you pass through the open accessway to .belleVie, passing the BIC entrance on your right, you’ll come out on a charming little backstreet filled with shops and restaurants. At night the backstreet is a delight and a must-see if you’re in the Akasaka area. Just a stone’s throw in the opposite direction to the east is Japan’s central government, and the official Prime Minister’s Residence in an adjacent area called Nagatcho. There are also a lot of great hotels in the area.
One of the cool things about the Akasaka store (other than the fact that the subway station is in the store), is the fact that its top floor has a great restaurant and shop floor separate from BIC Camera. There’s a great burger and steak joint, and lots of dessert and ice cream places. There’s also a St. Marc Cafe on the top floor. There’s even a small adjacent liquor store.
If you need any help navigating Yurakucho or Akasaka, shoot us an email and we’d be happy to help. Both areas can be a bit daunting on first visit.
Additional Photos
In Akasaka:
Whatever your reason, when you visit Tokyo, definitely make the rounds of all the BIC Cameras you can. You won’t be disappointed and when your trip’s over you’ll have a new appreciation for these massive, overwhelming electronics stores in Japan.
Enjoy!
LINKS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_Camera
https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-ginza/spot-lj0054068
32 Tokyo Shopping Malls & Shopping Districts Guide + Photos
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