Toho Shoji New York

I have been going to this store for years. Take your time and see everything. The staff is very helpful and you will find what you need… and more. I never go by this place without stopping in.

When I interned in NYC, I was here every week. The thing that got me coming back is their selection of chain. They have every color and type you could imagine, and there’s always someone near by to cut and price for you. Just one tip for that, make sure that you’re getting one continuous cut. I’ve come home with a bag of chain only to realize that it was cut and twist tied together, which made the cut unusable as it wasn’t long enough.
All of their jewelry making materials are awesome. True, you can get *some* of them cheaper at other stores but Toho Shoji always has different colors, sizes, and varieties.
Also, last time I was in NYC, my boot broke and one of the ladies helped me find the closest thing they had to repair it. Thumbs up for that, the boot is still holding strong.

Much better than the option across the street! Prices are more affordable and staff is very friendly and helpful – no hovering. Highly recommended.

Custom-​quality beads and goods. I went in expecting to see more metals and things like bronze, iron, copper, etc, but it was on the cheaper side, which is great if that’s what you’re looking for.
As for me, I was a bit disappointed. The salespeople were nice, but I felt their eyes on me everywhere I went, and more than once the same person aggressively asked if I needed some help. It was a bit off-​putting and had me uncomfortable in there. Their chains were a bit better quality-​wise, but it still did not make up for the fact that it was not what I was looking for.
I’m undecided on whether or not I will be back.

Yuck. I had high hopes for this place but the quality of the beads and the stones were cheap. This is a store for people looking to make costume jewelry. At best this store is fun for camp projects, or crafts to make with children. The chain selection at the front of the store was decent but I was amused by the sign at the front that said that if you have to leave to go to an ATM to get more cash that a deposit must be left.

You’ll walk in and suddenly envision a life in which you handcraft everything you own and all future gifts for friends and random subway riders from small sparkling wonders, brightening the world and bringing joy to the masses.
Oh, they have clear cube-​shaped beads with just a hint of silver flecks. You need those. And iridescent teal ovals? They’re too pretty to pass up and YOU’LL FIND A USE FOR THEM. Probably adding pizzazz to one of your 50 cat’s collars.
But, seriously, it’s hard not to feel the love of Toho’s huge selection and friendly staff that allows you to indulge in a pressure-​less browse, picking up a million different styles and then slowly reshelving when you realize you’re a pack of rhinestones away from full-​on crazy.

My favorite bead store. I love coming in here everyone is super helpful and patient. If they don’t have something they are happy to order it! Great prices.

Love to come here for costume chain and findings. They have a good faux pearl selection as well. The staff is helpful in getting your just what you need and are very knowledgeable about they product and what to use with with you’ve selected.

Absolutely not the store I remember. Prices for outdated supplies are ridiculously high. Higher than your ordinary AcMoore or Michaels. And there’s absolutely nothing unique here. I will still buy online.

I’ve been dealing with Toho Shoji for years and I absolutely love this Company.
Although very hard to maneuver their website, I always still manage to received exactly what I ordered in the correct amounts… Help to support these small but well kept businesses. I wish Hawaii had stores like these with such an amazing selection and quality. Unfortunately they don’t so I try to shop here instead.
Prices are amazing and match the quality. Not to mention the outstanding customer service I receive each and every time. Everything is packed carefully and shipped FAST!
Thank you for your amazing customer service and products :)

For a small store they have great, quality selection.

Toho Shoji is a Japanese bead/​crafts store — so glad I found it! I used to buy Toho beads in Japan when I was into making things when I was younger. I got back into beading recently and found this store through Unilocal — so glad I went! Everything is high quality (although more expensive than other bead stores in the area, but you can see the difference) and the people that work there are all Japanese and very helpful. This one woman helped me find what I was looking for and I was in there looking at everything for a while. Everything in the store is very organized and clean (unlike the nearby Chinese stores that are all dusty — my hands felt very dirty after going there!) and the lighting in the store is as it should be. Overall, I would definitely come back here to buy beads once I finish my current projects!
**UPDATE** I’ve been into Toho and other bead stores in the surrounding area and have found that Toho sells the cheapest chains with the highest quality! For example, I bought a chain for a long necklace that was $ 0.60/ft whereas across the street at Bead Center they sold a similar chain, with cheaper quality, for $ 3.00/ft. I also bought a chain with an infinity link online (it didn’t seem to feel like real metal, felt light and almost plastic like when compared) for a couple of cents cheaper than the infinity link chain I bought at Toho — it was shinier, had a good weight and looked more expensive, for about $ 1.80/ft.
Toho will definitely be my go-​to spot for buying all sorts of chains — they have a wider variety, are all superior in quality and have a really good price!

This place has an amazing selection of craft items and jewelry making products.
I came here looking for swarovskis and was truly impressed. They offered an array of colors and sizes (small enough to be used as nail art all the way to large enough sizes to be used for apparel or any other art project). They had flat backs, foiled backs AND pointed backs (looks like tiny little round diamonds) which is practically impossible to find. They are very open to ordering items that you may need. I had to order a very large amount of pointed backs for a wedding and the associate was more than happy to assist and I got my shipment in less than a week.
Great selection of chains: gold, silver, linked, heavy mail, etc. Also great selection of mesh metals for apparel or costumes.
I found a good number of tools that could be used to shape wires for jewelry, books that instruct you on how to create crafts such as bracelets or pendents, containers for your crafts, etc.
Workers are all Japanese as far as I can tell so don’t be shy if you want to ask them for advice or for special delivery items from Japan.

