Shopping Electronics
 

What are the major cameras and electronics stores in Tokyo, Japan. I am sure that they have stores similar to Circuit City, Best Buy, and The Good Guys we have here in the USA. I would appreciate your comment. Thanks. Peter

One word: Akihabara. <BR> <BR>It is the "electronics district" of Tokyo. Virtually every store in Akihabara specializes in cameras, camcorders, televisions, etc.

For everything electrical, Akihabara, sure. For cameras, Yodobashi and Sakura or Doi in Shinjuku are more specialised and there are at least two good specialists in (second hand) Nikon parts on Ginza, one of them not far from Sony building (that you should visit for a look and a try of all their new stuff - and sometimes for a better bargain than in Akihabara). <BR> <BR>For last minute shopping, I've found good deals in Narita airport shopping gallery, but they are generally more expensive than downtown. <BR>

The big electronic stores in Akihabara usually have a floor for duty-free export items. I don't know where you are from, but for the US the plug and voltage for an item bought in Japan would not be compatable. The duty free area will sell items with US plugs and voltage for export. Remember to bring your passport for the duty reduction. <BR> <BR> That being said, it may not be the cheapest purchase in the duty-free area. I bought my Sony CD player from the non-export section and it was cheaper, but the directions were in Japanese. I also had to buy a step-down transformer to use the battery recharger in US. Overally the item was comperable in cost to the item I could buy in US. However, the quality of the Japanese model was better, all metal construction versus a mostly plastic model in US, plus the CD player had the built-in rechargable batteries and other features that are not common in US. So I didn't save any money, but i got a better product. The fun shopping experience and the memories of the purchase, plus the fact I could use the player during the time I was in Japan was worth the effort. <BR> <BR>Do not expect great savings, but I did not check out the cameras. <BR> <BR>Florence can you give me the name of the second-hand camera store in Ginza? I have a Nikon, and that may come in handy some day.

At your service Leo: <BR> <BR>From: http://photojpn.org/DIR/vendors.html <BR>"a list of most of the major discount camera retailers and services in Tokyo." <BR> <BR>Nikon House (Sukiya Camera) <BR>Ginza 4-2-13 <BR>Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104 <BR>Tel: (03) 3561-6000 <BR>Store is at a prominent street corner in Ginza. Used Nikon equipment. Mail orders not accepted. <BR> <BR>Camera Nihonbashi <BR>Nihonbashi 1-2-8 <BR>Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103 <BR>Tel: (03) 3271-2761 <BR>Fax: (03) 3271-4989 <BR>Closed Sun., holidays <BR>Near Nihonbashi subway station. A lot of Nikon equipment. You can trade in your old equipment for new equipment. Trade in an F4 and pay 223,000 yen to get a new F5. <BR>

Peter, <BR> <BR>A list of duty free Akihabara shops is at www.akiba.or.jp/english/duty.html.