Record Store Day in Kumamoto, Japan
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Kumamoto, Japan
Independent record shops open in Kumamoto, Japan right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- iNaDAY
Used-record shop in central Chuo-ku open since 1993; the name is taken from Prince's 'Around the World in a Day.' Stocks soul/blues, old rock/oldies, rock/pop/indie and punk. Long-running participant in local Kumamoto Record Store Day activities.
2 sources
- NASTY STREET RECORDS
Original NASTY STREET RECORDS storefront (distinct from the Taramayo/branch-2 store in Kita-ku), in the Shower-dori/Shinshigai nightlife district near the Karashimacho tram stop. Dance-music specialist: house, techno, disco, funk, soul, jazz, nu-disco, balearic, reggae, hip-hop.
2 sources
- NASTY STREET RECORDS 2 (Taramayo Records)
Club/dance-focused sister branch (2-goten) of NASTY STREET RECORDS -- house, disco, funk, soul, AOR, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, city pop. Walk-in shop in Kita-ku, also runs as 'Taramayo Records,' a daily-updated online store for DJs. Hours vary by day -- check Instagram.
3 sources
- Old Book Kisuisha
Used bookstore on Namiki-zaka that also actively buys/sells all-genre vinyl, opened 2016 by an owner with prior experience at a Tokyo record shop. Books span literature, art and subculture titles alongside the record stock. Closed the 2nd/4th Thursdays each month.
2 sources
- PEANUTS RECORDS
Used-record shop near Kamitori, a short walk from the Torimachisuji tram stop, open since March 2003. Stocks enka/J-pop, soul/blues, old rock and rock/pop/indie. As of August 2026 operates a reduced Wed/Thu/Sat-only schedule.
2 sources
- Record House Woodstock
Used-record shop founded 1977, at its current Suidomachi address since 2014. ~30,000 used vinyl titles across all genres; an integrated cafe/bar with vintage speakers and tube amps lets non-collectors relax while their companion digs through crates. Weekend DJ events. Closed Thu.
3 sources
- Sweet Nuthin' Records
Used-record specialist near Oaks-dori focused on 1960s-90s rock, punk, new wave and indie pop, alongside Japanese rock/pop, blues, soul, hip-hop, jazz and reggae/ska. Also buys records and CDs.
2 sources
- YOKIKOTOKIKU
Small third-floor shop in a century-old Chuo-ku building specializing in curated Japanese vinyl (wamono) -- Showa-era vocal, folk, psych, soundtracks. Featured in Record Collectors magazine, 2023. Opens only occasionally -- check Instagram/X first.
3 sources
See the full record store listing for Kumamoto, Japan.