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If you are going for a vacation in Japan or are tired of the high prices of the Nintendo Switch video game consoles in your country then you will probably want to know if the Nintendo Switch is actually cheaper in Japan than it is in other areas.
Saving money is certainly something that we all would like to do so finding the cheapest place to purchase a Nintendo Switch is a great idea.
The Nintendo Switch is cheaper to purchase in Japan than in other countries but only by $30-$40. When you factor in shipping costs, buying a Nintendo Switch in Japan and shipping it back to your country will not save you any money.
If you happen to be going on vacation or something in Japan then waiting to purchase your Nintendo Switch until you go there can save you a little bit of money but it isn’t worth it to buy a Nintendo Switch in Japan unless you will actually be there.
A quick way to figure out if a company’s product is cheaper in a particular place is to know if the headquarters or manufacturer of the company is located there. If it is, then those electronics and accessories will most likely be the cheapest in that country.
This is also the case with Nintendo Switches in Japan. Nintendo’s headquarters are in Japan so the prices of the Nintendo Switch will be the cheapest there.
If you want to watch someone actually purchase a Nintendo Switch in Japan then check out this video below.
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What Is The Price Of A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
Just because in general Nintendo Switch systems are cheaper in Japan does not mean that resellers should fly over there and buy a bunch of them to resell. In Japan, the Nintendo Switch costs approximately $270 US dollars while in the United States, the Nintendo Switch is available for $299.
With only a price difference of $29 between Japan and the United States, it is likely not worth a scalpers time to ship a bunch of them to try and make a couple of dollars each. It also would not be worth the time and hassle to buy it in Japan and have it shipped internationally as international shipping is quite expensive and you would certainly spend more than $29 getting it to you in the USA.
Prices in many other areas of the world can be considerably more expensive than in the USA or Japan so if you live in a place with astronomical Nintendo Switch hardware prices then you could compare the going price in your country to what one could be purchased for in Japan and then decide for yourself whether you should order one from there.
Some countries such as Brazil have a much steeper price increase than North America with the Nintendo Switch selling for over $469 according to Statista. Being over $200 USD more expensive than in Japan it might be worthwhile for Nintendo fans who live there to purchase a console and have it shipped depending on the shipping cost to Brazil for the new package as well as import cost and taxes.
Is A Japanese Switch Console Region Free?
So you buy a Nintendo Switch in Japan for a cheap price but what happens when you get it back to your home country? Will it work properly for you or is it locked to only being used in Japan?
There are no region locks on the Nintendo Switch which means that you will not have any issues playing a game that are from a different region of the world. You can purchase a Nintendo Switch console in Japan and use a game purchased in the USA on it without having any problems!
One thing you do have to be wary of when buying a Nintendo Switch in another country is the power cord. Before purchasing the Nintendo Switch console you will want to make sure that the power cord in the country you are purchasing it in will work with the power outlets in your country.
You should also keep in mind that DLC (downloadable content) might be region-blocked especially if you get the physical DLC card from a different country. Yet even with these problems, there is no reason for you to worry. All you need to do to solve this issue is to make a Nintendo account on your Nintendo Switch for the very same place where you are getting the DLC card from.
Once you do this you will be able to play it everywhere. This means in all the accounts no matter their place or region, once it gets installed.
Tip: While you are buying a game for your Nintendo Switch from Japan, make sure to check which languages the game is available in. Some games are sold just in Japan and these are coded in just the Japanese language. If you get excited and buy these to try and save some money but they are not in your language then it might make playing them a little difficult.
But don’t worry, it’s very easy to know which ones are sold exclusively in Japan. For this just check Nintendo’s eShop and figure out which game comes in what languages.
Are There Technical Issues When Using A Nintendo Switch From Japan?
So the Nintendo Switch in Japan is the cheapest in the world but there’s always the possibility of technical constraints looming over it. But there’s no reason for you to worry. The Nintendo Switch is a handheld device and it is very convenient for use and carrying.
The charger comes with a voltage of 100v-240v and the Nintendo Switch can easily be charged in most outlets all over the world. If you are in doubt over whether the charger will work in the outlets of your country then you can also purchase Nintendo’s AC Adapter for the country where you live as well.
