囲碁将棋盤 榧寿堂 ／ Where to Buy Go Equipment Outside Japan
Where to Buy Go Equipment Outside Japan
Everything else on this site explains how to judge go equipment. This page is the practical companion: where the equipment actually comes from if you are not in Japan, and which route fits which situation. We receive nothing from the shops below — they are listed because we checked that they exist, and what each is for.
The three routes, and what each is good at
1. Japanese specialist shops that ship abroad
Best when: you want new equipment, correct specifications, and the ability to ask a question before buying.
| Shop | What it is |
|---|---|
| Kuroki Goishi Ten | A retailer with a century of history, carrying named craftsmen’s work. Go, shogi and craft goods. The site offers a country selector covering 200+ territories with local currency display, and its review pages include overseas orders that arrived as expected. |
| Hyuga Go Board & Stone | A maker, based in Hyuga City, Miyazaki — the origin region for both kaya boards and Suwabute clamshell. Founded by the third generation of the Kuroki family; its CEO cites over 50 years in the trade. Also offers appraisal and repair, which matters if you own something already and do not know what it is. |
The distinction is worth holding onto: a retailer can compare across makers; a maker knows one thing to the bottom. For an appraisal question, go to the maker.
2. Western retailers
Best when: you want a first set without an international order, or you need it soon.
- Masters of Games (UK) — carries go boards and sets, with its own buying guide.
Expect a narrower range and mostly entry-level to mid material. That is the trade for domestic shipping and returns.
3. Marketplaces and antique dealers
Best when: you are looking for vintage or antique boards, which is often the only way to reach old hon-kaya.
- TansuShop — Japanese antiques including go boards and game sets.
- eBay and general antique marketplaces — the widest selection and the least protection.
This is the route where our other pages earn their keep. Listings here are written by sellers of varying knowledge, and the vocabulary is where the risk sits:
- “Clamshell” covers two different shells — Suwabute or Mexican?
- “Kaya” and “shin-kaya” are different trees, not grades — Honkaya vs Shinkaya
- A number with no unit is usually thickness — Board Thickness and Stone Sizes
- Printed grid or raised lacquer? Ask for a low-angle photo — Tachi-mori
Which route to take
| If you want… | Go to |
|---|---|
| A first set, quickly | A Western retailer |
| New equipment with correct specifications | A Japanese specialist shop |
| An appraisal, or repair of something you own | The maker |
| Old hon-kaya at any price | Marketplaces — with the vocabulary above in hand |
About this list. We are an independent guide. We have no commercial relationship with any shop listed here. If you would rather not deal with a shop in Japan yourself, we can also order for you — see Ordering from overseas. Each site was checked as reachable on 2026-08-18, and the descriptions come from those sites’ own statements. Shipping destinations, stock and prices change — confirm directly with the shop before ordering.