| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
bonyE
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Australia
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:54 am Post subject: DVDs, CDs - How many can you take into Japan? |
 |
|
I've done a quick search of the forum, and can't seem to find anyone who has asked this before, so hopefully I'm not just repeating the obvious, but:
I was wondering if there were regulations as to how many DVDs and/or CDs you could bring into Japan? I have quite a collection, you see, maybe close to 200 dvds, and probably about 100 cds.
I mean, i might not be able to fit them into my bag, granted, but I was thinking of getting family to ship them over to me when I get settled in, but are they just going to get stopped by customs and confiscated, or...?
Thanks in advance!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I honestly don't know but I doubt that there is a restriction.
The only thing you might want to consider is what you are going to play them on (well DVDs anyway). Japan is in a different region to well anywhere else in the world, so you will need to get a DVD player that will play your DVDs.
Actually, thinking about it, why not download it all onto a portable hard drive, it's gotta be the same price as lugging all those disks around. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bonyE
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| markle wrote: |
| I honestly don't know but I doubt that there is a restriction. |
->I ask, because a family member told me that when she travelled overseas, some other countries had restrictions on how many dvds/cds you could take in/out of the country - and that a lot of people's home videos or dvds would be 'lost' or confiscated, and end up on the streets being sold illegally. O_O But I haven't heard anything about people running into trouble with DVDs in Japan, so I suppose it doesn't apply there. Just wanted to make sure though  Better safe then rocking up with a collection worth hundreds, only to lose it all 
| markle wrote: |
| Japan is in a different region to well anywhere else in the world |
->Yep, no sweat, I know all about regions; that's pretty easy to get around. I've got a program that lets me play any region'd dvd on my computer, and you can buy some dvd players that'll do the same
| markle wrote: |
| Actually, thinking about it, why not download it all onto a portable hard drive |
->That's a sweet idea; I'd probably need a portable harddrive anyway, moving from a PC to a laptop is gonna be hard  I guess I just wanted to cling to my dvds - i mean, i bought them because I'm just a sucker for having the solid thing in my hand, but i suppose it's time to let go of those material wastes-of-space. Besides, I gotta worry about what I'll do with my book collection now too!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Just pack them in a box and ship them. Save the valuable space in your luggage for more important things. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
king kakipi
Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 353
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I sent 100s of cds from Oz to the uk and they wanted a lot of duty paid on them before they would deliver them. If it wasn't paid they were going to be destroyed!!
I'd rip em all onto a MYBook or similar external drive and take that.
Cheers
kk |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bonyE
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
| Just pack them in a box and ship them. Save the valuable space in your luggage for more important things. |
That's what i was going to do, but I wanted to know if packages get checked, and if customs/whoever opened up a giant box of dvds/cds etc, if they'd all be allowed through or not...?
Like how you can have limits on how many packs of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, you bring into a country, i wanted to know if there were limits on DVDs/CDs for Japan? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bonyE
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| king kakipi wrote: |
| I sent 100s of cds from Oz to the uk and they wanted a lot of duty paid on them before they would deliver them. |
Eish, that sucks! But yes, i was worried the same thing might happen in Japan.
| king kakipi wrote: |
| I'd rip em all onto a MYBook or similar external drive and take that. |
This is sounding like the smartest option. Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Put them on an ipod. Mine plays about 20,000 songs and is the size of my wallet. Then you can get some good speakers and play them on that. The quality will be better than any stereo you find. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Perpetual Traveller
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 651
Location: In the Kak, Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bonyE wrote: |
| ->Yep, no sweat, I know all about regions; that's pretty easy to get around. I've got a program that lets me play any region'd dvd on my computer |
I'd love to know what the program is, I have loads of region 1 dvds but I'll soon be returning to Oz so I'll want to play my region 4 ones as well.
PT |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wasabi Bomb
Joined: 03 Jul 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Osaka, Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have brought loads of CDs, DVDs, and VCDs into Japan on numerous occasions and they have never mentioned them. I don't bring their original cases, but put them all in those leather storage books.
I've never heard of anyone having problems with their discs in Japan. I'd only be concerned if I were bringing uncensored porn or obviously pirated stuff. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
drifter13
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 124
Location: Fujisawa
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I'll probably go the external HD route myself. Does anyone know if it's safe to take it through the airport scanner? It won't wipe the drive will it? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Perpetual Traveller wrote: |
| bonyE wrote: |
| ->Yep, no sweat, I know all about regions; that's pretty easy to get around. I've got a program that lets me play any region'd dvd on my computer |
I'd love to know what the program is, I have loads of region 1 dvds but I'll soon be returning to Oz so I'll want to play my region 4 ones as well.
PT |
There are lots, called region free dvd programs.
I also bought a region free dvd machine from www.theflyingpig.com for about 12,000 yen, works fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GIR
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 64
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| drifter13 wrote: |
| I'll probably go the external HD route myself. Does anyone know if it's safe to take it through the airport scanner? It won't wipe the drive will it? |
Considering that they don't wipe out the hard drives on laptops that go through, I imagine an external will be fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Perpetual Traveller
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 651
Location: In the Kak, Japan
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gordon wrote: |
| Perpetual Traveller wrote: |
| bonyE wrote: |
| ->Yep, no sweat, I know all about regions; that's pretty easy to get around. I've got a program that lets me play any region'd dvd on my computer |
I'd love to know what the program is, I have loads of region 1 dvds but I'll soon be returning to Oz so I'll want to play my region 4 ones as well.
PT |
There are lots, called region free dvd programs.
I also bought a region free dvd machine from www.theflyingpig.com for about 12,000 yen, works fine. |
I know the programs are out there, but since I haven't used one before I was kind of hoping for a recommendation. As for buying a DVD player, well unfortunately I don't think I could fit one in my backpack, the kitchen sink takes up too much room!  
PT |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bonyE
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Perpetual Traveller wrote: |
| I'd love to know what the program is, I have loads of region 1 dvds but I'll soon be returning to Oz so I'll want to play my region 4 ones as well.PT |
I use one called DVD Region+CSS Free, altho i got it ages ago. Dunno if it's still out there... But yeah, just try doing a goggle search, and you'll probably come across some forums which recommend which programs are good or not, and where you can grab 'em from. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
