If yoIf you love music and want to discover Japanese vinyl records, CDs, and other physical music in Japan, Banana Record is a name worth knowing.
With stores across Nagoya, Gifu, Okazaki, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, Banana Record is one of the record-shop chains travelers can visit while exploring the Tokai and Kansai regions.
From Japanese music and rock to jazz, classical, soul, hip-hop, reggae and club music, the selection varies by store.
And because these are used record shops, the inventory is constantly changing.
You may come looking for one particular album and leave with something you never expected to find.
What Is Banana Record?
Banana Record is a Japanese used record shop specializing in vinyl records, CDs and other music-related media.
The company has stores in the Tokai and Kansai regions of Japan, with nine locations listed on its current store directory.
The stores sell a wide variety of music, including:
- Vinyl records
- LP records
- 7-inch records / EPs
- 12-inch records
- CDs
- DVDs and other video media at some locations
- Japanese music
- Rock
- Jazz
- Classical music
- Soul and funk
- Hip-hop
- R&B
- Reggae
- Club music
- World music
The exact selection depends on the store, and new used items are regularly added.
Banana Record’s official website continues to publish new-arrival information for individual stores, including LPs, CDs, EPs and 12-inch records.
Why Is Banana Record Interesting for Travelers?
Japan is well known for its physical music culture, and visiting a used record shop can be an interesting way to discover another side of the country.
You may find:
- Japanese artists
- Japanese pressings of international albums
- Vintage LPs
- 7-inch singles
- Japanese pop
- City Pop
- Japanese rock
- Jazz
- Anime and movie soundtracks
- Classical recordings
- Hip-hop and R&B
- Rare or unusual second-hand releases
Because the stock changes constantly, there is no guarantee that a particular record will be available.
That unpredictability is part of the appeal of used record shopping.
What Can You Buy at Banana Record?
Vinyl Records
Vinyl is one of the main attractions at Banana Record.
Depending on the store, you can browse LPs, EPs and 12-inch records across many different genres.
The official store blogs show frequent additions of new and used LPs, EPs and 12-inch records.
If you are interested in Japanese music, look for sections labeled:
邦楽 (Hōgaku) — Japanese music
You may also find Japanese pressings of international artists.
CDs
Banana Record also sells a large selection of used CDs.
Depending on the store, you can find:
- Japanese music
- Rock
- Jazz
- Classical
- Heavy metal
- Punk
- Hip-hop
- R&B
- Electronic music
- Soundtracks
The store’s recent updates show new CD arrivals across genres including rock, Japanese music, jazz, heavy metal and punk.
Japanese Music
If you are visiting Japan and want to take home a music-related souvenir, check the Japanese music sections.
Depending on the current stock, you may encounter:
- Japanese pop
- Japanese rock
- City Pop
- Folk
- Jazz
- Electronic music
- Soundtracks
- Older Japanese recordings
For collectors, Japanese pressings can also be interesting because of differences in packaging and editions.
Jazz
Jazz is an important part of Banana Record’s selection.
The Osu store in Nagoya has a particularly strong focus on different genres, while the BLUE YARD satellite in Osaka specializes in jazz while also carrying other genres.
BLUE YARD says it normally carries around 4,000 used records, with jazz at the center of its selection.
Rock
Rock is another major category.
Depending on the store and current stock, you may find:
- Classic rock
- Japanese rock
- Punk
- Hard rock
- Heavy metal
- Alternative rock
- Progressive rock
The Okazaki store specifically highlights rock and jazz, with a strong selection of punk and hardcore as well.
Hip-Hop, R&B, Reggae and Club Music
If you are interested in DJ culture or dance music, check the stores with dedicated sections for these genres.
At the Osu store in Nagoya, the second floor focuses on:
- Hip-hop
- R&B
- Club music
- Reggae
The store is divided by genre, making it easier to browse specific types of music.
Recent Banana Record updates also show new arrivals of hip-hop, club music and funk on LP and 12-inch formats.
