I'll be visiting Japan in a few weeks and I want to bring my little Olympus XA and Mju along with my small Fuji X100VI and Sony a7CII. I plan to bring a few rolls of C41 film with me but I have also heard rumors of high prices and quantity is often limited. I am definitely going to be checking out some of the great 2nd hand camera shops in Tokyo and Osaka so I will be where film is if there isn't an extreme deficit.
My question is if I can get film in the US for $7-15 a roll for most types of color film should I bring more film? Also I would like to have my film developed and scanned while there if anyone has any recommendations for that in Central Tokyo.
Bring film from the US - it will be cheaper and you won’t waste anytime film hunting. Also TSA will not xray it if you ask for a hand check - they are cool like that.
Get it developed in Japan to not worry about xraying on your way back.
Someone here may know where to get it developed in Tokyo - or you could google that - or reach out to Bellamy at japancamerahunter and ask him.
Film is very expensive in Japan and often it's because it's actually made in the USA (even Fujifilm!) and then shipped/imported back.
Kitamura will develop your film in a couple of hours and there are a lot of local labs, but Tokyo is massive so tough to know where you'll be and what will be convenient.
Agreed, film was expensive, but it was available. So, have your film hand inspected and if they refuse and X-Ray, then you at least have the option to purchase film in Tokyo.
It's weirdly expensive in Japan. But on the flip side they have plenty of Velvia 50, Velvia 100, and Provia 100 if you're willing to pay $35-40 a roll. Even Acros 100 is $12 a roll at Yodobashi.
I think I'll bring 6-8 rolls from the US (to be hand checked, I hope they start paying TSA soon) and buy a few more rolls in Tokyo. I'm staying in Shibuya for my first 4 days and plan to spend some time checking out camera shops in Shinjuku and Nakano so I'm sure to find some.
Thanks again
I just came back and availability is no issue at all, but prices are higher as others reported. Since you're in Shibuya I recommend taking the DT (Den-en-toshi Line) Train down to Tama Station for CHAMP CAMERA at least once. It's only a one hour round-trip journey for about $5 USD transportation cost. They have all the film you can dream of there and C-41 processing can be as fast as 30 minutes (+ qr code scan will take a bit longer).
For convenience, Kitamura Shinjuku West (small location, film processing is first floor) is pretty great. They are right across from MAP Camera Shinjuku, and takes 2-3 hours for C-41 + QR Code scan. Index and CD is optional I think. So you can just drop off your rolls there and browse all the stores and come pick up after.
Price wise:
Just develop C-41 which is base (you can opt for just this): 950yen per roll
Smartphone Transfer (1818x1228 res, 72dpi, 24bit, about 671KB file size): +880yen
High-quality (4358x3023 res, 72dpi, 24bit, about 3-4MB file size): +1100 yen
NOTE: The HQ option STACKS on top of the normal Smart Phone Transfer, so for high quality smartphone you'd pay 1980yen for that + your base 950yen for your develop. I think index was like 100yen or something I forget.
After your rolls are dev/scanned they give you QR code if you opted for the smartphone transfer where you can check and confirm your photos before paying (you pay on pickup, not dropoff).
Some places offer CD which I haven't checked the res yet, probably standard output from whatever fuji or noritsu they use.
For TSA and general travel in asia, take all your film out of the boxes (canisters fine) and put it in a clear ziplock bag labeled "PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM, HAND CHECK ONLY". You can also add an additional label in Japanese or whatever countries language you're visiting and just point to the label to cut through any miscommunication. In some airports, they'll claim anything under 400/800 ISO is fine for the machine. Just ignore it and tell them it's unprocessed rare film and you would appreciate a handcheck. Never had any issues as long as you ask (they did ask to double check my passport when I took 50 rolls through though).
I can only speak from personal experience but I have *never* gotten pushback on a polite request for a hand-check. Just a month ago I went to Thailand and Japan, transiting through NRT, BKK, HKT, CNX, and HND before coming back. At every single airport I took my film out of my carry-on, and it was a bunch of canisters in a Zip-loc bag. I pointed to it and with a smile asked for a hand check. In Japan specifically I didn't even get to say anything - the agent saw the bag, pointed to me, and took it from me for a hand check. And of course in the US, TSA is required to honor requests for film hand checks. Sometimes they're not happy about it (looking at you EWR) but they'll do it. Prior to that I was in Italy, and before that Mexico, and no issues either place.
The only airports I've heard are routinely jerks about hand-checking are Heathrow and Du Gaulle. Haven't done either with film yet so maybe I'll find out for myself soon.
icarus_ wrote:
The only airports I've heard are routinely jerks about hand-checking are Heathrow and Du Gaulle. Haven't done either with film yet so maybe I'll find out for myself soon.
+1 Do not take unprocessed film back through either airport, especially Heathrow. You're better off just mailing it back to yourself.
treacle wrote:
Thank you ftllens for all that info, perfect!
I do have Champ Camera on my list though the only time I can go is one morning so I'll have to see.
Are you going to other things on your trip or just visit camera stores?
Camera Stores, Watch stores, Toy stores, Electronics stores, Gachipons....Shibuya Sky, Teamlab Borderless, eat Wagyu Steak and Kobe Beef, Tempura, Sushi, Ramen and Konbini snacks, Seiko Museum, Baseball Game at Tokyo Dome Yomiuri Giants vs Hanshin Tigers Tokyo, visit Gardens and Sakura sights IF Cherry Blossoms are still in bloom (seems very early this year)....Then after 5 days I meet up with my tour group for 2 more days in Tokyo then off to Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima for the usual tourist stuff.
I also want to visit the site of Hirayama San's home from the Wim Wenders film 'Perfect Days" which I highly recommend especially for film photographers.
Desmolicious wrote:
Are you going to other things on your trip or just visit camera stores?
treacle wrote:
Thank you ftllens for all that info, perfect!
I do have Champ Camera on my list though the only time I can go is one morning so I'll have to see.
Np, I would recommend TeamLabs Planets over Borderless as it's more immersive.
There is the Mori Museum in Azabudai near Borderless though and they have this pleasant restaurant there: https://art-view.roppongihills.com/en/cafe-restaurant/ (note: you don't have to pay the admission fee for the upper viewing floors if you tell them you are going to the restaurant, there is also a cafe but the restaurant is the one with the nice view).
