Tokyo Airport Mishap

SSSSSStress😵

My family were returning home to Canada from a 3 months visit to the Far East including visiting Taiwan which is my wife’s birthplace. It was pre 9/11 so passing through customs was not as daunting an event as current times but still an ordeal. My wife noticed a group of young ladies all wearing new outfits and brand new footwear, one might assume at least some items were not being declared. I was more focused on the gent ahead of us who was being truly harassed over his well worn gold Rolex D/D watch until the seasoned traveller was allowed to display an aged recipe that was tearing apart at the folds, he was quickly processed on his way. His travel companion a much younger fella was sporting what appeared to be a gold PP Worldtimer watch which he handed over to the Rolex owner while we were all waiting for cabs to continue our trips. I allowed my imagination to fill in the blanks in the story that I witnessed.

I meant receipt, haha.

I’m sorry, what happened? I’m not sure I understand.

they won't check you upon arrival, I assume you don't hold a Japanese passport.

No I don't. Ok whew. Thanks for the info.

very sad what has happened in Japan and at Haneda airport over the past several days ... it is a truly wonderous miracle that everyone onboard JL516 managed to de-plane safely! 😮

Last June, GF & I flew from Manila to Narita (Tokyo's other international airport) with JAL on or way back to Canada. We had a 23 hr lay-over and anticipated trouble with Japanese Customs as my GF is a Philippine citizen, who require a visa to enter Japan (which she forgot to obtain). Anyhoo, turned out not to be a problem because she was just transiting thru the country and was promptly issued a 36 hr "Shore Pass"; so all good! The Staff and Customs Officials at Narita were friendly, helpful and professional ... top notch!

Was my first experience in Japan and very much want to return for a longer stay! 👍

Like @SpecKTator Kevin, I find the pics a little cryptic.

You were flagged by customs because the watch shop said you bought some stuff you didn’t? Or you opened a package you weren’t supposed to? Was customs hunting for you?

I’m curious since I buy lots of stuff in Japan and am there every year.

On rare occasions a store wraps the item up in fancy packaging and says “do no open until you’ve left Japan, or else”! And I promptly ignore those commands and open it, if I need it ( like a backpack on my last trip)

If you don’t mind, I’d be curious to hear more details, to see if Canuck me should be more careful.

Yes some terrible new years tragedies, my wife’s family there is safe, but felt the earthquake all the way over in Kobe area

(Story deleted)

I arrived safely in Taiwan

Wow - brutal! But very interesting! I now know I better be ready to show any purchase. Crazy scenario for you, lucky not late for the flight.

I always doubted that watch shops (and other stores) actually communicated with customs , that it was a bit of puffery just for show.

Also, I saw your post about the watches you bought and they were inexpensive Chinese clomage style

Was Customs was freaking out thinking you’d bought some fakes and were flipping one of them for 5 or 10 bucks profit? or Did u also get a real AP? 😮😃

I bought 3 homages in Shinjuku. Those don’t count.

That is super stressful. Sorry you had to go through that and having to relive it while trying to give us information. Thank you.

I’m just going to stick to get kitschy toys from the gachapons 😂

😂 that makes more sense! had thought the homages were all you'd gotten.

And locations track - Shinjuku homage vs Ginza real deal😉

Also, wow! Heavy hitter. I can understand how 2 of those would get attention from customs. Pretty lame on the screw up. IMHO Watch shop should be apologizing even if somehow isn't on them, it 100% isn't on you.

Congrats on the epic new beast, it's Ti as well, correct? I've only limited AP knowledge, but I believe this RO model is super rare.