BIGBOSS

Quick Facts

Last checked against official information: 2026-11-15.

What it is

Its official BIGBOSS store list comprises nine BIGBOSS-branded entries (including the Ochanomizu Ekimae annex), with locations in Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo Ochanomizu, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Other ESP Direct Shop names are separate and must not be counted as BIGBOSS stores.

BIGBOSS offers repair and adjustment consultation, and official after-sales guidance provides free basic setup adjustment for instruments purchased at BIGBOSS, including new and used instruments, under its published after-sales conditions. Ask the specific location about staff availability, wait time, which work is covered and whether extra services cost money. ESP, Navigator, E-II, EDWARDS and selected artist models are offered across the network, with inventory varying by branch.

How to order

Step 1: Finding Tourist-Accessible BIGBOSS Stores

BIGBOSS operates in major music and sightseeing districts nationwide:

• Tokyo Flagship Hub: BIGBOSS Ochanomizu Ekimae sits directly across from JR Ochanomizu Station in the heart of Guitar Street, alongside specialized ESP Direct Shops in Shibuya (ESP Craft House) and Ochanomizu.
• Hokkaido & Regional Hubs: Visit BIGBOSS Sapporo, Sendai, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima or Fukuoka according to the official store directory; the ESP Osaka location is a different store name, not a BIGBOSS branch.
• Operating hours typically run from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (varies by store; check regional weekday hours).

Step 2: Exploring ESP Tiers & Signature Collections

• Understanding the ESP Brand Hierarchy:
  • ESP Original / Custom Shop & Navigator: Hand-built in Japan by master luthiers using top-grade tonewoods and hardware.
  • E-II: An ESP guitar/bass line; verify the model-specific manufacturing country and specifications rather than assuming every model comes from one Tokyo factory.
  • EDWARDS: High-value domestic Japanese-spec models tailored for Japan's market.
  • GrassRoots: Accessible entry-level guitars featuring iconic ESP and artist shapes.
• Anime & Artist Signature Wall: Inspect official BanG Dream! character guitars (complete with matching character picks and straps), Hatsune Miku signature models, and iconic J-Rock/metal artist guitars.
• Requesting an Audition & Setup: Ask staff "Shiso dekimasu ka?" before testing. For a purchase, ask whether basic setup is covered under that seller’s policy, whether a technician is available and when it can be completed.

Step 3: Checking CITES Wood & Flight Case Preparation

• Verify whether rosewood fingerboards or exotic inlays require CITES awareness for your destination country.
• Consider picking up a padded ESP gig bag or sturdy flight case, and ask staff to detune the strings slightly before your flight.

Step 4: Cashier Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Procedure

• Tax-free eligibility is shop-specific. Ask the exact BIGBOSS checkout whether it is a currently registered seller; a BIGBOSS or ESP sign alone is not proof, including at Sapporo or Ochanomizu.
• Inform the cashier "Tax-Free kudasai" before payment and present your original physical foreign passport (Temporary Visitor status required; photocopies are ineligible).
• For eligible purchases at an officially registered tax-free shop from November 1, 2026:
  1. Check participation before paying at this exact store or counter. Eligible short-term visitors pay the tax-inclusive price, show the required passport/entry record and receive a registered purchase record; ask staff to explain the eventual refund provider and method.
  2. A qualifying purchase totals at least ¥5,000 excluding tax per registered store per day. The old separate general-goods/consumables categories and former consumables cap do not govern new purchases.
  3. Export the purchased goods. Food and other consumable goods used or consumed in Japan do not qualify for the departure export confirmation/refund.
  4. Within 90 days of purchase and before checking in baggage, complete Customs confirmation of the recorded tax-free purchase at the designated departure kiosk or available Visit Japan Web route. A green result completes the confirmation; a red result may require physically showing the goods to customs officers.
  5. Plan transport separately: Check your airline for instrument/case size, extra-seat or checked-baggage options, spare lithium batteries, oils and aerosols. A liquid exceeding the cabin 100 ml limit is not automatically safe or permitted in checked baggage; flammable or dangerous products may be prohibited entirely. Have any goods needed for Customs inspection accessible before bag drop.
  6. After Customs confirms export, the seller or its appointed refund operator processes the consumption-tax refund by the method agreed at purchase. Customs does not issue the refund. Refund timing and any fees depend on the participating seller; participating refund operators may offer an airport refund desk, but this is not automatic for every seller.

