Rolex in JAPAN : Osaka Kyoto Kobe !!

[handyhsl]

Hey rolexers, i am going to japan in august, looking for some steel sports rolex to buy & wear (NOT to FLIP ! )

** I MUST GET A ROLEX IN THIS TRIP **

I like most of rolex steel sports models (Sub, gmt, daytona, SkyD, exp 1 2) & also datejust steel

This is my plan :
1. Go to all ADs , see if anything is available (1% chance)
2. Go to grey market

Anyone has experience ? Any advice is welcome !

Thank you

[Marcjvr]

Forget the watch. Live in the present and enjoy your trip instead. By all means pop into an AD but do so with low expectations and don’t let it consume you

[handyhsl]

Thanks , low expectations from AD, definitely

[R35GTR]

Jack Road & Betty in Tokyo.

[onigiri]

You're not getting one from an AD.

[handyhsl]

Not going to tokyo. Just osaka kobe kyoto

[cph81]

There is a rolex AD in Daimaru Shinsaibashi Osaka. Also a few grey dealer next to Daimaru
like watchnian, okura, Quark and komehyo.

[handyhsl]

Thanks for the info ! Will visit all of them

[TheVision]

Good thing is Japen yen is at a all time low right now. If no Rolex, I'd look for Grand Seiko or Seiko divers for cheap (US currency)!!

[ADINVA]

There are a lot of grey dealers in Osaka and Kyoto. However, many are situated off the main street. Came across a few greys when I was exploring the small alleys looking for food. Have fun and enjoy Japan.

[scarlet knight]

Low key on the watches, enjoy Japan. We were there for 2.5 weeks in 2019. Very interesting country. Liked Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto. Get Kobe beef at a steakhouse in Kobe. See the bamboo forest and the shrines in Kyoto. Osaka is nice, too.

Check out the Prospex watch boutique in Ginza, Tokyo.

[ebis]

Do not bother going to any ADs. You will be wasting your time. I feel so sorry for all the tourists standing in long lines at the ADs.

Gray shops everywhere. I think it's worth popping into a few and checking out the selection. They all have different time tables when they re-evaluate inventory and lower prices, so you can get lucky at any of them.

[PBJ1925]

Just literally got back from Japan. Chances of landing a professional model from an AD are slim to none.

Every AD will be cordial and ask specifically what you're looking for. They'll all feign like they're going in the safe to check but will tell you its not available after walking to the back for a couple minutes. As soon as you ask for alternate model, they won't even walk to the back and immediately say sorry.

With that said, there are a plethora of grey/secondary market options where bargains maybe found due to the favorable exchange. In Tokyo, there is a cluster of dealers in Nakano Broadway where you'll be able to shop 10+ stores in a single location. Some reasonable deals I found in Nakano Broadway include: MK1 39mm Explorer - $6,600, AP Code Chrono - $28.8k, GMT White Gold - 33.7k, and Rootbeer for 34.7k. I wasn't in the market for any of those pieces, but seems to be a bit under what greys are selling stateside.

Happy hunting, enjoy the trip! Great food, experiences, and polite people await! (Be prepared for insane crowds). I found that luxury goods due to the exchange rate to be a solid buy if that is of interest for you (I.E. LV, Goyard, et.al)

[SLWoodster]

At least they go to the back and pretend.

Originally Posted by PBJ1925

Just literally got back from Japan. Chances of landing a professional model from an AD are slim to none.

Every AD will be cordial and ask specifically what you're looking for. They'll all feign like they're going in the safe to check but will tell you its not available after walking to the back for a couple minutes. As soon as you ask for alternate model, they won't even walk to the back and immediately say sorry.

With that said, there are a plethora of grey/secondary market options where bargains maybe found due to the favorable exchange. In Tokyo, there is a cluster of dealers in Nakano Broadway where you'll be able to shop 10+ stores in a single location. Some reasonable deals I found in Nakano Broadway include: MK1 39mm Explorer - $6,600, AP Code Chrono - $28.8k, GMT White Gold - 33.7k, and Rootbeer for 34.7k. I wasn't in the market for any of those pieces, but seems to be a bit under what greys are selling stateside.

Happy hunting, enjoy the trip! Great food, experiences, and polite people await! (Be prepared for insane crowds). I found that luxury goods due to the exchange rate to be a solid buy if that is of interest for you (I.E. LV, Goyard, et.al)

[TimepieceRPP]

Good luck. They won't sell anything to tourists. I also just got back from Japan too.

[wilsonpepper]

Originally Posted by TimepieceRPP

Good luck. They won't sell anything to tourists. I also just got back from Japan too.

Actually not true. I arranged over the internet, 2 months in advance of my trip, the acquisition and purchase of a DayDate with blue dial, diamond markers.

Also got tax free because I brought my passport into the shop, and all government forms filled out in the shop, NOT the airport.