Banana Record’s 9 Stores
Banana Record currently has nine locations in the Tokai and Kansai regions:
Tokai
- Nagoya Meieki
- Nagoya Osu
- Gifu
- Okazaki
Kansai
- Osaka Umeda
- Kyoto
- Kobe Motomachi
- Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA
- BLUE YARD
These nine locations are listed on Banana Record’s official store directory.
Banana Record Nagoya
1. Banana Record Meieki
If you are staying around Nagoya Station, the Meieki store is one of the easiest Banana Record locations to visit.
The store carries a wide range of genres, including rock, jazz, classical, hip-hop, R&B and club music, as well as video-related products.
Store Information
Address:
Hokuto Building 2F, 4-4-17 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002, Japan
Hours:
11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
About 1 minute from Exit 3 of the Sun Road underground shopping area.
What to expect
This is a convenient option if you have limited time in Nagoya and are already visiting the Nagoya Station area.
2. Banana Record Osu
The Osu store is particularly interesting for music lovers because it has a large selection and multiple genre-focused floors.
Banana Record describes it as its only two-floor store, with a particularly large inventory.
1F
The first floor focuses on:
- Rock
- Soul
- Jazz
- Other genres
- DVDs
2F
The second floor focuses on:
- Hip-hop
- R&B
- Club music
- Reggae
The store regularly adds new arrivals.
Store Information
Address:
3-22-32 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011, Japan
Hours:
11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
About 5 minutes from Kamimaezu Station or about 7 minutes from Yabacho Station.
Why visit Osu?
The store is located in Osu, one of Nagoya’s major shopping and entertainment districts.
You can combine record hunting with:
- Osu Shopping Street
- Cafés
- Vintage shops
- Anime and subculture stores
- Electronics shops
- Local restaurants
If you have time to explore only one Banana Record store in Nagoya, Osu gives you a chance to browse multiple music categories in one location.
Banana Record Gifu
3. Banana Record Gifu
The Gifu store carries a broad selection of LPs and CDs, including rock, jazz, soul and club music.
The store describes its selection as covering a wide range of genres.
Store Information
Address:
Komori Building 2F, 1-14-2 Suminoe-cho, Gifu, Gifu 500-8408, Japan
Hours:
11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
About 1 minute from Meitetsu Gifu Station.
Good to know
Gifu is an easy side trip from Nagoya, so this store can be combined with sightseeing in central Gifu.
Banana Record Okazaki
4. Banana Record Okazaki Cibico
The Okazaki store is located inside Okazaki Cibico.
It carries an all-genre selection of CDs and records, with particularly strong coverage of rock and jazz.
The store also highlights punk, hardcore, classic rock, modern jazz, kayōkyoku, classical music, hip-hop, R&B, club music, soul and reggae.
Store Information
Address:
Okazaki Cibico 2F, 2-20-2 Kosei-dori Nishi, Okazaki, Aichi 444-0059, Japan
Hours:
10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Regular closing days:
Irregular holidays according to the Cibico shopping center schedule
Access:
About 10 minutes on foot from Meitetsu Higashi-Okazaki Station.
Banana Record in Osaka
5. Banana Record Osaka Umeda
The Osaka Umeda store is located near Osaka Station and Umeda, making it convenient for travelers staying in central Osaka.
Banana Record describes it as its first store in Osaka, offering a wide selection of records and CDs.
Store Information
Address:
Umesendo Building 3F, 2-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka 530-0012, Japan
Hours:
10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
- About 3 minutes from Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station
- About 4 minutes from Osaka Metro Umeda Station
- About 4 minutes from JR Osaka Station
Why visit?
If you are exploring Osaka Station, Umeda or Grand Front Osaka, this is one of the easiest Banana Record stores to add to your itinerary.
6. Banana Record Kyoto
The Kyoto store is located in the Kawaramachi area, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in central Kyoto.
The store carries used LPs and CDs across various genres.
The official store information describes a selection of approximately 10,000 used records and CDs, including rock and jazz.
Important: The Kyoto store moved in September 2026
This is worth noting if you find older information online.
Banana Record announced that the Kyoto store moved from the 2nd floor to the 5th floor of the same building, with business resuming on September 1, 2026. An elevator is available.
