If you were in Japan, what would you buy?

[spintheblackcircle]

My GF is in Japan (Tokyo and other spots), as well as heading to Hong Kong later.

Anything of interest that she should be looking for for me? I know cell phones don't work here (that's my main tech habit). I'm not a camera guy or a portable media/gaming guy...

Anything else?

[Arctan]

I went with high hopes to Akihabara, the electronics district in Tokyo, a few years back.

It was disappointing. Everything was full price. There was no concept of a sale. I went looking for a megazoom camera, and it was way cheaper in Canada, and even less in the US.

Maybe you can get some nice Seiko watches or something?

[craftsman]

I was in Japan last week...

I ended up getting something that I couldn't find here... a Turbo USB media card reader for 1,700 yen. It's 3x faster than what I had been using.

[chinese zzz]

How about some favorite album music ... ?? :?:

Some of my favorite music can't even find it online ... :cry: Only their country has it .. :|

[Ironsmack]

- A Galant VR4
- Evo 6 Tommy Makkinen Edition
- A Mitsubishi starion
- A skyline R34
- All the OEM parts the cars above

... er wait, we talking about anything or gadgets?

Gadgets - can't think of anything.

[startoss]

You will have better luck in Hong Kong.

[Arrgh]

Dried seaweed. Wasabi (powder). Green tea.

For camera/videos, prices are better in Hong Kong, or New York city.

Some high end baseball gloves.

Japanese wives are usually very hard working, quiet, and obedient. It's changing though. Most Japanese men drink too much, take Japanese women for granted, expect too much out of them... Ok, that's not what you're shopping for, but it's Japan.

[Aristophanes]

Japanese wives are usually very hard working, quiet, and obedient. It's changing though. Most Japanese men drink too much, take Japanese women for granted, expect too much out of them... Ok, that's not what you're shopping for, but it's Japan.

:facepalm:

[MoonDoggy]

Depends on what area you're looking to buy.

I like Uniqlo clothes cause it's nice but also cheap. Also, their alcohol is cheap because of the tax. Electronics isn't that great but you can always browse Yodabashi for gadgets if you're in need of something. It's not that much different in price than here.

[SambaJane]

If I were in Japan I want to buy electronic gadgets there. I heard it’s half price there. :)

[komodor]

A japanese keyboard. Impossible to find here!

[IceBlueShoes]

Japanese wives are usually very hard working, quiet, and obedient. It's changing though. Most Japanese men drink too much, take Japanese women for granted, expect too much out of them... Ok, that's not what you're shopping for, but it's Japan.

Sounds like a robot slave...

Anyways, I would get a sword. :)
Would love to have 1 over my mantle and fake fireplace. lol

[whampoa]

Japanese wives are usually very hard working, quiet, and obedient. It's changing though. Most Japanese men drink too much, take Japanese women for granted, expect too much out of them... Ok, that's not what you're shopping for, but it's Japan.

It's all true, if you don't want any children.

People told me, woman in Japan don't produce a lot of children, if at all.

Maybe it's the air, water or whatever.

[Timewaster]

I would buy radiation protection if I had to be in Japan. The Fukushima disaster is spreading and parts of Tokyo may be abandoned due to high levels of radioactivity. This is a story that hasn't been in the news lately but it is still an on-going catastrophe that will change Japan forever.

[nogoro]

If I were in Japan I want to buy electronic gadgets there. I heard it’s half price there. :)

Canadian dollar was as high as 120 yen back in 2007, now just 77. There are no deals to be had, just gadgets that are only sold there and not here. That said, many things can now be bought off ebay, and there are middlemen who can buy things there and ship over. Perhaps you would benefit when you buy $700+ of stuff and benefit from the customs exemption...

[rageking]

It's all true, if you don't want any children.

People told me, woman in Japan don't produce a lot of children, if at all.

Maybe it's the air, water or whatever.


I think that's due to a very hostile work and home environment. To get into a public child care facility they have to wait 8 months or longer on a list, and I heard that the parents and child have to attend some assessment test to ensure the kid will fit in. Private child care facilities are crazy expensive. With both parents working due to the high cost of living there, it makes for one hell of a disincentive to have children.

With foreign workers pulling out of tokyo and moving to osaka or another asian country, this might situation might improve for Tokyo.

[scoobydoo]

See if she'll buy you used underwear from a vending machine.

[slowtyper]

Dried seaweed. Wasabi (powder). Green tea.


Why would you buy wasabi powder in japan? Same stuff you can get here or HK. I'll be buying real wasabi root.

Funny original post, I'm going to Japan by myself then going to HK together with my gf...other way around. If the other way, she wants me to pick up some japanese cosmetics but since I don't really know what I"m buying she'll just get it in HK.


I like Uniqlo clothes cause it's nice but also cheap.
I think it will be cheaper to buy uniqlo in HK. Even if prices are the same at least you don't pay the 5% tax in Japan (I think its 5). I also like Uniqlo.

I'll be picking up some knives and a bunch of japanese kitchen stuff and wasabi root but if you aren't into that stuff then I wouldn't really ask for anything.

[dragon_drift]

can you buy authentic samurai swords in japan?

[slowtyper]

can you buy authentic samurai swords in japan?

I have no idea but if they did, it would be in the high thousands $$$ minimum. (okay exaggeration, you could probably get some lower end ones for low thousands).

[Steevie977]

can you buy authentic samurai swords in japan?

