where to buy sanshin in Chiba?

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a sanshin (Okinawan banjo) in Chiba pref?
Needs to be artificial snakeskin as real snakeskin won't be allowed through Quarantine in my country.

I don't know about Chiba, but here is an online store (Japanese) that sells sanshin with artificial skins:

http://www.sansinya.com/

and here (English):

http://www.asovivasanshin.com/traditional.html

They are located in Okinawa, also.

but I was really wanting to purchase one whilst in Japan - only have 1 week and will be in Chiba ( around Sakura city).

Is it usual for musical instrument stores to sell sanshin?

It's not usual for stores to have sanshin.

I'd guess that most shop staff will wonder what you are talking about when you ask for a sanshin.

I recommend you buy one online from Okinawa and have it shipped to wherever you are staying. Just confirm that they can ship it immediately.

Shipping from Okinawa only takes 2 days to Tokyo.

For what it's worth I bought a sanshin about a week ago on yahoo aucions. I scoured Tokyo music stores for one, nobody has them. Okinawas where it's at.

Or get a shamisen, more money but many music shops have them