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Cigars in Japan?

njstone

njstone

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So as many of you have heard, it is likely that we will be moving to Japan this summer. I'm wondering if anyone happens to know the answers to a few cigar-related question I have:

1) Would I have to pay tariffs on cigars that I receive by mail while I'm in Japan? I'll be living on a military base (APO). If so, is it "hit and miss" like Canada, or a guaranteed tax (i.e. are cigars purchased from websites taxed but not those from individuals, etc)??

2) Are there any military guys here who've moved large cigar collections overseas? I'm really at a loss for how to accomplish this. I know I can't take everything, and will be doing a lot of sales and trades in the next couple months, but I'm not sure the best way to bring the sticks I want to take (I'd really love to bring about 800 cigars with me to last the 3-year tour).

3) Are there any smoking laws/bans in Japan that I should know about? I'll be living on base (Misawa), and assume that smoking in my backyard will be permitted ...
 
L8A

L8A

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njstone said:
So as many of you have heard, it is likely that we will be moving to Japan this summer. I'm wondering if anyone happens to know the answers to a few cigar-related question I have:

1) Would I have to pay tariffs on cigars that I receive by mail while I'm in Japan? I'll be living on a military base (APO). If so, is it "hit and miss" like Canada, or a guaranteed tax (i.e. are cigars purchased from websites taxed but not those from individuals, etc)??

2) Are there any military guys here who've moved large cigar collections overseas? I'm really at a loss for how to accomplish this. I know I can't take everything, and will be doing a lot of sales and trades in the next couple months, but I'm not sure the best way to bring the sticks I want to take (I'd really love to bring about 800 cigars with me to last the 3-year tour).

3) Are there any smoking laws/bans in Japan that I should know about? I'll be living on base (Misawa), and assume that smoking in my backyard will be permitted ...
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If you have everything ship to an APO you should be good. There are no taxes on Tobacco and alcohol bought on any base so that will reduce your costs further. As for smoking bans, the Japanese smoke just about everywhere. I didnt smoke cigars while I was there so I never really looked for retailers. Hope that helps.
 
njstone

njstone

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L8A said:
If you have everything ship to an APO you should be good. There are no taxes on Tobacco and alcohol bought on any base so that will reduce your costs further. As for smoking bans, the Japanese smoke just about everywhere. I didnt smoke cigars while I was there so I never really looked for retailers. Hope that helps.
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The question is whether the government of Japan opens packages prior to sending them on, in order to charge taxes ... I've heard that they do that with regular folks living in Japan, I'm hoping they don't for APOs.
 
L8A

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njstone said:
The question is whether the government of Japan opens packages prior to sending them on, in order to charge taxes ... I've heard that they do that with regular folks living in Japan, I'm hoping they don't for APOs.
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Not for an APO/FPO. Those are all operated through the US and not Japan.
 
njstone

njstone

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L8A said:
Even better if you get someone on the base you are at now to send them base to base.
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Yea, I was actually thinking if timing works out I might literally be able to mail them to myself, lol! Though I think they make you do Priority Mail for APOs, so that would be tougher. It depends on when they give us an APO--if it's after we arrive, that won't work.

But I'm still hoping to figure out a way to bring them with me that doesn't involve leaving my precious collection in the hands of the US Postal Service ...
 
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I never saw any cigar shops while in Japan though I was there a couple of weeks. While in Korea never really saw any either. APO's are pretty safe, you should just pack up a box before you leave, then have a friend mail it when you get all settled in.
 
L8A

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PhobicSquirrel said:
I never saw any cigar shops while in Japan though I was there a couple of weeks. While in Korea never really saw any either. APO's are pretty safe, you should just pack up a box before you leave, then have a friend mail it when you get all settled in.
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Even if you did see a B&M in Korea I would wonder if anything in it was genuine?? Everything else there is a knock off.
 
gibbleguts

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Wouldn't you like to know?
Check with madoqa he is in Japan. I know that Dan has shipped to him before. At the very least maybe you can set up the first BOTL herf in Japan. He hasn't posted in a bit but was on today
 
ciggy

ciggy

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Dude that is unbelievable....I SERVED IN MISAWA TOO!!!! you gotta PM me with your details brother!!! I'm excited for you and even though it's been a long time for me I still remeber it like it was yesterday!!
 
bigbwalls

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I've lived in Iwakuni, Japan, as my father was in the Marines. Beautiful place.

Mind you, this was a very long time ago, but at the time the Japanese smoked cigarettes EVERYWHERE. I'm sure you won't have a hard time sparking up a stogie in Japan. As for the taxes and such... good luck.
 
njstone

njstone

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Jetexas said:
My sister in-law brought me back some beautiful CC's from Tokyo last year. She said they had a great selection. So you are covered there...
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They seem to have awesome cigars, they're just insanely expensive -- over $25 for a Monte #2, etc.
 
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