Store Information
Address:
372 Naramonocho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 600-8004, Japan
Floor:
5F
Hours:
10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
About 5 minutes from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.
Note: Banana Record’s general store directory still displays the older 2F information, while its August 2026 official announcement confirms the move to 5F. For a visit in late 2026, the 5F information is the current one.
7. Banana Record Kobe Motomachi
The Kobe Motomachi store is located in central Kobe, close to Motomachi and Sannomiya.
It carries a broad all-genre selection of records and CDs and is designed for both beginners and experienced record collectors.
Store Information
Address:
Shin-Motomachi Building 4F, 1-4-18 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0022, Japan
Hours:
10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Access:
- About 3 minutes from JR Motomachi Station
- About 3 minutes from Hanshin Motomachi Station
- Close to Kyukyoryuchi-Daimaru-mae Station
- About 8 minutes from Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
The store is also close to Daimaru Kobe, making it easy to combine record shopping with sightseeing and shopping around central Kobe.
8. Banana Record Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA
This location is different from a traditional record shop.
Banana Record operates a sales space inside Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA, in Shinsaibashi.
The store carries more than 2,000 outlet records, including Japanese and international music, with many techno and house 12-inch records.
Store Information
Address:
A-PLACE Shinsaibashi B1F, 2-2-3 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 542-0086, Japan
Hours:
11:00 AM–11:00 PM
Regular closing days:
None
Why visit?
This is a convenient option if you are already exploring:
- Shinsaibashi
- Amerikamura
- Dotonbori
- Namba
You can browse records while visiting one of Osaka’s major entertainment areas.
Important: This is a sales space. For selling records to Banana Record, the company directs customers to the Osaka Umeda store.
9. Banana Record BLUE YARD
BLUE YARD is another Banana Record satellite location, inside BLUE YARD at Inogate Osaka.
Unlike a traditional record shop, it is designed as a casual space where visitors can browse records alongside the surrounding café and dining environment.
Banana Record says the location normally carries around 4,000 used records, with jazz as its main focus while also offering a broad range of genres.
Store Information
Address:
Inogate Osaka, Barchica 03, 3-2-123 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka 530-0001, Japan
Hours:
9:00 AM–11:00 PM
Regular closing days:
Irregular holidays
Why visit?
It is particularly convenient if you are already around Osaka Station.
You can combine:
Osaka Station → Inogate Osaka → BLUE YARD → Banana Record
without making a separate trip to a traditional record store.
As with Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA, this is a sales space. For selling records, Banana Record directs customers to the Osaka Umeda store.
Which Banana Record Should You Visit?
Rather than every store having exactly the same selection, each location has its own character.
| Store | Main feature |
|---|---|
| Nagoya Meieki | Convenient location near Nagoya Station; broad selection |
| Nagoya Osu | Large inventory and multiple genre-focused floors |
| Gifu | Broad selection of LPs and CDs |
| Okazaki | Rock, jazz, punk, hardcore and other genres |
| Osaka Umeda | Main full-scale store near Osaka Station |
| Kyoto | Large used selection near Kawaramachi |
| Kobe Motomachi | All-genre records and CDs in central Kobe |
| Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA | Outlet records, including techno and house |
| BLUE YARD | Around 4,000 records with a focus on jazz |
The selection is not fixed, so this table should be viewed as a guide rather than a guarantee of current stock.
Tips for Buying Used Records in Japan
Check the condition
Before buying a used record, check:
- The record surface
- Scratches
- The jacket
- Inner sleeve
- Inserts
- Obi
- Labels
- Whether the record is complete
Japanese releases sometimes come with an obi, the paper strip wrapped around the side of the record jacket.
For collectors, an obi can be an important part of the original package.
Look for Japanese pressings
If you are visiting Japan specifically to find Japanese music or Japanese editions, check the Japanese music sections.
You may see terms such as:
邦楽 (Hōgaku) — Japanese music
洋楽 (Yōgaku) — Western/international music
You may also see genre names written in Japanese.