Wow, tons and tons of jewelry making products with a good price to boot. I like the fact that the store was BRIGHT. As in the lighting was good so I could really take a look at the stuff that I was going to buy. Afterall, jewelry making is about the details, so the lighting has to be on point.
The people are nice and friendly and ready to help you and I like how they have deals if you want to get more than just a few pieces. and you wanted like…75 pieces of something. haha

Great, organized store. Has a bunch of adorable charms that are hard to find and representative of the Japanese flair for kawaii. I bought these tiny golden lockets there and an enamel cake slice that I can’t imagine would be elsewhere.
Regarding the massive bitching about cut chain returns, maybe they should advise that it’s final sale. Oh wait, they have a huge sign! Would you go to your butcher and ask him if you could return ham slices? No, because that’s grody. Would you ask your server at a restaurant fifteen questions about a menu item, order it, observe it when it arrives and then ask them to substitute? No. Because that too is grody. It’s not Target here. Their rent is like $ 50,000 a month at that location and they’re selling things at a dollar apiece. Perspective please.

After shopping at Toho Shoji, all the other beads stores in NYC fell short. It’s a very well-​organized and well-​lit store (as expected of Japanese retail). They have a great stock of unique Japanese beads, charms and chain/​cord in many colours! However, the quantity of each bead style they carry is not a lot, so sorting through a pile to get the best/​newest looking piece may be futile.
Their second/​mid-​level floor boasts well packaged Swarovski crystal rhinestones. Everything is clearly labelled. But not every colour is available (try M&J Trimming’s rhinestone counter, one street down for that). Toho Shoji’s staff is helpful, and will let you browse as long as you wish. It can be difficult to get someone to assist you during peak hours (weekends and any day after 5pm, it seems).
Other products that may be of interest: Japanese jewellery making magazines, plain Japanese hair pins, rose gold chain styles and findings, a very small section of semi precious stones on the first floor wall (by the cashiers).
Some prices:
$ 0.15×1 — $ 0.35×1 (plastic/​acrylic beads)
$ 0.60 — $ 1.00×1 (Japanese beads with origami print, different sizes)
$ 3.00 — $ 3.50×1 (Clay Polymer/​Metal charms, some with rhinestones)
$ 2.00×4 (Filigree/​Findings caps), $ 2.50×12 (smaller findings)
If you can’t afford to shop here, it’s still a nice place to visit for inspiration!

On my continuous quest to create my own Jewerly for fun, I stopped by this store to look for some supplies and glad I did. They have a great selection of differnt chains here and always seem to have new arrivals of different styles. The chains here are also very reasonably priced compared to some of the surrounding stores I have checked out.
This store also has an entire level in the back section dedicated to swarovski crystals and such. The jewerly findings are also convieniently packaged in small little plastic bags that you can purchase. Toho Shoji and Bead center (across the street) is def my go to spot when looking for a huge selection of jewelry findings at a decent price.

I love this Japanese-​run store! The service here is outstanding. They really are very honest and try their best to help you however they can.
This place carries an amazing collection of unique beads and metal charms. They have everything I need and the quality and price is always fair and affordable. They recently added a second floor with tons of swarovski crystal beads!

I can’t believe I actually FORGOT to review this wonderful, magical place. Shame on me.
About three years ago, I ordered a pair of ridiculous Beverly Feldman silver sandals for my wedding from
. They were the very last pair and three of the little rhinestones were missing. I called Zappos, and the (always helpful) customer service rep suggested I glue new stones in and she gave me a $ 50 off coupon. Awesome.
I was at Beads of Paradise and the store owner told me to try Toho Shoji. I had to sprint there too, since they were about to close.
They were wonderful. I put my clean sandals on the counter and showed them the missing stone ‘holes’. The sales assoc. helped find the right size for me, picked out the tools I needed and it was inexpensive.
Must go for all your bead/​jewelry making supplies!

I disagree with what other people say about return policy vs. final cut chain. There’s a reason they don’t do it however they should .and this has happened to me… accept cut chain returns when they have wire connecting two pieces of a foot as if they broke their own rules before. I’ve bought chain where it was a foot but it was cut into 7 and 5 inches, held together by a wire wrap. Not good when I need to use it as a full foot. It’s happened to my friend too.
I’m a regular customer here and they carry findings that I can’t find elsewhere in the neighborhood. I am disappointed that they discontinued a couple of things I liked though. The only other disappointment I had is when they didn’t seem to know rhodium is anti-​tarnish. You should probably know about the metals you sell and which is why it lost a star. Other than that, they almost always have what I need, friendly service and I’d be at a loss for certain items if they ever closed. Also bonus — I like the fact the Swarovski is all on the upper level now, displayed where it’s easier to browse as opposed to up against a back wall.