Tamiya tools and modeling supplies, as opposed to their models, seem to have spotty distribution in local hobby shops. Several times I've tried to order Tamiya items through my LHS: I see an item online or whatever, I take the printout to the LHS, they search through all their suppliers' catalogs with me present, and the item is not to be found in the U.S. wholesale channel! Some items, such as Tamiya's build-it-yourself drill and router kits, I've had to import directly from Japan or Hong Kong!
I strongly second Ed Grune's idea to forage for tools and supplies in non-hobby shops. Not only do the items tend to be much cheaper, but the quality is or can be made similar. If you're handy with files and/or diamond hones, you can turn a pair of cheapoid wirecutters into the very finest sprue-nippers imaginable.
You might want to add beauty shops to the list for abrasives, cutters and fiddly bits for scratchbuilding. Silver- or gold-plate chains for a six year old's jewelry box make good anchor chains, for instance.