Shopping and Activity advice needed - Phone, Camcorder, Projector -Akihabara?

[JoeMomma]

Hello all,

This is my first post. I'm travelling to Japan in the spring and am planning on touring the Akihabara district of Tokyo. I'm also in the market for a few high-end electronic items.

A prosumer camcorder - The Sony HVR-V1U or V1J
A HD projector - Epson EMP-TW1000
and a new Cell Phone, compatible with Cingular brand Sim Cards in the U.S.

The camcorder and projector will be available in the U.S. before I travel, but I understand that there are some really good deals to be had (better than the U.S.), if you know where to shop. Any suggestions on where to go, shopping protocol, taxes or duty fees would be very appreciated!

Also, my wife and I have never been to Japan before, and we're really looking forward to the trip. I've been saving for a year, so I really want to have some fun when I get there. I'm budget concience, but I'm not trying to do this trip totally on the cheap. Any suggestions for local (non-touristy) places/activities around Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are greatly appreciate. We're pretty adventurous and are up for almost anything
(within reason).

Thanks!

Joe

[yukio_michael]

The mobile phones available for sale in Japan as far as I know would only be compatible with systems opperating within Europe.

Other than that, I'm also reasonably sure that electronic devices like the ones you seek whould actually be more expensive in Japan, even if they are made there. This has been my general experience...

[JoeMomma]

That's interesting you've found prices to be more expensive. I did a quick search for panasonic camcorders and they seem to be running about $1200 less in Japan for top end products.

Joe

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

When you bought electronic machinery in Japan, a manual is Japanese.
When a machine broke down, I think that repair is difficult.

Sony HVR-V1J
The end of November, this year. It is to release it.
A hope price of a maker is 567,000 yen.
After release, I think that evaluation of an enthusiast is written in a site of here.
http://kakaku.com/bbs/Main.asp?PrdKey=20203010285

Epson EMP-TW1000
It is December, 2006 release day.
A price is 350,000 yen.
http://kakaku.com/item/00881510905/

A model of machines of other companies.

SANYO LP-Z1000
Hitachi Wooo-TX1000

[MeAndroo]

My experiences in Akihabara suggest yukio_michael and Hiroyuki's advice are pretty accurate. The cameras and electronic dictionaries I found there weren't any cheaper than I could get State-side, and all the buttons and manuals were in Japanese. I was able to haggle down my dictionary a bit, but I also had the fortune of having a Japanese buddy along solely for this reason. You might be able to find a deal, but I never did.

[ArmandV]

My experiences in Akihabara suggest yukio_michael and Hiroyuki's advice are pretty accurate. The cameras and electronic dictionaries I found there weren't any cheaper than I could get State-side, and all the buttons and manuals were in Japanese. I was able to haggle down my dictionary a bit, but I also had the fortune of having a Japanese buddy along solely for this reason. You might be able to find a deal, but I never did.

So all this talk over the years of Akihabara being the Mecca for discounted electronics is a myth? That is one section of Tokyo I've never been to.

[yukio_michael]

I compared my shopping in Akiba to the prices that I found on Newegg, and other stateside stores like CompUSA etc... I found that computer parts were generally no cheaper, and in a lot of cases more expensive, and of course the manuals are in Japanese...

By all means, I think you should go to Akihabara, it's a fun and interesting place, especially when they clear off all of the roads of cars for what they call, I think, "walker's paradise..."... There may be bargains to be found like MeAndroo mentioned, but not in the way people seem to expect.

The key to Akihabara is to buy things there that you can't buy other places... Things like SD-card mp3 players and that sort of thing...

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Akihabara shop links
http://www.kebab.co.jp/akibamap_en.html
http://www.e-akihabara.jp/en/index.htm

AUDIO VISUAL machinery specialty store
(Because there is an audition room, please try to compare machinery.)

AVAC
address: 3-14-9, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Yushima building 1F
TEL: 03-3837-9745
http://www.avac.co.jp/index.html

TEREON
address:1-3-11, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku
TEL: 03-3251-5535
http://www.tereon.co.jp/

Dynamic audio 5555
address:3-1-18, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku
TEL: 03 3253-5555
http://www.dynamicaudio.com/whats-dyna/5555.html

SOFMAP digital theater club
address: 3-11-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku Sofmap Building
TEL:03-3253-3663
http://www.sofmap.com/tenpo/shop/tokyo_13.htm

AUDIO VISUAL machinery specialty store MAP
http://audiomijinko.web.infoseek.co.jp/map/akibamap-2.html

[MeAndroo]

So all this talk over the years of Akihabara being the Mecca for discounted electronics is a myth? That is one section of Tokyo I've never been to.

Don't take my word as gospel, I'm just relaying my experiences. I found there to be a great variety of items in a fairly small area, and many vendors were willing to haggle. You can probably play them against one another if you're savvy enough (and have the Japanese to go with it). Just don't go in expecting swap meet prices for brand name goods.

