How to buy guitars from Japan? Everything you need to know

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guitars from japan

Japan is well-known for its meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, so it’s no surprise that made-in-Japan guitars are among the most sought-after instruments. Japanese instruments can be found in the hands of many of the world’s best players, including shred guitar legends like Steve Vai, Grammy Award-winning jazz players like George Benson, and even the world’s best-selling country artist, Garth Brooks.

If you’re in the market for a new guitar, you should think about some of Japan’s best guitar brands. Here’s everything you need to know about how to choose the best Japanese guitar and how to buy guitars from Japan

I. Special features of Japanese guitar

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Guitars from Japan, like most of the country’s products, are handcrafted by skilled artisans who pay close attention to detail. Japanese guitars are highly regarded throughout the world, so it’s no surprise that owning a Japanese-made guitar inspires a great deal of pride and envy. Here are a few reasons why you should buy a Japanese guitar:

1.1. Japanese guitars are high quality

High-quality materials are used to make Japanese guitars. The wood used to make the necks and bodies of Japanese guitars is harvested from some of Japan’s best wood trees, and the strings are subjected to rigorous quality control before being installed in the instruments. Is it any surprise, then, that Japanese guitars have such a refined sound?

Guitars from Japan are made by people who have a tradition of great craftsmanship and strict quality control, in addition to using high-quality materials.

1.2. Japanese guitars come with many reasonably priced options

Let’s face it: good guitars aren’t cheap. You wouldn’t, for example, compare the cost of an original masterpiece like a Fender Stratocaster to its replica, would you?

The great thing about buying guitars from Japan is that you have a wide range of brands and models to choose from, depending on your budget. You can also get a used high-end guitar from Japan for a fraction of the price of a new one.

>>> Read more: 17 Traditional Japanese Musical Instruments You Should Know

II. Where to buy guitars from Japan?

Japan is widely regarded as a step above other eastern countries, with some of the industry’s most recognizable brands, such as Ibanez and ESP. The country is well-known for producing high-quality guitars. However, regardless of your level of expertise, selecting the best brand can be difficult. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned musician, the guitar brand you select will have an impact on your performance.

Here is a list of the best Japanese guitar brands that are stealing the show and providing guitar enthusiasts with the most cutting-edge instruments on the market.

2.1. Ibanez

Since its foundation in the year of 1957, Ibanez has remained a well-known Japanese instrument brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Its headquarters are in Nagoya, Japan, and it sells electric, bass, and acoustic guitars. It was one of the first guitar manufacturers to mass-produce seven-string and eight-string guitars.

Ibanez guitars have been used by many famous guitar virtuosos. Modern-day players such as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jake Bowen, Tom Quayle, Tim Henson, and Scott LePage have all used these guitars.

buying guitars from japan

This brand’s catalog is extensive, with guitars in a wide range of shapes and sizes. While Ibanez is best known for their brightly colored electric guitars, they also manufacture more subdued acoustic and semi-acoustic instruments, as well as signature models for players such as Jon Gomm and Pat Metheny. They have also recently attempted to enter the market of more classic Fender-Esque guitars with their new AZ line, which many young players are gravitating toward.

Furthermore, Ibanez is known for producing high-quality guitars at a surprisingly low cost. Unless you purchase a signature series guitar, you should expect to pay less than $1300. This means that guitar enthusiasts can find the perfect match for them regardless of their budget.

2.2. Takamine

Takamine is a Japanese guitar brand that first launched in 1962. For the past 60 years, it has been producing high-quality guitars and has grown to become a globally recognized brand in the guitar industry.

The company is headquartered in Nakatsugawa, Japan, and is well-known for being the first to introduce acoustic-electric models. Furthermore, Takamine has raised the bar for guitar manufacturing around the world with its steel-string acoustic guitars, for which the company is well-known.

In the first days of its establishment, Takamine had to work extremely hard to meet the standards of American manufacturers. However, the company was able to make a name for itself in the world of guitar manufacturing thanks to its acoustic-electric guitars. 

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Takamine’s guitar craftsmanship is a reflection of perfection and expertise. Those guitars made by Takamine are not specially designed for any particular genre. Instead, this brand sells guitars to musicians of all levels of ability.

Takamine Pro Series, which features guitars made to absolute perfection, is one of the company’s top series. To provide guitar professionals with a high-quality model, the company employs the finest woods and the most exceptional woodworking techniques.

Takamine guitars have been used by many artists. Jon Bon Jovi, Blake Shelton, Steven Wilson, Garth Brooks, Simon Neil, Jake Allen, Jason Charles Miller, Chris Hillman, and others are among these artists.

2.3. Alvarez Yairi Series

Alvarez Guitars must be included on a list of the best Japanese guitar brands. While Alvarez Guitars is technically an American guitar brand, the Alvarez Yairi Series guitars are among the best Japanese-made guitars available.

The company makes both pro-level guitars and guitars for beginners and hobbyists. The Yairi series is one of the best for professionals. This company’s guitars are without a doubt among the finest available on the market. There aren’t many brands in Japan or anywhere else in the world that can compete with the quality of these guitars.

how to buy guitars japanese

Alvarez was founded in 1965 and has been producing high-quality guitars ever since. The company was founded in order to provide affordable guitars to aspiring musicians. By implementing best practices, the company has met its objectives and continues to provide guitarists with high-quality instruments at a reasonable price.

