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ralliteknik

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Cassiopeia Overnight Train

Hello

Any Japan experts here can advise who can I use to assist in booking Cassiopeia overnight train from Tokyo to Hokkaido? From my understanding, this can only be booked 30 days in advance in Japan, either at the ticket counter or a tour agency.

Am planning to take this train in mid July.

Thanks!
 

dimitri_can

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Hello

Any Japan experts here can advise who can I use to assist in booking Cassiopeia overnight train from Tokyo to Hokkaido? From my understanding, this can only be booked 30 days in advance in Japan, either at the ticket counter or a tour agency.

Am planning to take this train in mid July.

Thanks!
samtcy should be able to advise
 

purpleberry

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Would kindly suggest you to take a look discussion thread and look at my replies on posts #7 and #14 respectively. It should answer your doubts pretty well regarding purchasing Sony cameras in Japan.

I currently use the Sony A6000 and have personally owned a couple of their Cybershot series P&S cams in the past. Can certainly tell you Sony has no bilingual lang support in their cameras for sure, so if you are not japanese-literate or comfortable with the language, you can drop the idea of buying the bodies in JP itself. I don't use Nikon bodies personally, but have a couple of friends ard me who uses Nikon and can confirm with you that their camera bodies does come with bilingual lang support with English/Japanese menu available.

If you wish to take my real advice, my personal suggestion for you would be to just purchase the camera body locally here in SG, and grab your lenses over there in JP. (assuming you are getting either brand maker's mirrorless ILC setup or DLSR setup) As camera lenses/accessories often have significant price savings over the local store counterparts, it is quite worthwhile to purchase in Japan during your vacation trips there. Camera bodies, my personal take on this is I do not believe it is worth it to skip over the 15 months of aftersales support/warranty repairs in order to just save that 200-300 bucks.

I am using A6k too and found the lenses there much cheaper, especially the 2nd hand ones which are still in great condition.
 

hoshiyume

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I am not sure about Nikon but Sony only have Japanese menu for its local sets. No international warranty. Only Canon can choose menu and yes, it's cheaper there. If you are into lenses, they are cheaper, especially second hand ones and still in good condition.

Canon got English menu. The made in Japan model is very cheap (unless I see wrongly coz the title on price tag a bit weird..) but others are slightly cheaper.Wanted to buy in Japan but couldn't decide on the model and e slight difference in price on some of the models vs no intl warranty not too attractive for me so no buy

As for tokyo banana, can get tax free at haneda including some of the special ones. But I think u can go to tokyo banana website and see which outlet sell which flavour.
 
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xtc1977

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Hi all, I'm in Tokyo now n gg back tmrw evening via Haneda. Can I confirm if need to show my purchases to e japan customs? The tax free shops had already gave me e tax refunds n told me that no need to show purchases at e airport, seems that customs ppl will just take away e duplicate forms in e passport. True?

Thk u all in advance for e advice. :)
 
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hoshiyume

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Hi all, I'm in Tokyo now n gg back tmrw evening via Haneda. Can I confirm if need to show my purchases to e japan customs? The tax free shops had already gave me e tax refunds n told me that no need to show purchases at e airport, seems that customs ppl will just take away e duplicate forms in e passport. True?

Thk u all in advance foe e advice, ******************

Customs at haneda told me to diy tear out the papers stapled to my ppt n put in the box where many have done the same. He didn't look at my tax refunded food and watch
 

Haonan

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I am using A6k too and found the lenses there much cheaper, especially the 2nd hand ones which are still in great condition.

Yup it's a great MILC setup, moved up from my prev NEX-5N body and it does fit all my current shooting needs very well. Am not a hardcore hobbyist in terms of photography so did not see the need to go straight for A7r or A7s despite that I have personally played with those bodies in local stores here as well and do appreciate its overall IQ/handing features very much too.
:o

Yeah one can often find great lense deals over at MapCamera or Fujiya-Camera if you happen to be shopping ard Shinjuku or Nakano area. For my camera-related purchases I will almost always go these 2 places first whenever I am in JP, although generally I have to admit BicCamera/Yodobashi store outlets are still excellent places for checking out camera bodies/lenses if you wish to hands-on them first before deciding on whether to purchase one.
 

xtc1977

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Customs at haneda told me to diy tear out the papers stapled to my ppt n put in the box where many have done the same. He didn't look at my tax refunded food and watch
Thks for sharing your experience. Just wanted to confirm it cos I'm planning to pack all e purchases into check in luggage. No need to show purchases a bit weird lah, this system seems so open to abuse...
 

anyhowsaysay

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Thks for sharing your experience. Just wanted to confirm it cos I'm planning to pack all e purchases into check in luggage. No need to show purchases a bit weird lah, this system seems so open to abuse...

I went Japan 5 times, never once follow this rule of hand carry tax refund and custom never check also.
Not really possible for tourist to do that considering many people will buy many stuff to fill up their luggage (Even food item can get tax refund now~)
 

purpleberry

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Yup it's a great MILC setup, moved up from my prev NEX-5N body and it does fit all my current shooting needs very well. Am not a hardcore hobbyist in terms of photography so did not see the need to go straight for A7r or A7s despite that I have personally played with those bodies in local stores here as well and do appreciate its overall IQ/handing features very much too.
:o

Yeah one can often find great lense deals over at MapCamera or Fujiya-Camera if you happen to be shopping ard Shinjuku or Nakano area. For my camera-related purchases I will almost always go these 2 places first whenever I am in JP, although generally I have to admit BicCamera/Yodobashi store outlets are still excellent places for checking out camera bodies/lenses if you wish to hands-on them first before deciding on whether to purchase one.

Same here. I also upgraded from 5N. A6000 has a great AF speed. Not sure if I should jump ship again to A7II full frame but lens choices are quite limited. Shinjuku Yodobashi has a great collection of photo gears. Can try different lenses before you go to MapCamera and buy. :p
 

milkaa

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I'll be staying at an airbnb apartment 5 to 10 min walk from shibuya station. Will it be easy to manage train rides in from Haneda and out to Narita with a 30inch luggage? Thanks.
 

wlng81

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I'll be staying at an airbnb apartment 5 to 10 min walk from shibuya station. Will it be easy to manage train rides in from Haneda and out to Narita with a 30inch luggage? Thanks.

I do not get the part about Haneda.
I stayed in Shibuya last June and it was a breeze commuting between Narita and Shibuya by Narita Express (NEX). There is a specialised platform for passengers taking the NEX to Narita. Lifts are available for bringing the luggage around.
 

milkaa

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Thanks. Anyone knows if there are lockers for big luggage (30inch) at shibuya station? Need to store there coz flight much later at night. Not staying at hotel so can't leave at hotel.
 

hoshiyume

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Thanks. Anyone knows if there are lockers for big luggage (30inch) at shibuya station? Need to store there coz flight much later at night. Not staying at hotel so can't leave at hotel.

Need to find ba
Lockers r often occupied need luck if u want big ones
 

Tornesoul

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hi im trying to get from itami airport to osaka.

is the Osaka airport limousine bus the only way? (other then taxi)

is this the best way? ty!

itami isnt connected by metro/train?
 

swatchie

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Just wondering if it's worth it to buy 2nd hand watches in Tokyo. Is it cheaper and authentic? Any recommended shops? Looking at brands like FM, PP.

Thanks!
 
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