I have some work trips coming up, and one is going to be Japan, Tokyo/Yokohama area.

Been contemplating on buying new strobes, and as the exchange rate is very favorable this got me thinking. Why not buy them from Japan?

Found atleast S&S being priced very nicely, but i would be probably on the market for Retras.

Problems im facing are the design of Japanese website. And finding the suppliers online.

So any help on websites and/or diveshops with Nauticam/Retra would be appreciated.

Are Retra going to be any cheaper in Japan? They’re made in the EU, presumably against Euro pricing converted into Yen?

That depends on the Japan import fees and what you get back at the airport. You get 13% more Yen compared to year ago and 40% more compared to 5 years ago.

But like i said, i havent found a shop that sells them to see the price.

In Europe you pay VAT that you cant get back as private customer. Absolutely no point buying them in Europe as a private person, specially if going abroad when you can buy them.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Sokrates

5 hours ago, Sokrates said:

I have some work trips coming up, and one is going to be Japan, Tokyo/Yokohama area.

Been contemplating on buying new strobes, and as the exchange rate is very favorable this got me thinking. Why not buy them from Japan?

Found atleast S&S being priced very nicely, but i would be probably on the market for Retras.

Problems im facing are the design of Japanese website. And finding the suppliers online.

So any help on websites and/or diveshops with Nauticam/Retra would be appreciated.

Im in Japan and buy a load of stuff there. Just ordered a Nauticam.

Websites are indeed awful.

Not sure about Retra but Mic21 (big dive shop chain) are the nauticam main dealer and they do answer in English to emails. They have some English speaking staff in shops at certain times too. Fisheye are the distributor/importer and they organised my housing, in English via Mic21.
If theres something specific there you want its worth contacting Fisheye https://store.fisheye-jp.com/ (distributor) or Mic21 ( https://www.mic21.com/foreign/english.php ) via the emails. Replies are quick.

You'll get 10% tax free.

Unsure about Retra though - maybe contact Retra themselves and see if there are dealers?

If its general electronics, Bic Camera (10% tax free plus 7% for no clear reason if foreign), Yodobashi (tax free) etc. Websites are woeful but good enough to find stock in which shop. Shops themselves you can get by with English and translation apps.

FWIW tax free currently you dont pay it at all. Its deducted at purchase. From October its changing to claim back at airport.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Rich W