Felicia

I have a rather dumb question, I suppose. I would like to buy some innovative, cutting edge electronics while in Japan that one cannot find here in the US. However, I am not sure what I should avoid due to frequency differences. I am aware of electrical differences, of course, but had heard that one cannot buy a cell phone because of the different frequency in Japan, so it will not work in the US. What about other items? Is there some key to this buying?

Hanuman

Cell Phone. Japan uses 1500 system, not compatible with the US.<BR><BR>Radio. Japan FM frequency is from 75 mhz to 90 mhz only(I think). You will only be able to pick up a few station in the US.<BR><BR>TV, DVD & Video. Japan and US use the same system - NTSC as well as voltage(the same).<BR><BR>Computer. Same with exception that all if not most computers sold in Japan will come equipped with Japanese as the main language.<BR><BR>Language will be your biggest drawback. I have a fance high tech Japanese fishing reels with digital line counter read out which is great but it's all in Japanese!<BR><BR><BR>

Alec

There are several points to consider when buying electronic equipment in Japan.<BR>1. Most models on sale there are designed for domestic use only. Warranty cover is valid only in Japan. Perhaps it doesn't matter for a small, inexpensive item, but for complicated leading-edge techno stuff like digicams and digi-camcorders, there's a risk. For digicams, for example, even if the instruction is available is English, the accompanying software is likely to be in Japanese only (for installing on Japanese Win or Mac). Sometimes you can download suitable software from the manufacturers' US sites.<BR>2. Many large retailers have duty-free/export department, but I found no bargains and choice was quite limited. You'd be better off getting from on-line retailers in US, esp in view of recent weakness of US dollar against the yen.<BR>3. Whether you buy duty-free (you only save the 5% consumption tax) or not, you are supposed to declare your purchase at customs and pay duty when importing into US.<BR>4. As already stated, most Japanese cellphones are currently incompatible with any system in use outside of Japan. Pity, as they are light, stylish and packed with features unavailable elsewhere (like face-to-face talk with imbedded digicam). The new generation 3G phones will, in time, be useable in certain parts of the world.<BR>

Felicia

I saw a really neat looking cell phone which also had fax capabilities and it was as tiny as our cell phones are here. But of course, I cannot use it here. Damn! <BR>Thanks for your replies. Seems I'll have to just forget the idea of buying something different.<BR>Felicia

w

Felicia<BR><BR>If you go to Akihabara there are some stores like LAOX and YAMAGIWA which have export departments - that is, products which are made for use outside of Japan. Take your passport and you can avoid paying consumption tax.