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Japan Trip - Looking For Shopping MC Cartridge Recommendations

I lived in Japan from 1990-99 and went back there on business 1-2 times/year for several years after that, so I consider it my second home.  
My change in jobs has kept me away from Japan for about 6 years, but this summer I'll be going back for a couple of weeks.  I will be mainly in the Tokyo area, and would like recommendations from those who know where to find great deals on phono cartridges.  
I have read several threads on these forums about the much lower prices on carts in Japan, but I know that not all shops are cheaper than the U.S. pricing.  I'm looking for specific shops I can visit to find good deals.  
I'm very familiar with Tokyo and navigating its trains and subways, so if you're recommending shops I only need to know the shop name and which train station it's nearest to.  Akihabara used to have quite a few high end audio dealers but the last time I was there it seemed to be overrun with Cosplay and gaming shops.  I imagine there are still a few shops there, however.  
I'll be shopping for a new MC cartridge.  I currently have a Lyra Delos and will either move up the Lyra line or look at other excellent cartridges that sell in the U.S. for $4-$7K.  Emphasis will be on getting a much better price than U.S. pricing.  If the savings is not significant I'll just buy it here instead.
Thanks for any help you can give me.  My time will be a little shorter than I'd like on this visit so I need to make a focused plan.
128x128snackeyp
karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch
445 posts
 
@chakster All excellent points.  I guess it would be unlikely to be cheap enough to overcome those shipping charges?  I'll have to wait an see.  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Yes, but you can buy second hand, i've seen it for about $5000 in mint condition, amazing price for SP-10R, this is only possible in Japan :)) 
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,485 posts
 
I just came back from Japan and China....   Prices are high and you have no assurance that you get the real thing
lewm
13,307 posts
 
First, at yodibashi you pay no Japan tax if you present your foreign passport. Second, I saw the SP10R and the SP1000R for sale at yodibashi. After the discounts for passport and using a credit card the net cost would represent a 30 to 40% savings vs US prices. Closer to 40%. Third, my guess is that yodibashi could arrange direct shipping to your door. If they wouldn’t then there are shippers in their area in Akihabara. Piece of cake.

Not all audio stores will go to the trouble of helping customers  to avoid the Japanese VAT, which is one reason I like Yodibashi. The immense size of their business in comparison to the average audio salon permits them to do that, I guess.
lewm
13,307 posts
 
One further thought. Since the introduction of the new Technics turntables there has been some rollback of list prices. Or for sure some US based dealers are now willing to give modest discounts. For that reason the margin of savings that one can achieve by shopping in Tokyo may be narrower today than it was last year when I last visited Tokyo. For example, I think I calculated that I could walk out of Yodibashi with an SP10R for the total cost of about $6700. I hope that helps.

Stringreen, Of course you ARE getting the “real thing” at stores in Tokyo. And it certainly would be silly to buy Japanese products in China, especially since the stores in Tokyo are mobbed with Chinese customers who travel there to shop. Funnily to me, the clothing stores are also full with Chinese, buying clothes that are mostly made in China.
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