xKx_31

Nah ... I have no problems looking at those posts ... Informative and at times entertaining =)

But since I'm there, might as well visit Spoon as its within the proximity ... Damm ... how come all the nice ones that I wanted are all so far away!!! How far exactly is Top Fuel any idea? Cheers

Hi guys, to calculate the postage cost, please go to http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/ and key in the following details. Length - 82cm Height - 11.5cm Width - 31.5 Weight is between 9001g to 10,000g Lodgement Postcode is 6108 (Perth, WA) 3-5 working days The website should be able to give you the pricing for the delivery. However it does not include insurance which is an extra couple of dollars. Do a search on the AusPost website to see how much it cost. Last time I saw it, it was around AU$1.10 per $100 bucks. An example of delivery to Melbourne would be $27 inclusive of insurance (Postcode of 3190).

Big money!! Slog for a couple of years, save up and go back to relax and enjoy!! Good Luck!

Oh btw, my apology if anyone is irate from receiving instant email notifications too many times from this thread. I started the thread to seek some advice, therefore if needed, I have to reply to each new post.

*LOL* Katana on the subway??? And I thought Japan is big on cars, technology, gadgets and the "never say give up" workforce spirit!!! Guess I watched too much telly =X

Trains or no car, come traffic jams or no wait, its still an experience! Why is it an experience to be stuck in a jam for like an hour or so? Because, the jam in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore and Australia are all so different!! hahahaha .... Why different!?!? Because I get to see the surroundings and absorb all the details and those pictures will be like imprints in the mind!! Sounds dumb!?? Yeah, prolly is!!! Oh man, I know holidays are meant for enjoyment and not rushing aound like what I'm planning to do!! But there's a so much I can do for the itinerary since I'm not paying for it!! Hopefully if the 06 TAS is still in Jan period, I would most prolly be able to make it again!!! Sorta like a pilgrimage or something!! Ermmm .... no comments on that last para ... Wasnt sure what it actually meant or who is it meant for or in general ... But honestly, I guess there's really no such Japan expert because the country is so big and wonderful (My perception) that it takes a lifetime to really discover the different aspects of being a tourist, being a foreign worker, being a local and being RICH there!!! heeh .... Something like Australia where I've spent the last 1.5 years in. Perth is nice, Melbourne is nicer, Sydney and the rest .... ermmm ... yet to discover!!!

I guess JUN Auto is a must since there are quite a number of good comments on that place!!

Hey there, the thing about my friend setting up retail etc over in Japan is mainly because he loves the place there!! Although being one of the most expensive countries to reside in (Japan), he's dying for a change of environment. Another thing aside, if he actually decide to go over after his contract to set up some company etc, we will set up a company/shop both in Australia and Singapore. Since he's there, he wish to acquire some brands dealership that are not commonly seen in S.E Asia such as TopFuel (who only recently gave its first distributorship to US). Rationale being, we both see alot of places selling parts on a ridiculous price structure and eventually we sit back and realised why are we paying so much for stuff that are only 60% of the RRP?? Dealers and distributors are earning too high profit and personally, I'm building a Honda motor and I have to spend like a few Ks just to hit my target specs. Eventually I sought to find manufacturers myself and thus some of the group buys. I mean its personal opinions though. Retailing of parts need not be performance based but also can be on OEM products which are in abundance in Taiwan and China. Lucky for me, I have relatives working there so the ease of finding some parts for my project. Even so, without the trading of auto parts, there are a multitude of products and knowledge to be learnt from Japan. The technology there far surpasses those of Singapore and the preception that trend starts from Japan is a good indicator to food business such as those Octopus ball that grown so big in Singapore when it actually originate from Japan and brought over! Just my .5cts worth!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WoW, sounds like ya really travelling to Japan alot! From your post, I gather a few places might be just enough to visit. - Mugen - TopFuel (ZERO1000) - JUN Auto Mech - HKS - Cusco - Spoon - Tomei *I hope the list is not too long* I've got a bunch of address but its all in Jap, so probably I will have to send it elsewhere to decipher to readable English. Such a waste that Toda is so far!!! Not that I'm able to purchase shit loads of stuff from all the places I'm visiting but its for memory keepsake to remind me that I've been to those places!! Damm, your deal with the car rental is dirt cheap!!! Able to recommend me a couple of websites so I can do the booking!?!? If so, I think I will go big with those MPVs. Maybe I can find some other forum users to share the load for a day or two then take turns to drive around and also tag along you guys who are already based in Japan. What worries me is the conflict of interests on the places to visit etc. If response aint that promising, I guess I would just settle for a normal car which seats from 5-6 for 3 days. Are the hwy something like Melbourne where you have to have a card whenever you enter some restricted areas such as those city limits etc?? Also, would I be able to do purchase in those places that were listed above? I mean as in over the counter?? I tried unsuccessfully to ask them to send me stuff from websites as they usually would direct me to their distributors, but the problem with distributors are they usually mark up the prices so high up, it looks intimidating at times!! Thanks for the help on the maps, will keep you posted if I require any directions. But I try not to hassle and trouble any forum users too much And thanks for the kind info!!!

