Hey guys,
​
I’m an international student who will be moving to Japan (Kyoto to be specific) in September.
I’m gonna have to get a new MacBook for my studies. It costs less in Japan (got the price from Amazon Japan as due to taxes the price is about 30,000 yen more in my country.
Moreover, we don’t have any official Apple Store here. There is an authorized reseller but since I will be spending the next four years or possibly more in Japan, I’m worried if claiming warranty and stuff is gonna be a problem in Japan if the MacBook is bought from my country.
So, I’m thinking of getting the MacBook after landing there. Is there anything I need to be aware of like the Apple Store not speaking English (my Japanese language skill is zero) or the keyboard being in Japanese only and not English?
Appreciate your thoughts on this!
9 comments
Apple warranty is global. However, the yen is weak right now so depending on where you’re coming from, you might save money by purchasing in Japan using a foreign card.
There are English keyboard options here but you need to make sure to tell them. You can choose your specification online and set it for in store pickup.
Make sure you buy directly from Apple and take advantage of the student discount.
https://www.apple.com/jp_edu_1460/store
>I’m thinking of getting the MacBook after landing there. Is there anything I need to be aware of like the Apple Store not speaking English
Here in Tokyo/Yokohama the Apple Store’s always have a few fully bilingual people on staff. The major Apple Stores (like Ginza or Shibuya) generally have a few gaijin employees working during busy times. Actually, most of the Apple Store employees in Kanto speak some English and many of the Japanese employees are “returnees” who went to school in the West.
>the keyboard being in Japanese only
You have to ask and it may take the Apple Store some time (sometimes a day or two) to find an English keyboard that is in stock at a different Apple Store.
Make sure to order MacBook with English (US/UK) keyboard. Japanese keyboard has keys at different locations.
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Bought the first ever Mac laptop in Akihabara in 1996. Still have it
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There is English-speaking staff at the Apple Store in Kyoto
IIRC you can pre-purchase and pick up at the store. US keyboard layout will typically take a little longer. Other (non-US English) layouts should be possible too, and surely not in stock and thus a long wait.