With the two months of communications, my AD arranged to have the watch I wanted sent from one AD across town, to his shop Ginza where my hotel was located.

Now this was Tokyo, and not Osaka.

Also, there were many many grey dealers everywhere, and I must say, I could not believe the LARGE inventory of all the must have SS models as well as the 18k models.

Prices were very reasonable, very close to Rolex.com/jp pricing, and the positive exchange rate with USD, made all of them "cheap", so to speak...

NOTE: My AMEX card wanted a $400 "transaction fee" but my VISA card had zero transaction fee.

If you must come home with a Rolex, take the train to Tokyo, and purchase any model you want. You won't regret it !

October 30, 2023

[xjeeunitx]

Buy from the greys over there while USD is strong against the YEN! Prices will be cheaper than what you would pay in the USA.

[Tanuki]

If you think it’s hard to get watches from ADs in the US, it’s worse in Japan. Tons of greys but prices were higher than the US even with the great exchange rates. At least that’s how it was a few months ago when I was there. They have tons of inventory so it’s fun to widow shop.

[winst]

By the sounds of it Rolex would be difficult. If I was going to Japan, I would want a really cool Seiko or Grand Seiko from there - far more of a tie in to that country than Rolex.

[puma1552]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

Forget the watch. Live in the present and enjoy your trip instead. By all means pop into an AD but do so with low expectations and don’t let it consume you

This.

Japan is way too fun and interesting to let getting a watch at a favorable exchange rate consume you. Definitely pop into an AD or gray or two, but I wouldn't plan any day around anything related to watches. Plan your day to enjoy the country, and if there happens to be an AD/gray nearby, then pop in casually.

Also Covid really accelerated Japan's willingness to start using credit cards instead of cash. I would still carry some cash at all times as a backup (I typically still ask all shops I go to if they take cards), and Japan is still as safe as it ever was for carrying cash, but don't feel you need to be walking around with $10k cash in your pocket to buy a watch at this point in time either like some of the other threads from pre-Covid days suggest.

[zi464]

Forget about AD , not even 000000.1% chance.

[WiseRat]

I just got back from Tokyo, and can confirm what others are saying. There is zero chance of finding anything at AD. However there are many secondary shops with an excellent selection. Pricing tends to be high, but its fun to window shop.

Back in early 2020, I found a super mint Day Date 18238 full set at a small back alley shop in Osaka. Priced about 40% below current market value. Needless to say it came home with me. Plus you don't have to pay sales tax if you show your foreign passport.

[Puneater]

Originally Posted by WiseRat

I just got back from Tokyo, and can confirm what others are saying. There is zero chance of finding anything at AD. However there are many secondary shops with an excellent selection. Pricing tends to be high, but its fun to window shop.

Back in early 2020, I found a super mint Day Date 18238 full set at a small back alley shop in Osaka. Priced about 40% below current market value. Needless to say it came home with me. Plus you don't have to pay sales tax if you show your foreign passport.

are the prices in secondary shops in Tokyo still much lower than current gray market prices?

[handyhsl]

Guys, Thanks for your replies !
Will go to ADs for the fun, so that is not wasting my time ������
Will also checkout new watches at grey market. Hopefully i will find something

Any other stories / experiences, please do share ����

[SubDate]

Originally Posted by handyhsl

Guys, Thanks for your replies !
Will go to ADs for the fun, so that is not wasting my time ������
Will also checkout new watches at grey market. Hopefully i will find something

Any other stories / experiences, please do share ����

To each their own but I would not find the experience of getting rejected by an AD, while on a vacation to be “fun”.

[EmpireCity]

Just got back from Japan, too. Lots of grey dealer offerings. Some of the ADs there want you to make an appointment ahead of time.

[Bazil]

I worked in Geoje South Korea for quite a while and spent good few trips in Japan ..
I was blown away by their technology, their culture, their Country as a whole, their food, and their efficiency - Japan is an amazing country, a watch would be at the bottom of my list …
Have great trip btw .l

[Rocket_Man]

I've been to Japan many times. As others have said, getting a Rolex from an AD is not going to happen. But right now the exchange rate is pretty favorable. And most prices you see have the sales tax added in, so bring your passport and you can get that removed. The sales tax in Japan has changed recently, I think it is 10%. Quark, and the shops in Nakano Broadway are good places to shop but so does every other tourist looking for a Rolex. You may see more tourist than Japanese at these places. Not many bargains other than the exchange rate.

Last year I bought a Seiko Astron at BIC Camera. They had it on sale, with the tax removed and the exchange rate I got a good deal. But easy to find a Seiko in Japan.

[handyhsl]

Thanks guys.. i will visit ADs with super low expectations
In osaka, kobe & kyoto, which streets / malls have the most grey market dealers ?

[Tensai]

I live in Japan and can offer you this advice. If you are at any store or restaurant and there are gaijin there, you are in the wrong place :) Cheers and good luck.