What to order first

1. Japanese-Crafted E-II & EDWARDS Electric Guitars

• What it is: High-precision Japanese rock and metal electric guitars and basses (Horizon, Eclipse, Forest, and Snapper shapes) built with Floyd Rose bridges, Seymour Duncan/EMG pickups, and locking tuners.
• Why buy it: Domestic Japanese EDWARDS models are generally not distributed directly by official dealers in Western markets, offering tremendous value.
• Price expectation: Check the current model-specific listing or shelf label at the selected shop; prices, condition and stock vary.

2. Anime & Artist Signature Guitars (BanG Dream! / Hatsune Miku / J-Rock)

• What it is: Officially licensed playable electric guitars and basses modeled identically after BanG Dream! anime band instruments and legendary Japanese rock guitarists (Akira Takasaki, SUGIZO).
• Why buy it: Unique Japanese pop-culture collectibles that double as serious performance instruments.
• Price expectation: Check the current model-specific listing or shelf label at the selected shop; prices, condition and stock vary.

3. Character & Artist Signature Guitar Picks

• What it is: Official collectible guitar picks featuring BanG Dream!, Hatsune Miku, Hello Kitty, and famous ESP roster artists.
• Why buy it: Inexpensive, featherlight, and unmistakable Japanese souvenirs for fellow musicians.
• Price expectation: Check the current model-specific listing or shelf label at the selected shop; prices, condition and stock vary.

4. ESP Custom Replacement Parts & Seymour Duncan Pickups

• What it is: Genuine Japanese Gotoh tuning machines, ESP brass tremolo blocks, custom control knobs, and strap locks.
• Why buy it: Compact upgrades that drop effortlessly into carry-on luggage to customize guitars back home.
• Price expectation: Check the current model-specific listing or shelf label at the selected shop; prices, condition and stock vary.

5. ESP Leather Straps, Gig Bags & Artist Accessories

• What it is: Heavy-duty padded ESP gig bags, branded leather guitar straps, and microfiber polishing cloths.
• Why buy it: Functional protection for carrying your newly purchased guitar safely through airports.
• Price expectation: Check the current model-specific listing or shelf label at the selected shop; prices, condition and stock vary.

Payment & practical info

• Accepted Payment Modes: Cash (JPY), major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, etc.), transit IC cards, and mobile QR payments (exact options vary by store).
• Tax-free purchases (refund system since November 1, 2026): Only where this particular shop/counter is an authorized participating seller, eligible visitors pay tax-inclusive, buy at least ¥5,000 excluding tax at the same store on the same day, complete Customs export confirmation within 90 days of purchase before checking in baggage, and receive any refund from the merchant or its designated operator by the method agreed at purchase. Consumable goods must not be used in Japan; the former separate general-goods/consumables categories no longer apply. A shop's participation, refund desk and fees must be checked for that transaction.
• Operating Hours & Wi-Fi: Check the selected store’s official hours and Wi-Fi rules. Online or in-store browsing services vary; free public Wi-Fi cannot be guaranteed.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Ask the On-Site Luthier for Pre-Flight Setup

BIGBOSS publicly offers adjustment and repair advice, and specifies free basic adjustments for new and used instruments purchased at BIGBOSS, under its published service terms. At the chosen store ask whether a technician is available, what work is covered and how long it takes. Consult the airline before loosening strings or checking a guitar case.

2. Promotional Discount Coupons

Promotional discount coupons may be distributed during specific promotional campaigns or BIGBOSS member fairs. Terms, validity periods, exclusions, and minimum purchase conditions apply.

3. Verify Tax-Free Eligibility at Regional Branches

Neither BIGBOSS Sapporo nor BIGBOSS Ochanomizu Ekimae should be presumed registered for the 2026 tax-refund procedure without checking that exact seller.

Sources

• BIGBOSS Official Shop Count and Free Adjustment Conditions (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• ESP Co., Ltd. Official Corporate & Product Site (Verified: 2026-11-13)
• Japan Customs Departure Tax-Free Regulations (Verified: 2026-11-13)
• Japan Customs: Tax-Free Refund System from November 2026 (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• Japan Tourism Agency: Departure Customs and 90-Day Purchase Window (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• Japan METI: CITES Species and Musical Instrument Exceptions (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• ANA: Musical Instrument Travel Rules (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• BIGBOSS nine shop entries (Checked: 2026-11-14)
• BIGBOSS official adjustments FAQ (Checked: 2026-11-14)