Finally have some time to sit down and report some findings. I personally have a hard time paying over $100 USD for a bottle of whisky, so I stuck with the lower priced offerings (although I didn't see much of the exorbitant stuff). Here are the best prices I found searching near Kyoto station:
Nikka Miyagiko NAS 3700¥
Nikka FTB (500 mL) 2590¥
Nikka 12 6300¥
Akashi White Oak (500 mL) 1188¥ (this basic malt whisky pairs REALLY well with dark chocolate)
The Chita 3500¥ (can we just call this Japanese "bourbon"?)
Ichiro's Malt & Grain 3500¥
Hakushu NAS 6900¥
The price on the NFTB and White Oak blow my mind because they are my favorites along with the Chita (although I haven't opened the Nikka 12 yet...). But, my taste has gone the way of Bourbon where it used to be Scotch.
FYI: Kiss the stocks and price of Nikka From The Barrel goodbye:
Nikka From the Barrel - Whisky Advocate
FWIW the Haneda Duty Free DID NOT get that nice delivery for the holidays - the only thing even remotely tempting was an overpriced Nikka Gold & Gold Samuri Bottle.