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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Kerosene on Sat, 23 May 2009, 19:32:24

Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: Kerosene on Sat, 23 May 2009, 19:32:24
Hi guys,

a friend of mine is heading to Japan in a week or so. He will be staying at least a month (not sure where exactly), is decent with the language to begin with, and can likely recruit his local friends to help if there's a communication problem.

I'm considering asking him to bring back kb stuff. Not quite decided on the specifics yet, but something like a Realforce 87U, a roof and a Filco bluetooth keypad would not be out of the question. I'm inside the EU, so it's almost physically painful to ship in anything from outside EU, with shipping, customs duties and VAT all multiplying into the total cost.

Can anyone enlighten me about how mail order works inside Japan, and if payment options other than credit card are available? (Not sure if my friend has any major brand CC.)

Also, pointers to good stores? I see stuff I like at diatec.co.jp and rakuten.co.jp. I don't see roofs, which might be either because they don't sell any, or because I can only barely read kana and am not looking in the right place.

Any and all help would be appreciated :-)
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: Kerosene on Sun, 24 May 2009, 05:32:35
Quote from: ripster;92394
Welcome to Geekhack.
Thank you for the welcome! I have been lurking for a good while, specifically to look for something to improve upon my old faithful HH2 Lite. But I'm not exactly immune to mice, trackballs, etc. either. :-)
Quote
I'm not in the EU but first thing I would do is have your friend ask his friends in Japan where they shop for electronics stuff.  I've seen pics of these high end keyboards just sitting on a retail shelf.  Even some pics of display models (wish we had that).  Buying retail (if they are in a big city) would be simplest.  That also solves the payment issue since then all you'd have to do is hand your friend cash.
My friend is not a electronics/hw enthusiast, and I can't assume his local friends are, either. If only the payment side works out, then it's certainly simpler for him to put in a mail order (pre-armed with a shop URL  and exact product codes) and receive a delivery, than to take the time to locate and visit a brick and mortar store which carries the right stuff and has it in stock. I don't like to impose upon people any more than I really have to.
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I always use a Capital One credit card overseas since it doesn't add the normally obnoxious 3% automatic upcharge for foreign transactions.  If you do use a credit card be sure to call them first and check charges.  Also, sometimes if a credit card is used overseas the credit card company sometimes freaks unless you  warn them first.
3% is nothing, frankly. Having my friend carry the stuff over in luggage saves at least 30%, if not 40%, compared to ordering it direct. (And legitimately, AFAIK. The customs rules are considerably different for luggage.)
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: sandy55 on Sun, 24 May 2009, 11:23:46
For example, Diatec offers 2 options other than  credit card payment inside Japan.
op1, 代引き；daibiki  means Cash on Delivery ( c.o.d.charge is required ).
op2, Pre-payment through bank

Many online stores offers another option; pre-payment through so called コンビニ ( convenience stores such as 7-11, Family Mart and more ).
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: majestouch on Mon, 25 May 2009, 02:41:40
Honestly, if you're THERE, then you need to go to Akihabara "Electric Town". I know of a store there named Clevery [ クレバリ ] that has most Filco models and at least 100 other keyboards that you can touch.

Here is a page from their website with photos of the store:

http://www.clevery.co.jp/shop/shop-2.html

Getting there is a bit of an adventure if you're not used to navigating Tokyo, but if you can get to Tokyo station then you're halfway there. Once in Tokyo station you need to take the Yamanote Line or Keihin-Tohoku Line towards Ueno (a green or blue line is on these trains), you'll ride for about 5 minutes and then get off at Akihabara. There is more than one exit from the station, but you want to exit towards the main street of "electric town" which is named Chuuoudouri ( 中央通り ), it's West of the station. Once you find this street (It's hard to miss, it's the widest and busiest street by the station and you'll see nothing but towering colorful electronics stores up,down,left,and right.), you should stay on the East side of the street and walk North for 2 or 3 minutes. You'll cross over a couple small side streets, but while you walk you should be looking for a large white and blue building on the WEST side of the street with a huge Sofmap [ ソフマップ ] sign on top. Cross the street at the next traffic signal and walk around to the back of the left side of the building, there you'll find an alley which you should turn right into and walk North again. Continue walking north up the alley past the back of the Sofmap building and look for a little cafe called the "Linux Cafe" (yes, for real); it's on the right side. Just next to this open-source coffee shop is a small orange storefront with a クレバリ sign. Here is a google street view of the shop, there is another Sofmap storefront to the left and the Linux Cafe is to the right:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E5%A4%96%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B0%EF%BC%93%E2%88%92%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%93%E2%88%92%EF%BC%92&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.301626,87.890625&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=35.700523,139.770854&panoid=nhfjstzDfRH-LHcev5YZnA&cbp=13,137.64,,0,10.36&t=h&ll=35.700436,139.770845&spn=0.00528,0.009656&z=17&iwloc=A

