Cost of Becoming Electronic-savvy in Japan
For the past decades, Japan introduced itself to the world through its enormous electronics industry. As it attracts people of different walks of life in this highly-digitalized country, prices of gadgets continue to be a pertinent matter to be discussed. Here is a quick guide about buying electronics in Japan.
Table of Contents
- Overview of Electronics in Japan
- Buying Top Consumer Electronic Brands
- Key reminders about buying electronics
- Summary
Overview of Electronics in Japan
Japan is considered as an electronic hub for Asia and across the globe. Known worldwide for its innovative and technologically-advanced culture, Japan hosts great giants that are considered front-runners in the field of technology. Some of them include Toshiba, Nintendo, Panasonic, and many more! Japan also gets its competitive edge in the world of technology by investing in its research and development field. Japan has the third world’s largest budget for research and development, which proves that Japan highly regards science and technology.
※ UNESCO Institute for Statistics, "How Much Does Your Country Invest In R&D?"
To understand why electronics is considered as the lifeblood of Japan, one must first understand the electronics industry, its composition, and how it operates. The electronics industry involves the process of consumer electronics - from how it is designed, manufactured, and even maintenance and servicing. The whole foundation of electronics is that it depends upon technology for it to function and operate. Because of its fast-paced culture, the electronics industry is competitive, where corporations often invest in their research and development department to produce novel new products for consumers to purchase and enjoy.
Japan pioneered many technological innovations such as transistor radios and colored television sets. Since then, Japan has been in the frontrunner of almost anything related to technology. The electronics industry is essential to Japan, mainly because of its economic implications. Japan is one of the largest manufacturers of computer-guided machine tools, and Japan’s semiconductor giants (such as Toshiba and Hitachi) have relatively high sales performance.
※ Cross Currents, "The Japanese Electronics Industry"
In 2017, consumer electronics made up almost half of the Japanese electronic industry. According to experts, this will continue to rise in the coming years because of the trends in the smart appliance section.
※ Goldstein Market Intelligence, "Japan Consumer Electronics Industry Market Overview"
Based on the May 2020 statistic survey, domestic shipments for electronic devices summed up to almost 720 million yen for videos and audio and car equipment. In May 2020 alone, there are around 363,000 flat-screen TVs, 9,000 digital video cameras, approximately 900,000 car speakers, and more that were recorded for domestic shipments. The exports of Japanese electronic products from consumer to industrial, electronic components and devices continue to soar totaling nearly 3 trillion yen last April 2020.
※ Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, "2020 Domestic Electronics Domestic Shipment Statistics" ※ Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, "April 2020 Exports of Electronics from Japan"
Writer's Pick
Buying Top Consumer Electronic Brands
Because Japan is considered as one of the electronics hubs in the world, let’s explore some of the top brands of the country and its average cost. [We took the range of prices from Bic Camera in June 2020. Prices may change based on promotion, year, and retailer.]
1. Camera: Canon vs Nikon
Canon is often a go-to brand for photography enthusiasts. With its credible name and quality products, it is easy to understand why both newbie and professional photographers opt for the Canon brand in terms of its cameras. The cost of Canon cameras in Japan ranges from around 14,000 yen to 800,000 yen depending on the style, specifications, and model.
※ BicCamera, "Canon Camera"
Nikon is also a famous camera brand for photography enthusiasts. Nikon is a fierce competitor of Canon, and there are ongoing debates on which is the preferred brand to use. The cost of Nikon Cameras would range from 23,000 yen to 500,000 yen again depending on the model of the camera, its style, and its specifications.
※ BicCamera, "Nikon"
2. Video Game Consoles: Playstation 4 vs Nintendo
Playstation 4 is a popular video game console. Game addicts have invested a lot of money and time to lose themselves in the fantasy world of whatever video game they are interested in. It is also the second best-selling console of all time, which shows that there is still a strong sales base at the PS4 market. The Playstation 4 costs around 30,000 yen to 45,000 yen depending on the memory and functionality.
