my Panerai goes Tokyo

[yattokame]

I agree totally.... very polite ppl, very well manners, very disciplined.
Smokers goes to a corner to smoke and have their own portable ash trays to throw the cid butts.
Sales personnel alw put on a wide grin. D
iners cleared their own left over dishes & trays.
When u knocked into someone, the japs are alw eagerly to apologise even is not their fault.
I love their bows when they said thank you.
The japs are known to be very honest too.
Great place to visit and see see. Is already my 5th trip to Japan and still looking fwd to.... haha

Not forgetting they hold your shopping bag after you've paid, until you leave the shop. At the exit they will bow 90degrees until you are out of sight.

Well.... honesty depends on which perspective.

I really love the queueing part. No barriers, staff needed. They just queue up nicely (until the chinese tourists comes in).

They will NEVER reject you or say no to your face; but always tell you "it is difficult" with a slightly tilted head and a troubled expression, and a quick suck of breath. At that point you should not push it, but just tell them it is okay, and sorry for the trouble. You can still insist on it by holding a deep bow and saying in a louder tone "Onegai!!!".

When's your next trip? We can go to Jackroad etc together.

[watchpassionist]

Great pics!

Care to share what's the pricing for watches and luxury goods (that LV boutique you visited) like compared to Singapore? No tax rebate right?

I think most luxurious brands adopted this practises...they have 2 prices. One for local and the other cheaper for the tourists with passport. Think is only 5% lesser. No need trouble go airport claim tax rebates anymore. Lv Tokyo price is more ex than Sin we compared.

The outlet mall at Gotemba is bigger,has got more branded goods like bulberry, blvgari, ysl, prada, coach, Oakley, etc and is cheaper than city but is a little far out near 2 hours journey but you can kill 2 birds with one arrow by shopping there and view the Mt Fuji at a close distance. No need spend extra $$$ and time to visit 2 places.
Grandberry mall only have branded american sport brands no gucci, prada, LV, coach etc
In Ginza and Omotesando, prices are cheaper compared to Sin for certain models and brands but not all. So need to do homework 1st before u buy in Tokyo.

[watchpassionist]

some luxury outlets have 5% tax rebate for purchases above 10,000 yen. Some are on-the-spot discount, while some are jap yen cash return at their tax-return counter (either in the shop or at the airport).

Just produce your passport and ask for "menzei"(免税). Or "Gai-kokku-jin desu. Menzei?" (foreigner. tax free?).

As for the pricing, the exchange rate is kind of high to enjoy any bargains, and some are even costlier. But I had a good time a few years back when the exchange rate was SGD1.27 per 100 yen. It's around 1.55 lately.

Bro you are right...the exchange rate is around $100 to YEN 6370 that works out to 1.55/100yen now.

[watchpassionist]

Great pic you have took! Been to the same places in Tokyo from the last two weeks and visited the Officine Panerai Boutique too...

I've checked the prices there (both watches and luxury goods) and it's slightly higher compared to Singapore even though after tax refund...

Thanks bro, you are right. The strong Yen and exchange rate is high compared years back, so prices in Japan is not so competitive to ours. But they do have more varieties and models esp my wife like the burberry blue & black label exclusive to Japan and London only.

Any pam photos you took can share share also la.

[watchpassionist]

Thanks guys for the info. Possibly going to Tokyo soon and was hoping to shop (maybe check out Grand Seikos), but guess that's a poor idea with the exchange rate where it is.

I got my exchange rate at Bras Basah, quite good last week. Sgd 1000 to Yen 63700. U can take this as a basic guide line to exchange the Yen.. enjoy your trip bro.

[watchpassionist]

Thanks for sharing...be at tokyo next week

Thks bro Feilong, my mind still fresh with the fond memories in tokyo, so if you r going there and need any tips do pm me.

[Seventh Son]

Very nice pics. Thanks for sharing

[feilong108]

hehehe...same situation with you..going with ladies from my family...wife,mum,sis...so i think not much watch hunting time...plus 1st time heading there....dun really dare to venture far alone...in case got the local punks..aka yakuzas

[watchpassionist]

Not forgetting they hold your shopping bag after you've paid, until you leave the shop. At the exit they will bow 90degrees until you are out of sight.

Well.... honesty depends on which perspective.

I really love the queueing part. No barriers, staff needed. They just queue up nicely (until the chinese tourists comes in).

They will NEVER reject you or say no to your face; but always tell you "it is difficult" with a slightly tilted head and a troubled expression, and a quick suck of breath. At that point you should not push it, but just tell them it is okay, and sorry for the trouble. You can still insist on it by holding a deep bow and saying in a louder tone "Onegai!!!".

When's your next trip? We can go to Jackroad etc together.

Yes yes... they did do that. Holding the shopping bags to the doorstep when we will at the prada shops, fantastic svc.
And also the pretty young lady sales girl in disneyland where my wife bought a pair of winter shoes for less than sgd $30, the girl kneeled and assist to put on the shoes on my wife feet. Superb svc.

Yes we shd ask bro Kuchingu along too....hehe. He knows the place well cos i've never been there.

[Oceanklassik]

Tx for sharing such wonderful experiences with us. The trip must have been exhilarating

But seriously, you brought two PAMs for travel?

[watchpassionist]

Tx for sharing such wonderful experiences with us. The trip must have been exhilarating

But seriously, you brought two PAMs for travel?

thks bro Ocean, One on my wrist and the other Pam on my wife lor. hehe...

[watchpassionist]

hehehe...same situation with you..going with ladies from my family...wife,mum,sis...so i think not much watch hunting time...plus 1st time heading there....dun really dare to venture far alone...in case got the local punks..aka yakuzas

If you travel by tour groups is ok. If like me alw own time own target than the only think you need to worry is the complicated rails and subway lines. Take a map from the counter, alw check the colour coded subway lines travelling to your destinations. One important point to note is also the exits. Wrong exit will make you walk far far away from where u want go.

As for the Yakusas.... think they are very friendly to tourists as long dun step on their precious pointed 70's dancing shoes...haha
They are normally around those red light districts and pachinko atriums so guess you n me no chance go visit there.
Do it officially like me, go Shibuya main station and look out for a tall building 109. Inside are plentiful of ladies fashions, products, clothings your wife will like to see. You spend time looking at Kawaii lor.

[feilong108]

Thanks for the kind advice Bro watchpassionist...hehehehe

[watchpassionist]

Very nice pics. Thanks for sharing

Thks bro. hope you all like the photos. Actually have more but later the mods ban me for taking too much their space..... hehe

[watchpassionist]

If you travel by tour groups is ok. If like me alw own time own target than the only think you need to worry is the complicated rails and subway lines. Take a map from the counter, alw check the colour coded subway lines travelling to your destinations. One important point to note is also the exits. Wrong exit will make you walk far far away from where u want go.

As for the Yakusas.... think they are very friendly to tourists as long dun step on their precious pointed 70's dancing shoes...haha
They are normally around those red light districts and pachinko atriums so guess you n me no chance go visit there.
Do it officially like me, go Shibuya main station and look out for a tall building 109. Inside are plentiful of ladies fashions, products, clothings your wife will like to see. You spend time looking at Kawaii lor.

The man in leopard preens was the ta ge ta, when he arrived, all the elvis presley 'look alikes' from 3 different groups bowed 90 degree to him to show respect, he has got a VIP chair and when he danced, only the centre sections reserved for him only. when he changed to a denim jacket, the tatoons on him can imagine la.