I was extremely fortunate to visit Tokyo and one of my most anticipated visits was to a little shop in the west end of the city called Turbosonic. This shop sells nothing but vintage boomboxes and stereo accessories! I believe this may very well be the only ghettoblaster store on the planet. If you don’t have the ability to hop on a plane and check out Turbosonic, hopefully the photo tour below will suffice. You can also visit their website.
![](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic_banner.jpg)
I finally arrived after a frustrating 90 minute metro ride and one hour search for the shop. The shop is on the 7th floor of a building pretty close to the subway station. But if you don’t know Japanese (like me) getting around can be very difficult.
![The Entrance to Turbo Sonic](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic1.jpg)
The left wall…see anything you like? Some of the most sought after radios are present on these shelves: The Sanyo Big Ben, Panasonic RX-7200, RX-7700, JVC RC-550, 2 Sharp turntable boomboxes!
![Left Wall](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic2.jpg)
The owner keeps a select collection of headphones and vintage audio tapes under glass. Somewhere in there is a new in the box Soundburger!
![Front Counter](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic3.jpg)
As you enter the shop you instantly notice that all of the TV boomboxes are displaying the same thing–these hypnotic videos synched to ’80s homegrown beats. Very cool effect.
![TV Boomboxes](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic4.jpg)
The owner also collects 12″ vinyl.
![Right Wall](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic5.jpg)
More classic radios against the back wall. Check out the Pioneer Disco Robo in his own little cabinet.
![Back Wall](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic6.jpg)
That arcade shaped thing was homemade by the owner’s friend who’s an expert in plastic. The illustration in the back was done by some well-known Japanese designer. It also serves as the illustration for the “official” Turbo Sonic t-shirt.
![](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic7.jpg)
Shouro and Hisami are the owners of the shop. Incredibly nice people–they kept bringing out stuff to show, old catalogs, brochures, articles, etc. I wish I could’ve stayed longer!
![Turbo Sonic Owners](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic8.jpg)
I was pretty overwhelmed by all the stuff in here. Just now I’m noticing the boombox in the back with the color tv.
![](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic9.jpg)
If you can make it to Turbo Sonic, please check it out. You can take the Marunouchi or Chuo Line to the western part of the city, the address is: Turbo Sonic, ACP Building 7F, 4-23-5 Koenji-Minami, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo. tel: 03-3313-5717.
I had a hard time finding it, but it’s just a 2 minute walk south of the Koenji stop on the Chuo Line. It’s on the 7th floor of an office building with a white facade and a large green sign on the roof.
UPDATE: Their shop has moved to the Shibuya district, a much more accessible neighborhood. Please visit if you can!
![turbosonic10](http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/turbosonic10.jpg)