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Old Sep 8, 2023 | 11:21 am
  #31  
bocastephen
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Originally Posted by uanj
Wow! You got a tax refund on a purchase from Kappabashi? I am impressed!
I wasn't aware that was not a common thing. I did learn never to challenge the math skills of the aunties who work in the tax refund kiosk, though.
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Old Sep 8, 2023 | 12:03 pm
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Originally Posted by uanj
Wow! You got a tax refund on a purchase from Kappabashi? I am impressed!
Japanese hand tools are also good if you're looking for other well crafted objects with the yen in your favor and luggage space. Vessel makes nice screwdrivers and JIS + if you have Japanese built things in your house where Philips + cams out. Engineer and Tsunoda make good pliers. Japanese tools are more ergonomic for my petite hands (short woman) compared to the US versions and sometimes offered in different grip sizes/lengths (some nice German tool brands also do this). JP pull saws are also easier for me to use than western push saws and there are some nice wood planes & chisels if you're looking to gift a woodworker.
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Old Sep 9, 2023 | 10:38 pm
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Originally Posted by pesos
Personally I would never buy a phone here (I always get mine abroad) because due to Japanese law the phone has to make the shutter sound when taking a photo even when on silent/vibrate.
I think it is SIM driven these days. I have a dual SIM phone bought in Japan, leave my foreign SIM in slot 1 and my docomo SIM in slot 2. Even with slot 1 deactivated I don't hear a single sound when using my camera.
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Old Sep 9, 2023 | 10:46 pm
  #34  
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Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
I think it is SIM driven these days. I have a dual SIM phone bought in Japan, leave my foreign SIM in slot 1 and my docomo SIM in slot 2. Even with slot 1 deactivated I don't hear a single sound when using my camera.
that would be very good news! what model?
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Old Sep 10, 2023 | 1:39 am
  #35  
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Originally Posted by pesos
that would be very good news! what model?
Not the fruit company, but the last couple of Android models bought in Japan I have not had issues with camera sound. Unless I only use the Japanese SIM card.
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Old Sep 10, 2023 | 1:42 am
  #36  
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Ah, ok. Everything I've read says that iphones are now gps/location based and still make the sound within Japan physically.
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Old Sep 10, 2023 | 1:44 am
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Originally Posted by pesos
Ah, ok. Everything I've read says that iphones are now gps/location based and still make the sound within Japan physically.
But then a US bought model would do as well....?
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Old Sep 10, 2023 | 1:47 am
  #38  
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no apple only builds this into the japan-specific model (and korean too actually)
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Old Sep 18, 2023 | 11:31 pm
  #39  
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I'm back in Tokyo right now. It's my fourth time in Japan in 2023 and haven't visited an Apple store. Where is the flagship store in Tokyo?
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Old Sep 19, 2023 | 2:34 am
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Originally Posted by lsquare
I'm back in Tokyo right now. It's my fourth time in Japan in 2023 and haven't visited an Apple store. Where is the flagship store in Tokyo?
Marunouchi

https://www.apple.com/jp/retail/marunouchi/
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Old Sep 19, 2023 | 9:48 am
  #41  
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Originally Posted by Daytona
I thought it was Ginza, or at least that was the store always inundated with foreign customers to the point the only Japanese people in the store were the staff. Almost all Ginza staff are English fluent, not sure about the other locations.
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Old Sep 20, 2023 | 6:25 pm
  #42  
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Originally Posted by Daytona
I went there last night and am surprised that's even a flagship location. Nothing special about the design. I really love the Apple Store in Singapore. Very unique design.

An Apple Store employee at Marunouchi, Sandy, told me her store is opening at 8 AM tomorrow for the launch of the iPhone 15. I'll probably drop by the Ginza store to take a look even though I'll be back in the US on the 22nd.

Originally Posted by bocastephen
I thought it was Ginza, or at least that was the store always inundated with foreign customers to the point the only Japanese people in the store were the staff. Almost all Ginza staff are English fluent, not sure about the other locations.
Marunouchi employees are definitely bilingual.
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Old Sep 21, 2023 | 4:32 am
  #43  
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Originally Posted by lsquare
I went there last night and am surprised that's even a flagship location. Nothing special about the design. I really love the Apple Store in Singapore. Very unique design.

An Apple Store employee at Marunouchi, Sandy, told me her store is opening at 8 AM tomorrow for the launch of the iPhone 15. I'll probably drop by the Ginza store to take a look even though I'll be back in the US on the 22nd.

Marunouchi employees are definitely bilingual.
We consider Ginza the flagship -- as the first in Tokyo and the first outside of America -- it's the flagship to us -- even if Marunouchi is the biggest...
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Old Sep 21, 2023 | 7:49 am
  #44  
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AFAICR, none of Apple's Tokyo stores has particularly impressive architecture or interior design. If you're interested in exciting retail stores, the following list might give you some inspiration. Apple doesn't make the cut:
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shoppi...-need-to-visit
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Old Sep 21, 2023 | 9:21 am
  #45  
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Originally Posted by jib71
AFAICR, none of Apple's Tokyo stores has particularly impressive architecture or interior design. If you're interested in exciting retail stores, the following list might give you some inspiration. Apple doesn't make the cut:
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shoppi...-need-to-visit
Nothing beats Nihonbashi Takashimaya, classic architecture and the traditional uniformed elevator ladies.
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