The instruments made by this company, which makes luthier-made guitars, are exquisitely designed. The build quality of each of these guitars is out of this world, and it’s one of the main reasons why so many guitar enthusiasts prefer these models.

>>> Read more: Amazon Online Purchase | Buy from Amazon Japan

III. The process to buy guitars from Japan

Of course, if you’re looking for a Japanese guitar, the best place to begin your search is in Japan. Tokyo appears to have a section dedicated to just about anything, including guitars.

If you aren’t currently in Japan, many production models from major Japanese brands can be found all over the world. Ibanez, Takamine, and a slew of other brands can be found in major retailers throughout North America and Europe. But unfortunately, these brands don’t ship internationally. But this doesn’t mean you cannot buy Japanese guitars.

buying guitars from japan via janbox

That’s where Janbox, a user-friendly proxy-buying service, comes to the rescue.

We’ve included the most popular Japanese online shopping sites, including Mercari, Rakuten, Yahoo! Auctions, Amazon Japan, and others. As a result, Janbox has access to hundreds of products from different brands. If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality Japanese product, Janbox is a great place to start.

Janbox has been in the business for many years. We understand the concerns of buyers outside Japan and offer solutions. You are more likely to buy your guitar at a lower price if you use Janbox because our shipping fees are reasonable around the world and you can pay with any international credit card.

Here are the simple steps you can take to purchase guitar or guitar accessories through Janbox.

Step 1: Register Janbox’s account

The most straightforward method is to visit Janbox’s website. You can create a Janbox account by entering your email address and password, or you can sign up using your Google or Facebook account.

Step 2: Search for the items you want to buy

Enter the name of the product you’re looking for in the Janbox search bar or copy the link. You can also find the products by using the product categories on the left side of this page. Janbox offers six languages to make purchasing easier for customers: English, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Taiwanese. As such, you can find your beloved items without any hassle. 

Step 3: Validate the item’s specifications

Once you’ve found your desired items, you can double-click on them to get more immersed information about the number, color, and size. All of this information will be prominently displayed in the title and description of the product. We strongly advise you to read these requirements thoroughly before making a purchase.

You should also look into the product’s price, sale taxes, and, if applicable, domestic shipping costs. Sale taxes and domestic delivery charges will be waived on certain items. Certain items, however, will necessitate the payment of these two additional fees.

Step 4: Complete your order with the payment for Janbox

Following completion of the order form at Janbox, you must pay the value of the order you’ve just purchased.

Janbox accepts two methods of payment, including: 

  • Method 1: Use your Janbox wallet. It implies that you intend to deposit funds into Janbox’s wallet. One yen equals one point. When you pay for your order using this method, Janbox will automatically deduct the appropriate number of points. Your remaining points will be applied to your next order.
  • Method 2: Pay by credit card or PayPal. You only need to provide Janbox with the order value. The deal is now complete.
Janbox logo

Step 5: Choose a shipping method.

You will receive an email once your order has been delivered to the Janbox warehouse. You must now notify us of any optional services, such as consolidation, checking, and repackaging. Then you select an international shipping method. Your order will be delivered earlier than expected.

Step 6: Sit tight and wait for your package to arrive.

The item will be delivered to your address once you have completed the Janbox payment. Each shipment method comes with a tracking number. This tracking number will be emailed to you, and you will be able to check the status of your order on the Janbox website. The delivery time is estimated to be 7-10 working days. It is determined by the method of delivery you choose. All that remains is for you to pay the overseas shipping fee and wait for the products to arrive at your door. 

>>> Read more: Top 10 cool things to buy from Japan

IV. Why should you choose the buying service at Janbox?

Janbox is a cross-border eCommerce platform that gives you full access to all of the fantastic items available in Japan. Janbox makes it simple to complete your collection of Japanese items. 

And here are some reasons why you should choose the buying service at Janbox.

Variety of Japanese items

You can find almost anything you want among our extensive product line, including amine, clothing, shoes, and accessories, as well as car parts, electronics, and baby care items.

Reasonable prices

Our customers have access to rare Japanese products of exceptional quality at unbelievable prices. Buying directly from Japanese sellers allows you to get Japanese goods at much lower prices!

No hidden cost with different secure online payment methods

Another reason to love Janbox is that our service fee commission is fixed. There are no hidden fees; the order fee is set. We also accept credit cards, PayPal, and international bank wire transfers, all of which are simple and secure online payment methods.

Some other features

Janbox’s purchasing service is jam-packed with features and functions designed to provide anyone in the world with a secure and enjoyable shopping experience in Japan:

  • Browse Japanese online stores by product category or place bids on Yahoo Japan Auctions.
  • Use search filters to quickly find products
  • Keep track of your packages.
  • Manage your auction orders and bids.
  • For multiple purchased items, we can consolidate and send your packages to you at a lower cost.
  • The website is available in English, Russian, Chinese, and a variety of other languages.

All you have to do is decide which item to purchase and pack your shipment. We handle the payment for your orders with Japanese merchants, store your Japanese goods in our warehouses, and ship your packages worldwide! Our team provides the most efficient packaging possible to ensure that your package travels safely around the world.

>>> Read more: The Proxy Shopping Service from Amazon Japan

V. Conclusion 

And that’s how simple it is to buy guitars from Japan! We recommend that you read our shopping guide before placing your order. Happy guitar shopping with Janbox!