※ BicCamera, "Playstation 4" ※ TechRadar, "Best games console 2020: PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch and more"
Another irreplaceable presence in the video game world is Nintendo which was founded in the late 1880s and its headquarters are located in Kyoto. Nintendo produced a wide variety of gaming platforms such as the Gameboy, Super Nintendo, Wii, and the Nintendo Switch. The new Nintendo Switch model costs around 35,000 yen plus tax.
※ Nintendo, "Company History" ※ My Nintendo Store, "Switch"
3. Panasonic, Toshiba, Fujitsu Laptops
Toshiba is one of Japan's largest semiconductor companies. It is also known across the world for producing quality laptops and computers. The average cost of a fast processor like Intel Core i7 Toshiba laptop in Japan ranges from 130,000 yen to 220,000 yen, including tax, while Fujitsu Notebook with almost the same specifications ranges from 100,000 yen to 240,000 yen including tax. Panasonic laptop package with the same processor ranges from 200,000 yen to almost 400,000 yen, including tax. The price increases depending on the model, ram, hard drive storage, and functionalities of the computer or laptop.
※ BicCamera, "Toshiba PC" ※ BicCamera, "Fujitsu PC" ※ BicCamera, "Panasonic PC"
4. Watch: Casio and Seiko
Casio is a durable watch manufacturer that is famous across the globe, including Japan. The cost of Casio watches in Japan ranges from 1000 yen to 300,000 yen.
※ BicCamera, "Casio Watch"
Seiko is also considered as a top brand watch manufacturer. Its cost ranges from 11,000 yen to over 300,000 yen depending on the style, model, and functionalities.
※ BicCamera, "Seiko Watch"
Where to buy them:
There are many places to buy good quality electronics in Japan. Let’s take a look at some of these famous places:
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Akihabara - This is a famous shopping district in Tokyo that is known to offer a wide array of electronics. Ikebukuro and Shinjuku are also popular shopping districts in Tokyo that have a growing number of electronics shops as well.
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BIC CAMERA- As the name implies, this shop is famous for selling professional cameras as well as other electronics at an affordable price!
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Yodobashi Camera - This is another popular shop that sells a wide variety of electronics from watches to cameras and even home appliances!
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Other famous electronic chain shops include Yamada Denki, Edion (Osaka), K’s Denki (Ibaraki) and Nojima (Kanagawa).
Cost Comparison with Global Prices
If you are visiting Japan and planning to purchase electronics, it is worthy to note that a select number of electronics are relatively cheaper as compared to the US and other countries when you look at the exchange rate and overall cost. Plus, if you are a foreigner buying electronics in Japan, you get additional savings because buying electronics in Japan is tax-free! Yes, you read it right, certain products in Japan can be purchased for less because you do not have to pay the consumption tax if you show your passport.
Also, since Japan is the forerunner in electronics, often, Japan is in the lead to offer the latest models, where other western countries would follow suit after a few months of release. Cameras, rice cookers, and Bluetooth speakers are just some of the Japanese electronics that you can get for a more cost-efficient price, so while in Japan, make sure to check these out!
Key reminders about buying electronics
In buying electronics in Japan, it is important to know the following guidelines:
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There are some countries that have a different voltage so make sure that when you buy electronics in Japan, you have the necessary adapters to avoid breaking your electronics
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While it is tempting to buy affordable second-hand electronics, make sure that you weigh out the pros and cons in time of warranty benefits, the long-term use of the electronic gadget, and its performance
Summary
Japan is an innovative country, with the fast-paced culture of technology and the best electronics in terms of quality and value. Electronic stores in Japan can be overwhelming with the sheer number of products, and sometimes, one whole building is just for gadgets, TV's, computer devices, and more - like a one-stop shop for everything you need with different products! The knocked off tax exemption is pretty enticing already to buy more electronic products. Though there are many electronic shops in Japan, try to check their promotional offers for more discounts!
