Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Asia > Japan
Reload this Page >

Tokyo depato question

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Tokyo depato question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 8, 2008 | 4:25 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
Programs: WWMFD
Posts: 6,292
Tokyo depato question

The soon-to-be-defunct (IMHO) ésforta gym chain enhanced my membership with Ą10,000 in Visa gift certs, valid only in major depatos.

Do any of the majors carry electronics (i.e., iPods)? Somehow I don’t feel the need for two pairs of Ą5,000 socks.

Any other useful suggestions are welcome.
kcvt750 is offline  
Old Feb 8, 2008 | 5:19 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
1M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,737
You obviously checked the booklet to see which stores would take them?! Some of those Depato must sell electronics (Ito Yokado comes to mind). How about the "Loft", Tokyu Hands, etc? You could always take them to a ticket re-seller and get a percentage of cash for them!
Q Shoe Guy is offline  
Old Feb 8, 2008 | 5:27 pm
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
Programs: WWMFD
Posts: 6,292
Originally Posted by Q Shoe Guy
You obviously checked the booklet to see which stores would take them?!
Ya, just the usual big guys (i.e. Mitsukoshi, IOIO, etc). Not Ito Yokado, unfortunately.

Some of those Depato must sell electronics (Ito Yokado comes to mind).
Ergo, the original question. The whole "shopping" thing isn't covered in my owners manual.

I've queried my most knowledgable source and all he could suggest was Nekobukuro.
kcvt750 is offline  
Old Feb 8, 2008 | 7:01 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
1M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,737
Originally Posted by kcvt750

I've queried my most knowledgable source and all he could suggest was Nekobukuro.
Ah, yes Nekobukuro.......I am surprised this source shops outside of Minami-Oyama. I guess the next best thing will be to go to the depatika and gone on a "little" gourmet shopping spree......You could easily make a meal or 2 if you don't mind kinpira-gobo, kamaboko. Though I would wait until the 2/14 madness subsides........
Q Shoe Guy is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 4:32 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,873
Originally Posted by Q Shoe Guy
Ah, yes Nekobukuro.......I am surprised this source shops outside of Minami-Oyama.
Smidgen has given a strong endorsement to the Nekobukuro. As for shopping outside Minami-Aoyama (as opposed to Minami-Ayoyama, which is what Mrs. Pickles calls it), Smidgen has been known to head out to the Azabu Juban shotengai to rile the dogs at the dog grooming shop.
Pickles is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 5:26 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tokyo Japan
Posts: 454
Originally Posted by kcvt750
The soon-to-be-defunct (IMHO) ésforta gym chain enhanced my membership with Ą10,000 in Visa gift certs, valid only in major depatos.

Do any of the majors carry electronics (i.e., iPods)? Somehow I don’t feel the need for two pairs of Ą5,000 socks.

Any other useful suggestions are welcome.
Usualy visa gift certs can be used online. You should be able to imput the numbers and expiration dates on Amazon for example.
Tokyorich is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 6:33 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 19,078
Sorry, kcvt750, I only go into depato for food, stationery, wafuku items and to 'freshen up'. The rest of it is always a blur.

I do have a depato question of my own.

Is it true that the muzac changes according to the weather outside? i.e. that the assistants in the hermetically sealed and daylight proofed rooms get cues and clues to tell them if it's raining/stopped raining so that they can wrap goods up accordingly? (Other than seeing customers with condoms over their brollies, which is the cue I had assumed they were using)
LapLap is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 6:44 am
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 10,048
Takashimaya in Shinjuku has a store for music / video / computing products. I wouldn't expect them to have the best prices, but it's probably a better deal than taking your vouchers to one of the ticket stores, where they'll probably buy them at 20% off face value or something.

I was about to offer to buy your vouchers from you - but I asked Mrs. Jib if she needed any depato vouchers, and she says that there's nothing she wants to buy right now. This is a rare event that deserves to be marked in some way... I'm going to put out the flags. (Look out for them all over town in the next couple of days).
jib71 is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 6:06 pm
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
Programs: WWMFD
Posts: 6,292
Originally Posted by Tokyorich
Usualy visa gift certs can be used online. You should be able to imput the numbers and expiration dates on Amazon for example.
This would be extraordinarily cool. Perhaps our local amazon expert could enlighten me?


Originally Posted by jib71
Takashimaya in Shinjuku has a store for music / video / computing products. I wouldn't expect them to have the best prices, but it's probably a better deal than taking your vouchers to one of the ticket stores, where they'll probably buy them at 20% off face value or something.
I will also look into this. I can always find useful computer stuff/dvds when I take the time to look for them.

Originally Posted by jib71
I was about to offer to buy your vouchers from you - but I asked Mrs. Jib if she needed any depato vouchers, and she says that there's nothing she wants to buy right now. This is a rare event that deserves to be marked in some way... I'm going to put out the flags. (Look out for them all over town in the next couple of days).
Maybe this calls for a celebration in Kagurazaka?
kcvt750 is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 7:17 pm
  #10  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Seattle, WA (ex Tokyo, JP)
Programs: A3*G, DL Platinum
Posts: 872
Originally Posted by kcvt750
This would be extraordinarily cool. Perhaps our local amazon expert could enlighten me?
I know these Japan-only products well, having a 1000 JPY one sitting next to me that I've had for over a year. Sadly, since they aren't a real credit card number, you can't use them on Amazon. I believe these are redeemed similarly to travelers cheques (ie no real-time check for validity) so you can't use them anywhere online.
hamburgler is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2008 | 8:17 pm
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
Programs: WWMFD
Posts: 6,292
Originally Posted by hamburgler
I know these Japan-only products well, having a 1000 JPY one sitting next to me that I've had for over a year. Sadly, since they aren't a real credit card number, you can't use them on Amazon. I believe these are redeemed similarly to travelers cheques (ie no real-time check for validity) so you can't use them anywhere online.
Nezumi.

Thanks!
kcvt750 is offline  
Old Feb 10, 2008 | 8:31 pm
  #12  
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 18,254
Odakyu HALC next to Shinjuku station has a BIC camera store in it, and it might still count as part of Odakyu department store.
RichardInSF is offline  
Old Feb 10, 2008 | 8:54 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 10,048
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
Odakyu HALC next to Shinjuku station has a BIC camera store in it, and it might still count as part of Odakyu department store.
The Bic Camera outlet doesn't count as part of the Odakyu department store. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't use those Visa vouchers there.
jib71 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.