Don’t expect every store to have the same records
Banana Record’s stores receive new inventory regularly.
The official website, for example, continues to publish individual store updates for newly added LPs, CDs and EPs.
So if you are searching for a specific album, it is worth checking more than one store.
Can International Visitors Buy Records at Banana Record?
Yes. Banana Record is a retail shop, so visitors can purchase records and CDs in the same way as other customers.
If you are buying vinyl as a souvenir, remember that records are relatively heavy and can be damaged if packed carelessly.
For international flights, consider:
- Keeping records in their sleeves
- Protecting jackets from bending
- Using a rigid record mailer if you have one
- Keeping records away from heavy luggage
Can You Sell Records at Banana Record?
Banana Record also purchases used records and CDs.
Its official website states that customers can bring items to its stores and receive cash for purchases. The company also offers mail-in purchasing services.
However, the satellite locations at Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA and BLUE YARD are sales spaces, and Banana Record directs customers who want to sell records to the Osaka Umeda store.
Banana Record Stores: Complete List
| City | Store | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoya | Meieki | Hokuto Building 2F, 4-4-17 Meieki, Nakamura-ku | 11:00–20:00 |
| Nagoya | Osu | 3-22-32 Osu, Naka-ku | 11:00–20:00 |
| Gifu | Gifu | Komori Building 2F, 1-14-2 Suminoe-cho | 11:00–20:00 |
| Okazaki | Okazaki Cibico | Okazaki Cibico 2F, 2-20-2 Kosei-dori Nishi | 10:00–19:30 |
| Osaka | Umeda | Umesendo Building 3F, 2-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku | 10:30–19:30 |
| Kyoto | Kyoto | 372 Naramonocho, Shimogyo-ku, 5F | 10:30–19:30 |
| Kobe | Motomachi | Shin-Motomachi Building 4F, 1-4-18 Motomachi-dori | 10:30–19:30 |
| Osaka | Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA | A-PLACE Shinsaibashi B1F, 2-2-3 Nishishinsaibashi | 11:00–23:00 |
| Osaka | BLUE YARD | Inogate Osaka, Barchica 03, 3-2-123 Umeda | 9:00–23:00 |
Official store information:
Note: Okazaki has irregular holidays according to the Cibico shopping center schedule, and BLUE YARD has irregular holidays. The other stores listed above are generally shown by Banana Record as having no regular closing day.
Banana Record and Your Japan Trip
If you are traveling through central Japan or Kansai, Banana Record can be an easy addition to a sightseeing itinerary.
In Nagoya
Nagoya Station → Meieki store
or
Osu → Osu Shopping Street → Banana Record Osu
In Kyoto
Kawaramachi → Banana Record Kyoto → Gion
In Osaka
Osaka Station / Umeda → BLUE YARD → Osaka Station
or
Shinsaibashi → Amerikamura → Brooklyn Parlor OSAKA
In Kobe
Sannomiya → Motomachi → Banana Record Kobe → Kobe Chinatown
This makes record shopping easy to combine with other activities rather than making it a separate destination.
Final Thoughts
For music lovers visiting Japan, Banana Record offers a chance to explore Japanese music culture through physical media.
Its nine stores cover a wide area from Nagoya and Gifu to Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, while individual stores have different selections and specialties.
You might find a Japanese pressing of an album you already know, discover a Japanese artist for the first time, or simply come across a record you have never seen before.
That’s the appeal of used record shopping.
Go in with a list of what you want—but leave some room for an unexpected find.
Banana Record: Quick Facts
Name: Banana Record / バナナレコード
Type: Japanese used record and music shop
Stores: 9
Regions: Tokai and Kansai
Cities: Nagoya, Gifu, Okazaki, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe
Main products:
- Vinyl records
- LPs
- EPs / 7-inch records
- 12-inch records
- CDs
- DVDs and other media at some locations
Main genres:
- Japanese music
- Rock
- Jazz
- Classical
- Soul
- Funk
- Hip-hop
- R&B
- Reggae
- Club music
- World music
Official website: Banana Record official website
Store hours and locations can change, so checking the official store information before visiting is recommended.
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