You can pay cash at this store, but the price might not be the best, and if you use a CC, they might charge you a 5% processing fee, so if you find something you want to buy, you might get on amazon.co.jp and order it with CC or pay with wire transfer; if you choose wire transfer then you can take the account number and go to just about any ATM to make a wire transfer using cash if the amount is less than $1000; there might be a fee of 500yen for a W/T. NOTE: Bigger banks will have ATMs that have English menus if your Japanese isn't very good. You can have online purchases sent right to your hotel the next day; next day shipping is very cheap in Japan, and you can even choose the time of day the package is delivered.

Also, on the same street as Clevery, there is a store named Two Top that is maybe 3 storefronts up from Clevery; they *might* have Realforce and Filco keyboards you can touch. You can also try one of the Sofmap stores since you're right there, they are a dealer for those brands too plus HHKB, but they tend to display more "white" goods, so you might not be able to find keyboards you can touch. There is another Clevery storefront on the same street you might check out as well.

Two Top webpage with Japanese map and address:  http://shopinfo.twotop.co.jp/akiba_honten/

Oh, and since you're in Akihabara, you need to go Yodabashi-Akiba; it's right outside the station and is the biggest electronic store you'll ever see - they have EVERYTHING.

Well, I hope that's enough info! Good luck, and be sure to take pictures to share with geekhackers!
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: chimera15 on Mon, 25 May 2009, 05:30:09
want go akihabara.  Wish I could win the lottery. sigh
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: kyamei on Mon, 25 May 2009, 05:32:55
Quote from: majestouch;92551
Honestly, if you're THERE, then you need to go to Akihabara "Electric Town". I know of a store there named Clevery [ クレバリ ] that has most Filco models and at least 100 other keyboards that you can touch.

Here is a page from their website with photos of the store:

http://www.clevery.co.jp/shop/shop-2.html



Keyboards and anime figures, looks like my kind of store.  Definitely putting that on the "places to go when I visit Japan" list.
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: Kerosene on Mon, 25 May 2009, 08:31:28
Quote from: sandy55;92456
For example, Diatec offers 2 options other than  credit card payment inside Japan.
op1, 代引き；daibiki  means Cash on Delivery ( c.o.d.charge is required ).
op2, Pre-payment through bank

Many online stores offers another option; pre-payment through so called コンビニ ( convenience stores such as 7-11, Family Mart and more ).
Great! Looks like there are no real obstacles left. Now to find a 87U roof...

Majestouch:
That store in Akihabara looks incredible. *drool*
I want to go to Japan myself, but lack of time and laziness are in the way. For one, I'd like to know the language a bit better before going, so that while I'm there, I can communicate and improve further.
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: majestouch on Mon, 25 May 2009, 20:17:12
Some fathers take their sons camping, other fathers take them to the keyboard store in Japan :hat:
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: Hak Foo on Tue, 26 May 2009, 01:56:53
Don't make me hit you up for a copy of Weekly Jump!  (I actually did that to a co-worker who decided that HE got a three-week Japanese holiday while I got to spend it all hunched over the 1931401 trying to work without artist support)
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: ironcoder on Tue, 26 May 2009, 11:21:48
Don't think of us, just mail us the keyboards!
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 02:09:29
Quote from: ripster;92736
I'll be thinking of you guys when my son and I go tour the keyboard shops.

Show Image
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QeML5S8nsDA/Sc93trMLMeI/AAAAAAAANNo/5BXxspLg4OA/s400/6a00d83451632e69e2010536cf6f26970c-800wi.jpg)


How'd you get that picture of me?
Title: Buying a kb *in* Japan?
Post by: chimera15 on Thu, 28 May 2009, 03:07:02
Quote from: ripster;92916
You left your webcam on.

I'll turn mine on.

Show Image
(http://www.macupdate.com/images/screens/uploaded/25358_sm.png)

roflol  You look like a perfect match for geekgirl.