Grand Seiko First at Kyotoya in Otsu, Japan

Sometimes the best watch finds aren’t in the middle of Tokyo, Osaka or even in downtown Kyoto; they’re just a little further off the beaten path.

After days of exploring Japan’s incredible vintage watch scene, I made the journey to Otsu, on the shores of beautiful Lake Biwa, to visit Kyotoya, a long-established watch dealer that has earned an excellent reputation among collectors worldwide. The company has been in business since 1951, known principally as a pawnshop, offering cash to those in need for watches, it has become well known internationally through its extensive presence on Chrono24 and its careful curation of vintage Japanese and Swiss watches.

What immediately struck me wasn’t just the watch I had come to see—it was the sheer breadth of the collection. Display case after display case was filled with vintage Grand Seikos, King Seikos, Rolex, Omega, and countless other interesting pieces. For anyone who enjoys browsing historic watches, it’s the sort of place where an hour quickly becomes two.

I’d first discovered the watch through one of Kyotoyo’s blog articles, which documents many of the exceptional pieces that pass through the store. It’s a fantastic resource for collectors because it provides detailed photographs and historical information about vintage Japanese watches, even after they’re sold.

You can browse their archive here:

Kyotoya Watch Blog

The watch waiting for me was something special: the first ever Grand Seiko made, reference J14070, powered by the legendary manually wound Calibre 3180.

Released in 1960, the J14070 wasn’t simply Grand Seiko’s first watch—it represented Seiko’s declaration that Japan could produce a world-class chronometer capable of competing with the finest Swiss manufacturers. The calibre 3180 passed Seiko’s own chronometer testing standards and established many of the principles that still define Grand Seiko today: precision, legibility, understated elegance and exceptional finishing.

Buying a sixty-year-old watch always comes with a mixture of excitement and caution. Kyotoyo made that process much easier. The staff were welcoming, happy to answer questions, and even placed the watch on a timegrapher so I could evaluate its performance before making my decision. That level of transparency is exactly what collectors hope for when purchasing vintage pieces.

The movement showed healthy performance for a watch of its age, and after inspecting the dial, case, movement, and overall originality, I knew this was the example I’d been searching for.

Walking out of the shop wearing the very first Grand Seiko felt like carrying a small piece of Japanese horological history. It extended my lineage story since I had earlier in the trip acquired the 62GS which was the first automatic of the Grand Seiko like 6 years after the J14070 made its debut.

Japan offers no shortage of excellent vintage watch stores, but Kyotoyo stands out for a few reasons:

• A remarkably deep inventory that extends well beyond what is listed online.

• A long-established reputation as a trusted Chrono24 dealer.

• Detailed historical blog posts documenting many of the rare watches they handle.

• Friendly, knowledgeable service with a collector-first approach.

  
  

If your own watch journey brings you anywhere near Kyoto, don’t overlook nearby Otsu on the shores of Lake Biwa. The short trip is more than worthwhile, especially if vintage Grand Seikos are on your wish list.

WatchTravel Verdict for Kyotoya

⭐ Selection: 9/10

 ⭐ Service: 9/10

 ⭐ Value: 9.5/10

 ⭐ Collector Appeal: 10/10

For me, it became another one of the highlights of my Japan watch hunt—and the place where I finally found the watch that started the Grand Seiko story.