Sure, not a problem. I will be leaving for Singapore on the 10th of Jan so let me know before that date. Cheers

Just got confirmation that my stay in Tokyo would be in Shinjuku Vintage! Anyone got any idea if there's anything to worry about regarding the hotel??

heehee ... more shopping places are more than welcomed!!! I'm looking to find those quirky stuff to see or experience or buy that normally cant be seen in our everyday life. Maybe its my misconception but I guess Japan to me is a land of wonders where all those funny things and trend setters originate from! Damm ... going to Sapporo!! I wish I had relatives in Japan

Anyways, thanks for the info guys!!! Appreciate it greatly!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any forum users from Japan would like me to bring any stuff from Perth or Singapore, let me know. Please, small packages only as I'm lugging a couple of bags due to the cold weather in China. Rezz, anything from your family in Perth? Cheers

Oh ... its some sort like a reversal for Aust. You need to have a X number of local employees before you can outsource staff from over countries ... BTW, since there are quite a number of forum users in Japan, why not set up a retail shop that do with auto parts? And, I guess getting a PR after being employed there for a couple of years is also outside the possible ... ?

Luckily I dont have a house, no wife nor kids! I think I go apply for a taxi permit to drive in Tokyo, that way, needless to buy any car! Earn heaps too! heeh

Hi Michael, thanks for the reply. My schedule is too tight, cant afford another day going up north. - 13th Tokyo reach in the afternoon. Reach hotel around evening. Dinner and venture around Shinjuku area - 14th Workshop/garage visit, evening shopping - 15th TAS, evening shopping - 16th Disney - 17th last min walk around, flight out to Beijing - 18th BJ - 19th Beijing to Guangzhou interstate - 20th Guangzhou to Hong Kong - blah blah blah. By the time I reach back to Singapore, its end of the month man! heeh ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sapporo!! nice =p *never been there or anywhere near it though*

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought about renting a car but the thing is I cant even read Jap road signs! Would imagine instead of getting from point A to point B in a pattern of wavy zig zag routes, I ended up in point Z where there's nothing but a series of cross roads!! hahaha ... There will be three persons which include me, gf and friend or just me and gf, scooter is prolly outta the question. Since my gf wouldnt dare sit on one. Though I would love to rent a R1 or a Haya there Blagging/flagging rides from fellow forums users sounds way too good, but its like imposing on them and causing inconvenience to others. Besides, I track a couple of threads and I'm worried the garages or workshops that they have in mind does not coincide with the ones I wish to visit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WoW, didnt know that its so expensive!!! Damm, I think I should go Japan and be a taxi driver instead!! heeh JUN, was it like more of a garage or a retail type of place?? Ermm ... is there a difference between white and yellow or black for that matter!? lol ...

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone helpful souls could help out with some doubts I have regarding Japan, in particular Tokyo. 1. Is there any chance I will get to see some real snow during the period of TAS 05?? I'm going Beijing right after the TAS but my sis told me there wont be any snow in Jan for Beijing so I'm pinning my hopes on Tokyo!! 2. If there isnt gonna be snow fiesta in Jan for Tokyo, where would be the nearest place to see in Japan during that period apart from Mt Fuji?? 3. My friend who is currently in the Singapore Army as an officer is finishing his contract in about 1.8years time. He holds a Mechanical Degree from the local Uni in Singapore. He is thinking of settling down in Japan after a previous visit there, but he doesnt want to teach. Would it be hard for a foreigner to set up an auto retail shop in Japan? Anyone any idea what would be the general guidelines for this? 4. Is it very expensive to book a taxi for a 5 hour period as I'm thinking of visiting a few workshops and garages during my stay in Tokyo for the TAS 05. Since most of the famous ones are outside of Japan or somehow along the perimeter, I guess a taxi would solve the travelling problem. The shops I'm visiting tentatively stay at: - Mugen - Toda - Jun - HKS - Autobacs - Cusco - ZERO1000 - Apexi Actually I'm not even sure the address for most places as its in Jap language and I could only recognised some chinese letterings. And I think there are too many places to visit within a day! *Pardon me if my ignorance irate anyone for the questions I asked. Coz this trip to Japan is a first for me :Oops: Anyways, hope to see some posts soon. And thanks so much for the help. Cheers, Ben

Hey, I will be going too with my gf and another of my mate with some of his friends from Singapore. Think I stated in another thread but I'm being missed out in this thread!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arrival Narita 13th Jan, Departure 17th Jan Still awaiting confirmation for hotel room at Shinjuku Vintage (AU$110). Anyone has better recommendations on pricing and the proximity nearest to Shinjuku? Will be visiting TAS on the Sat for a day only due to tight schedule as I'm doing some usual tourist rounds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will be super duper grateful if anyone can let me in on the garages and workshops visit list and also the itinerary for Sat. Cheers

Hey there, thanks for the vouch and the kind information for all to share around. Cheers

Hi all, thanks so much for the wonderful response. All 20 numbers of intercooler has been taken up. This group buy is finished for now. I will email all buyers payment details by this Sunday latest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If anyone is still interested in the FMIC, but your name is not in the thread, please feel free to drop me a PM. If there're strong demand of 20 numbers of the cooler, I will organise another one at the same price. If there are a minimum of 15 interested parties willing to partake in the next purchase, I will post up the details. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sure, will let you know if there's any left. Cheers

FMIC Package Dimension - 820*315*115 Total Weight - EST. 9.3KG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I will post up some couriers pricing on this Friday as I'm currently quite busy with work. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope this helps.