My wife and I have an overnight stay in Narita in April. I am wondering if anyone can suggest whether there might be goods that we can buy there which represent good value or perhaps would be unavailable in Australia. We thought we might buy a watch there but have no idea whether it is dearer to shop in Japan as opposed to Australia. Any ideas would be most welcome.

It is likely the same or more to buy a watch in Japan. Local market goods might be cheaper, but warranty will be valid only in Japan. Electronics, cameras etc. for international sale with international warranty are priced higher, ever after the tax rebate.

Depending on how much time you have in Narita, there is an Aeon/Jusco shopping center you could explore (most if not all goods local rather than international), as well as Narita-san (temple) and Boso no Mura, and Edo period open air museum.

Umeshu or plum wine. It's beautiful and also looks good with the plums at the bottom. It may be sold here in Oz (yet to come across it) but it would be much cheaper in Japan.

when i shop in narita, i always buy a bottle of tsukudani. its less than U$5/bottle, and is so much better than comparables that i can buy here in hi.

it has less salt content, and you can really see the nori as you dip it in your ochazuke.

i discovered the tsukudani on one of my trips into narita. there was a line of japanese women in front of this store, so i stopped to see what they were buying. there were buying this bottle of seasoned nori, so i bought one, took it home, and have been hooked ever since.

mix it with natto, wow!

Thank you so much everyone!

I love the Yoku Moku cookies and biscuits. The selection is not as good as those found in the dept stores food halls. At the departure area they are tax free though.

ozrick,

I usually try to pick up sake. Make sure you only buy at duty-free (ie after security check) because of the restriction on liquid in hand luggage. I tend to like the ones that come in smaller bottlers, esp the ones in chilled cases, often plain rather than the one with gaudy/touristy decorated bottles.

Otherwise, I found most merchandise at Narita airport to be on tourist/tchochki-ish. They have a smallish branch of Oriental Market, but who really needs polyester kimonos anyway?

As others mentioned, I wouldn't bother with watches or similar electronic items.

Since Japan has one of the lowest sales tax (5% currently?) buying duty-free or at Narita proper won't make much difference (of course with the exception of liquid).

If you're staying closer to Narita city, and planning to visit local supermarket, I personally find locally-sold Nori to be of superior quality than the ones I find overseas.

I always shop with my stomach so I like the packaged dry goods such as the dried squid or fish,iso peanuts,arare,rice crackers, etc. All are so nicely packaged to keep for a while.

kuranosuke, how come you never told me about the tsukudani? Linda loves her rice and tea. TAKE the points!

Aloha!