Yodobashi Camera – The largest electronics store in Japan

In this article, we will talk about one of the largest electronics stores and chains in all of Japan, the famous Yodobashi Camera [ヨドバシカメラ] where you can find toys, video games, computers, cameras, and other electronic equipment.

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The history of Yodobashi Camera

The Yodobashi company started in 1960 under the name Fujisawa Shashin Shokai and changed its name to Yodobashi Camera in 1974. Its first store was created in 1975 in Shinjuku. In 1989, it created the “Yodobashi Point Card”.

See also: Point Card – Learn about the Point Cards of Japan

There are more than 23 stores spread across Japan with over 5,000 employees. Most of these stores are located in Tokyo, which is why it is not as popular in other regions of Japan that have only one store.

The stores are always located near a train station, as a great strategy to attract customers. The company also sells products online, being the second largest seller of online products in Japan, only behind Amazon.

The theme song of Yodobashi Camera

The company has a theme song that plays in the store all the time, marketing and becoming one of the most nostalgic songs while walking through Akihabara. The song is a cover of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

    ♪丸いみんなのの山手線　真ん中通るは中央線　新宿西口駅の前　カメラはヨドバシカメラ
　♪若者集まる新宿に　うれしいカメラの店がある　ビデオも時計もそろってる　ビデオもヨドバシカメラ
　♪新宿西口駅前に　大きなカメラの店がある　パソコンワープロそろってる　ゲームもヨドバシカメラ
　♪よいママよいパパよい家族　電化製品 そろってる　いつでもみんなの合言葉　家電もヨドバシカメラ

♪ marui minna no no yamanotesen mannaka tōru wachūōsen shinjuku nishiguchi eki no mae kamera wayodobashikamera v
♪ wakamono atsumaru shinjuku ni ureshī kamera nomise ga aru, bideo mo tokei mo sorotteru, bideo moyodobashikamera 
♪ shinjuku nishiguchi ekimae ni, ōkina kamera no misega aru, pasokon wāpuro sorotteru, gēmu moyodobashikamera 
♪ yoi mama yoi papa yoi kazoku, denka seihin sorotteru, itsu demo minna no aikotoba, kaden moyodobashikamera

The translation of the song goes like this:

♪ The Yamanote line goes in circles, the Chuo line cuts through the middle, at the west exit of Shinjuku, there it is: Yodobashi Camera!

♪ In Shinjuku, where young people gather, there is a happy camera store, there are also video cameras and watches at Yodobashi Camera!

♪ At the west exit of Shinjuku, there is a large camera store, there are also word processors and video games at Yodobashi Camera.

♪ Good moms, good dads, good families, we have appliances, which is our philosophy/slogan, appliances also at Yodobashi Camera!

This song is very nostalgic, especially for those who pass by the Akihabara station every day. Below we will leave a video with the theme song and some images and videos of the Yodobashi store that I recorded.

Yodobashi Akiba – The largest store in Japan

I don’t know if by the date of this article the record has been broken, but Yodobashi Akiba is the largest electronics store in the world with a total of 23,000 square meters and 9 floors of store including a floor with restaurants, in addition to various small shops around.

Yodobashi Akiba is located in the neighborhood of the same name called Akihabara next to the Akihabara train station and was founded in 2005. Before entering the store, you are already surrounded by small shops and restaurants in a corridor between the station.

The experience of entering one of the largest electronics stores in the world is incredible. I personally can’t even describe the pile of products and electronics, in addition to gadgets I never imagined existed.

On the first floor, you can find a bit of everything, mainly cell phones, accessories, and carrier plans. On the second floor, you can find things involving PCs and Macs. The third floor focuses on cameras, cosmetics, and sports articles.

The fourth floor focuses on TVs, audio, video, musical instruments, and other home electronics. On the fifth floor, you can find air conditioning units, kitchen utensils, security products, and others.

On the sixth floor, you can find video games, toys, bicycles, and fitness products. On the seventh floor, you can find DVDs and CDs, clothing, and accessories. The eighth floor is the restaurant floor and the ninth floor is for golfers.

Bic Camera and Softmap – Its biggest rivals

Yodobashi Camera is far from being the best electronics store in Japan. It may be famous, but the prices of some products tend to be higher.

I myself managed to save more than 500 reais buying Apple products at Softmap and Bic Camera. The second time I went to Japan, I noticed that some stores merged Bic Camera with Softmap.

I’m not saying that Yodobashi Camera is expensive. Many claim it is one of the cheapest and has the most promotions. Not to mention that it has the famous discount cards and discounts with credit cards.

List of Yodobashi Camera Stores

To conclude the article, we will leave a list of Yodobashi stores for you to find on Google Maps and make your visit. I hope you enjoyed the article, if you liked it, share it and leave your comments.

• Shinjuku Nishiguchi Honten (Shinjuku Station – West Exit)
• Multimedia Shinjuku Higashiguchi (Shinjuku Station – East Exit)
• Multimedia Akiba
• Multimedia Ueno
• Multimedia Kichijōji
• Hachiōji
• Multimedia Machida
• Multimedia Kinshichō
• Multimedia Saitama Shintoshin
• Multimedia Kawasaki Le Front
• Yodobashi Outlet Keikyū Kawasaki
• Multimedia Yokohama (Yodobashi Yokohama)
• Multimedia Keikyu Kami-Ōoka
• Chiba
• Multimedia Utsunomiya
• Multimedia Nagoya
• Multimedia Kyoto
• Multimedia Umeda
• Multimedia Hakata
• Multimedia Sapporo
• Multimedia Sendai
• Multimedia Kōriyama
• Multimedia Niigata