In Japan, Maruzen is known for their restaurant products such as fryers, gas ranges, noodle boilers, gyoza cooker, rice cooker/rice washer, grillers, steamers, gas burners and more.
In Ikebukuro, Maruzen opened a specialty store in August 2017 which would become one of the largest stationery stores in Tokyo and it just happens that the Junkudo Bookstore is in there as well plus the Stationery Cafe “Honoo Hitotoki”.
A big highlight was the Keihin Kyuko (Keikyu) Electric Railway Type 800 aka “Daruma Train”. The front has been cut but a good way to see a Keikyu Electric Railway Type 800 (Deha 812-6), and a yellow Seibu Railway 2000 series train (Kuha 2098) and a Tokyu 7700 series (Deha 7702), an Ikegami Line Train.
There is confusion of the Maruzen Ikebukuro Store and the Junkudo Ikebukuro Store. The Junkudo Shoten Ikebukuro Main Store did not close, but the Maruzen Ikebukuro Store (Stationery Specialty Store) closed.A bit confusing.
Now why are their trains in there? The owner of hte building is Goto Fumio, CEO of Bunei Land and Tatemono. He also happens to be the former editor of the magazine “Railway Fan”.
You can view the interior here and here.
So, what happened to the trains as of 2024? Well, that remains to be seen. Back in 2023, there was a barrier covering most of the train, but people walking by can still see it. While just only the front section of the train, I do hope it finds a new home.
For those who don’t know, I’m a big fan of the Keikyu red trains. I own books and model trains… But it was no doubt one of the few places I would go to relax in Ikebukuro prior to the pandemic.