[gaijinalways]

For parts Akihabara, has long been a good source for used and new (all my engineers tell me so). For electronic stuff, some high end Japanese stuff may be cheaper there, and they will give you an English manual (which you often have to pay extra for). If the product is sold with an international warranty, it's more likely to have an English manual (though often it is not well written, but readable).

For people who live here, my wife and I actually find Shinjuku or Ikebukuro cheaper and more convenient (to where we live) than Akihabara.

[Pachipro]

Hello Joe and welcome.

You will find that when you visit Akihabara, as well as Shinkuku and Ikebukuro as gaijinalways mentioned, that most of the electronics are the latest and state-of-the-art, whereas most of the electronics in the US are at least a year or more behind Japan and this includes phones! This has been my experience anyway and I think you will be surprised. For example they now have a DVR in Japan that allows you to record two programs at once while watching another and it can be programmed for two different people and is 300mb! Cannot find it in the US yet and that was 6 months ago that I saw it in Japan.

If you buy a DV Camcorder you can usually find the latest in the places listed above and it will usually be in English and tax-free. If you understand Japanese you can buy one in Japanese like I did with a DV Camcorder in Akihabara and they will have a manual in English. They will throw it in for free if you insist.

Also, be careful of the gaijin they have working the stores in Akihabara (it a well known tourist destination and can be a tourist trap if you're not careful) as they get paid on commission and will try to sell you at an inflated price. But you can bargain with them by telling them that the store down the street is selling it for much less.

The Sony mini-DV Camcorder I bought 6 years ago was not even available in the US until more than a year later and it was selling for about $200 more than I paid for it in Japan when it was brand spanking new! I also bargained the sales price down by 20,000 yen off listed sales price and they threw in the bag, another battery and the charger!

So there are bargains to be had if you shop around and bargain for the lowest price. Also, any electronics you buy like a camera and other small items, make sure you take them out of their boxes and such and use them. This way you can tell customs that they are used and you brought them to Japan with you.

Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

[JoeMomma]

Thanks Hiroyuki!
You're the second person to tell me AVAC. So I'll definitely take a look. I'll check out the rest too.

-Joe

Hello Joe and welcome.
For example they now have a DVR in Japan that allows you to record two programs at once while watching another and it can be programmed for two different people and is 300mb! Cannot find it in the US yet and that was 6 months ago that I saw it in Japan.

I have DirecTV and their 10-250 DVR for about a year now. It has the same ability you mention, record 2x and watch 1x all in HD. It was darn expensive when I became an early adopter, and now you can pick them up for around $300 after rebate.
Joe

[JoeMomma]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Please keep 'em coming if you have something to add.
Joe

[Dutch Baka]

...Any suggestions for local (non-touristy) places/activities around Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are greatly appreciate. We're pretty adventurous and are up for almost anything


Sammy's Ebisu Plaza is a fun place to Visit

Just have a look at this thread

http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18847

[JoeMomma]

I've been reading touristy books about Japan. And they all are saying that Shinjuku is now just as competitive with Akihabara with some kinds of electronics. Anyone have any recommendations for camcorder and projector shopping in Shinjuku?

Thanks!

Joe

[JoeMomma]

Dutch, thanks for the mentioning Sammy's Ebisu Plaza! I will definitely check it out.

As a Tiger's fan, can you recommend anywhere outside the stadium to pick up a team jersey or hat? If I'm lucky enough to be in Osaka during a game, I'm going to try to find a Tiger's bar/izakaya. I understand it can be quite an experience.

Best,

Joe

[Ewok85]

Akihabara has alot of smaller shops that sell at prices that you get off the internet. Any shop within 500m of the station, or is a major name (Yodobashi, LAOX, Sato Musen) is going to be expensive, more so in Akihabara. For bigname stuff I buy from Ueno or Ikebukuro, even within the same chain (Yodobashi) the items are cheaper at branches other than Akihabara.

For example a friend wanted a high end camera - about 250,000 yen from the big name places. I found a smaller shop in Akihabara (about a 10min walk from the station) that was selling it at 170,000.

Its still a mecca, but some Japanese skill, map reading ability and local knowledge is required.

[Damicci]

Depending if the keitai supports the proper bands in the us. No Docomo keitai can be use din the us b/c the signal it uses it not supported in the us. Vodafone s are normally the ones purchased and used in other countries.

One thing about using these phones is they need to be unlocked to work with any companies sim card. Search the internet you'll find alot of information about unlocking your phone. If you bought some thing extremely new there is a chance it will have not been unlocked yet. Also it may take few tries at getting the mms wap and things setup but depending on the phone it is possible.

I am using a Toshiba 902t and works for everything except I can't send emails from my phone only sms text.

Good luck.