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Visiting Japan from UK - Spending Spree Advice Required!

M

Mesut Ozil

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 2, 2013
7
1
Evening all,

I'm visiting Japan in a couple of weeks and was considering purchasing an iphone 6 and a 15" Retina Macbook Pro. There's a bit of a saving on the UK prices.

Any tips or advice?

Points to note:

- I can get the education discount in the UK :)

- I know it might be difficult/impossible to get a UK keyboard

- I'm aware that there might be LTE issues but I would REALLY like some clarification on this. https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ shows all the countries and bands but I still can't tell if I'm going to have issues with a Japanese iphone in the UK....:confused:
 
iPhone 6 should be perfectly fine back here. As for the MacBook a friend managed to get an American layout in China last month. Suppose you'll have to shop around.
 
Gav2k said:
iPhone 6 should be perfectly fine back here. As for the MacBook a friend managed to get an American layout in China last month. Suppose you'll have to shop around.
Click to expand...

Nice one. If I'm saving a few £££, I'd gladly take a US keyboard layout....
 
I bought my Mac mini in Japan (no keyboard issues there!). One thing I noted: Without a Japanese address/account, it seems to be impossible to preorder hardware, and you basically have to take what they have at the store. If you plan to customize your MacBook, I suggest to get a friend or colleague from Japan to preorder for you online (you can then fetch it in the store).
 
Do you care about the ability to turn off the sound when you use a camera?

Japan by law requires cell phones to make the shutter noise when you take a pic. I do not know about the UK but I know on the US release phones you can turn this noise off. Its a minor thing but just giving the heads up with a JDM phone you cannot turn off the noise.

Long story short for this is they enforce the sound to discourage some creative photography to put it as mild and pg as I can by the preverts on say trains.
 
Is it really any cheaper than buying at the tax free stores in UK before you go (for the laptop at least)? I visited the Apple store in Ginza when I was there (albeit a little while ago) and prices weren't that special.

Happy shopping :)

..and as for the p*rverts they have all kinds of crazy stuff to spoil their fun. Separate sections on the subway were the funniest - pink zone is ladies only in peak times as some gentlemen can't keep hands to themselves when it's crowded - crazy (but amazing) place!
 
In Japan the MBP US key is a special order only available from Apple online store, occasionally one might popup in Akihabara district but usually they are special order refurbs with 1TB flash drives for example. There have been no US key refurbs for over a year from Apple Japan online. Apple is increasing prices on all its products recently along with J tax to 8% (soon to be 10%). Macbook pros are up about 30% from pre May prices. You might be able to score one on Yahoo auctions but you will need contact with Japanese skills, an auction account and J bank account/address.
Conclusion a) : get one in the US, plenty of choice for refurbs as well. Also check out what MSI are doing with notebooks in the US. The GTX 970M says it all over Apples 3rd level graphics.
I'm in Japan for work but will fly to the US for the price / choice available there.
 
Some fantastic info here. Thanks for all the replies.

15" rMBP - It sounds as though it might be difficult to get the US keyboard and there might not be a significant saving, anyway.

iPhone 6 - I'm not a pervert but thanks for the camera shutter info, certainly had me chuckling :D

I envisaged arriving back in the UK laden with Apple products but this is what I might actually do:

- Buy a 15" rMBP from the UK store using student discount (maybe wait for BTS offers)

- Buy a pervert-friendly iPhone 6 from eBay UK

For guidance:

Standard UK prices:

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB = £699

15" rMBP (intel graphics) = £1599

Student Discount UK prices:

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB = £699

15" rMBP (intel graphics) = £1359

Standard Japan prices:

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB = £586 (110,800 Yen - ex tax)

15" rMBP (intel graphics) = £1189 (224,800 Yen - ex tax)

I believe sales tax is currently 8% in Japan (rising to 10% in October) but if you show your passport, you do not need to pay it.
 
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