Where Should You Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
You can certainly buy from a physical shop if you are visiting Japan. But you should know that you will need to know Japanese to buy and also likely stand in long lines patiently for your turn.
If this doesn’t sound very appealing to you then the other alternative is online stores. There are mainly two you should go for:
1. My Nintendo (Japan) Store
First, make an account on this site. You will have to make the country Japan in order to make any purchases. This store is set up by Nintendo and it sells directly to the customers. If you are lucky then you can just order a Nintendo Switch here.
You will have to be lucky because Nintendo normally doesn’t take pre-orders much and when it does release the Nintendo Switch on its store then it often gets sold out within 5 minutes.
You will notice that the time and date of the next batch of pre-orders will be given on the site. Know that this will last only between half an hour to an hour so you will have to put in your order then.
But even then accessing the site will be tough since traffic will be very high. You should use this site if you are in Japan since there’s no shipping internationally offered here.
2. Amazon Japan
This is your solution if you can’t actually go to Japan. Amazon Japan does ship the Nintendo Switch and its games worldwide. So simply put an order here and enjoy your product when you get it.
Currently, the price for the Nintendo Switch on Amazon Japan is over 38,300 Yen ($350) and making a purchase on the site is incredibly difficult if you cannot read Japanese.
How Much Is Nintendo Switch OLED In Japan?
The Nintendo Switch OLED is currently priced at around 43,000 yen in Japan. This price may vary slightly depending on the retailer and any potential sales or discounts.
The OLED version of the Nintendo Switch was released in Japan in July 2021 as a limited edition option, with only a limited number of units available. It features an OLED screen that provides brighter and more vibrant colors compared to the standard LCD screen on the regular Switch.
The price of the OLED Switch in Japan is significantly higher than the regular Nintendo Switch, which is priced at around 29,980 yen. This is due to the increased cost of the OLED technology used in the screen.
Despite the higher price, the OLED Nintendo Switch has been popular among Japanese gamers, with many praising its improved display and overall performance. However, some have criticized the limited availability and high price, leading to some disappointment among fans.
Can You Play A Japanese Nintendo Switch In English?
Yes, you can play a Japanese Nintendo Switch in English. The Nintendo Switch is a region-free console, which means that it can play a game from any region. This means that you can purchase a Japanese Nintendo Switch and play a game from any region, including games in English.
To change the language on your Nintendo Switch, you will need to go into the settings menu. From there, you can select the language that you want to use for your system and for an individual game.
If you want to play a game in English, you can simply select English as your system language and the game will automatically be displayed in English.
It’s important to note that while you can play a game in English on a Japanese Nintendo Switch, some games may not be available in English. This is because some games are only released in certain regions and with certain language options.
So some games may not have an English language option, even if they are available in your region. In these cases, you may need to use a language translation guide or app to play the game in English.
Does A Japanese Switch Game Work On An English Switch?
A Japanese game on the Nintendo Switch does work on an English version of the console. The Switch is region-free, meaning that a game from any region can be played on the console regardless of the language or location.
However, some games may not have an English language option and will only be available in the Japanese language. In these cases, players may have to rely on external resources or guides to understand the game’s content.
The Switch’s user interface and system menus are also available in multiple languages, including English, so navigating the console and accessing settings will not be an issue. Additionally, online services such as the eShop and Nintendo Network are available in English, allowing players to easily purchase and download a game in their preferred language.
While some games may not have an English language option, many popular Japanese games do offer this option, including titles from popular franchises such as Pokémon and Super Mario. These games can be played on an English Switch without any issues, providing players with access to a wide range of exciting and unique games.
Overall, a Japanese game on the Switch does work on an English version of the console, offering players access to a diverse range of games from around the world. While some games may not have an English language option, the region-free nature of the Switch allows players to enjoy a game from any region, providing a wealth of entertainment options.
Conclusion
Overall, Nintendo Switches are certainly cheaper in Japan but when you figure in shipping costs as well as import taxes (in most countries) then it is cheaper to simply buy the Switch in the country that you live in. Some countries are considerably more expensive so for those people buying the Switch through Amazon Japan or in person if they are visiting Japan is a good option.
Ultimately if you are visiting Japan then you can save some money by waiting until you get there to buy a Switch but otherwise just get it from your local store or from Amazon in the country where you live.