The thing about the REAL samurai swords is they can be very expensive. You can check out this website ( http://www.japaneseswords4samurai.com/shop-samurai-swords.php?CatID=3 ) for general prices but these swords are most likely mass produced. If you would want a real genuine, one of a kind, hand made katana with your name carved in the blade with kanji and katakana letters the price would be a couple of thousand dollars. (I'm kind of a Japanese buff myself so I know a thing or two about this kind of stuff :razz: )

[Steevie977]

I would buy my very own pair of chopsticks. :D I am actually hoping I'll get a chance to travel to Japan some time next year so... fingers crossed.

[ILT]

I had to buy a traditional Japanese clothes "kimono" and of course brilliant quality of bottle of Saké :)

[mkjr]

rare japanese single malt's. almost impossible to find outside of japan. in fact, you can get some 25 year old Canadian Club single malts that are made in Canada but 100% of the stuff is exported to Japan and you can not even buy the stuff here...or sneak into the JAL F lounge and try some...

agreed, electronics did not seem to be a great deal although some SD cards with pretty high GB's were better deals than here.

dual layer blank 50GB BD discs are very cheap as i recall...in fact, most of the ones for sale on ebay come from sellers in japan.

as to a katana, better left to places like these to buy the real mccoy...instead of some overpriced replica made last week...

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/an-edo-katana-unsigned-attributed-to-masao/5205401/lot/lot_details.aspx?pos=6&intObjectID=5205401&sid=&page=7

depending on the era you can get them for sub 2000 depending on the quality etc....some, well they can get up there depending on who made them, time period, who it was made for etc.

[hahn]

-certain japanese label clothing which are impossible to find here. julius, mastermind, soloist etc.
-japanese magazines or books
-model kits you would have a hard time finding here. e.g. gundam, certain cars
-japanese game titles for your gaming system
-japanese itunes giftcard to buy japanese music on itunes-japan (not sure if this still works)

[shybutsly]

It's slightly off of the topic, but what I wish I could have bought in Japan was furniture from the store LOFT. I bought a few paper goods and other nick-nacks from there, but I fell in love with their furniture. It just would have been too much of a hassle to get it sent back.

What would I buy if I went there again? Last time I was through I saw a magazine that was actually a kit to make your own twin lens camera. I really should have bought that, but I was at the tail end of a vacation where I had already spent a lot so I got cheap towards the end.

[bloodr0se]

I went with high hopes to Akihabara, the electronics district in Tokyo, a few years back.

It was disappointing. Everything was full price. There was no concept of a sale. I went looking for a megazoom camera, and it was way cheaper in Canada, and even less in the US.

Maybe you can get some nice Seiko watches or something?

Akihabara is great but you have to be willing to go off the beaten path a little, down the back streets, because second hand games, DVD's, and accessories are technicially illegal in Japan so most of the retailers on the main strip don't sell them and you also need to know a little of the local language too because although Japanese store clerks would never take advantage of a foreigner's ignorace by ripping them off, they will not bend over backwards to speak in English with you either and that's if they do actually know any English at all.

[bloodr0se]

It's slightly off of the topic, but what I wish I could have bought in Japan was furniture from the store LOFT. I bought a few paper goods and other nick-nacks from there, but I fell in love with their furniture. It just would have been too much of a hassle to get it sent back.

What would I buy if I went there again? Last time I was through I saw a magazine that was actually a kit to make your own twin lens camera. I really should have bought that, but I was at the tail end of a vacation where I had already spent a lot so I got cheap towards the end.

+1

Agreed LoFT is awesome, LoFT, Uni-Qlo and Muji are 3 of the things that my girlfriend and I miss the most.

[SnoopDop]

Japanese wives are usually very hard working, quiet, and obedient. It's changing though. Most Japanese men drink too much, take Japanese women for granted, expect too much out of them... Ok, that's not what you're shopping for, but it's Japan.
I wouldn't mind a Japanese wife.

[cosmica76]

If I were in Japan, I bought a lot of traditional Japanese souvenirs, i.e. foods, saké, enters to museum and something similar.

[Steevie977]

I had to buy a traditional Japanese clothes "kimono" and of course brilliant quality of bottle of Saké :)

Ah yes Saké, I would definitely buy me one of those! =D

[RealEst8]

What would i buy? FOOD! Japan itself is fun. Even if you don't intend on buying anything, their restaurants are amazing. I'm not talking about Sushi, but just everything in general is so much better and the service is top notch. Pasta, Korean food, hamburgers, etc. everything is made and served with genuine service unlike the typical North American waitress attitude.

[FTO]

What would i buy? FOOD! Japan itself is fun. Even if you don't intend on buying anything, their restaurants are amazing. I'm not talking about Sushi, but just everything in general is so much better and the service is top notch. Pasta, Korean food, hamburgers, etc. everything is made and served with genuine service unlike the typical North American waitress attitude.

^+1


I bought some clothes, but they are mostly expensive.

I guess me and my brother are the only weirdos here...My brother is a huge Transformers fan and ended up filling his luggage with rare Transformers (new/used) toys. Not to mention that they are cheaper than buying elsewhere!

I myself filled my own luggage with quite a few anime/game figures (new/used)...no, not Hentai ones...again far cheaper than buying here or online! Plus I found a few rare figures that I missed out on...:o

[Steevie977]

What would i buy? FOOD! Japan itself is fun. Even if you don't intend on buying anything, their restaurants are amazing. I'm not talking about Sushi, but just everything in general is so much better and the service is top notch. Pasta, Korean food, hamburgers, etc. everything is made and served with genuine service unlike the typical North American waitress attitude.

They have all sorts of different shaped watermelons which I find kind of amusing. :)