Plaza Japan

[Lessigen]

(Very) late as I didn't get the email until just now, but the cart abandonment code for March is mustbuymarch for ¥ 1,000 off ¥ 10,000

[Kingmeow]

Does anyone know the April code?  I just got an e-mail reminding me about my abandoned cart today (April) but it gave me a mustbuymarch discount code in the e-mail.  I find that a bit odd so I tried it anyway and obviously no go.

 

I'll wait some more and see if I get another e-mail with the April code.  But if I can get a correct code I can place the order right away.

Edited April 6 by Kingmeow

[Lessigen]

On 4/6/2025 at 6:49 PM, Kingmeow said:

Does anyone know the April code?  I just got an e-mail reminding me about my abandoned cart today (April) but it gave me a mustbuymarch discount code in the e-mail.  I find that a bit odd so I tried it anyway and obviously no go.

 

I'll wait some more and see if I get another e-mail with the April code.  But if I can get a correct code I can place the order right away.

 

mustbuyapril and dontforgetapril don't work. I had a cart set up a couple nights ago and they usually send one on the second or third cart abandonment email, so with any luck I'll get it tonight or tomorrow.

[Kingmeow]

LOL!  I tried mustbuyapril too thinking about the pattern but it didn't work.  🤣

 

I forwarded my e-mail to info@plazajapan and pointed out that the system e-mail was sent in April but a March code was given, which doesn't work.  I'll see if they will respond else I will empty cart and add a new item and wait for the abandoned cart e-mail.

 

Please post whoever gets it first.  🙂

[Little-Kinder]

Is plaza japan worth using if you live in japan? or it's aimed at foreign countries only with higher prices?

[Kingmeow]

Having been to Japan twice and mostly to the larger cities, don't you guys have model train shops like we have pizza shops here in the US?  🤣  I would think you have better options than Plaza if you live in Japan.  You can mail order from places like TamTam, Joshin or even Yodobashi from their websites.

Edited April 8 by Kingmeow

[Ekiben]

2 hours ago, Little-Kinder said:

Is plaza japan worth using if you live in japan?

I tried to place an order with PJ when I was staying with my in-laws in Japan in May 2024, and my order wouldn’t go through. Something about them not being able to ship domestically. I’m unsure of they have a Japanese site that would get around this. I’ve had no such trouble in previous visits over the years with other shops, including RG Rokko, Hobby Search and Ami Ami.

[Little-Kinder]

3 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

Having been to Japan twice and mostly to the larger cities, don't you guys have model train shops like we have pizza shops here in the US?  🤣  I would think you have better options than Plaza if you live in Japan.  You can mail order from places like TamTam, Joshin or even Yodobashi from their websites.

the problem with physical stores is that they don't have everything, it's a mess to find what you want since you can only see the side like books with the numbers.

Also if you are in central tokyo yeah you have quite the number, but outside of the yamanote it dwindles.

But it's great for buildings and stuff as you can see what exists and what are the options (also it's quite often more expensive than online).

 

So really I just go to see or use their rental layouts. or because they have events (like the kato hobby center)

 

I mostly use amazon jp, rakuten, yodobashi or tekkon depending on which is cheaper, for used stuff, mercari, yahoo auctions, surugaya and hardoff are my go to.

Edited April 8 by Little-Kinder

[cteno4]

Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little and create a nice relationship with a local store. Always fun to visit them and perhaps get some help now and then with a part order or such. You are very lucky to be living in a place with shops all around you, most of the rest of us around the world are lucky if they have a single model train shop within a hour or so transit, and they wont have any japanese trains! If everyone only orders from online shops there wont be any local shops open anymore.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

23 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

LOL!  I tried mustbuyapril too thinking about the pattern but it didn't work.  🤣

 

I forwarded my e-mail to info@plazajapan and pointed out that the system e-mail was sent in April but a March code was given, which doesn't work.  I'll see if they will respond else I will empty cart and add a new item and wait for the abandoned cart e-mail.

 

Please post whoever gets it first.  🙂

 

Plaza Japan replied with the April code: allaboardapril

 

They were profusely apologetic in typical Japanese fashion.  😁

[RS18U]

How does one get these magical codes I read about?  Just ask like you did?  I have made multiple orders with them over the last year but have never got a code.

Edited Friday at 04:55 PM by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[Lessigen]

There's two ways: ask them (though it may be a coincidence in Kingmeow's case as they got an email in April for a March order), or go into checkout with some random order, abandon your cart then wait a few days for them to possibly send a code through the cart abandonment emails.

Edited Friday at 04:55 PM by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[Kingmeow]

Note, the discount isn't huge by any means given people usually place large'ish orders to maximize the shipping costs but every dollar counts.  The discount is ¥1,000 off your order if your order is over ¥10,000.

[Lessigen]

Fresh from their Instagram page: INSTA777 for ¥2,000 off ¥10,000. Double their usual monthly discount.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIkZaGOtfWh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[Section31]

4 hours ago, Lessigen said:

Fresh from their Instagram page: INSTA777 for ¥2,000 off ¥10,000. Double their usual monthly discount.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIkZaGOtfWh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

At least this helps make the shipping less painful. Been pricing everywhere globally for track addons for kato v13 i picked up recently and i need to replace one of the pantograph on my kato 10-2000.  Broke one doing some work on them. Brand new too lol. Plaza Japan seems to be best option.

 

Tried local shops doesn’t have all that i need and kind of pricy per item (part of being in canada). Similar case with Europe but i can combine it with some incoming items to get rid of shipping costs. Asia is very affordable but the issue is potentially high shipping costs. Only other solution is splitting orders all over the asian resellers in various countries to control shipping costs. Overly complicated to ordering stuff nowadays in general aka the chase to get the item for lowest costs overall possible.

Edited Friday at 09:39 AM by Section31

[katoftw]

Because of the size of the stryofoam in katos variation sets. It's cheaper to buy individual 4 piece track packs.  Smaller volume.

[Section31]

I noticed that even with the z21 starter kit and roco ho track packs. Though i am only paying 27euro flat rate shipping from modellippe so whatever. Thats where europe shipping wins for heavy/big items. So i explored buying the tracks stuff from them.

 

I also looked at adding on the track stuff (they don’t have the pantograph replacement) to preorders i have at Khaho. i rather not buy another set of the trains to fix damaged pantograph. That and adding even the individual tracks will push my shipping from 80-220hkd to easily 390hkd. So its an ongoing watch (i am in no rush) where it’s best to buy from.

Edited Friday at 04:54 PM by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[Section31]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:02 AM, cteno4 said:

Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little and create a nice relationship with a local store. Always fun to visit them and perhaps get some help now and then with a part order or such. You are very lucky to be living in a place with shops all around you, most of the rest of us around the world are lucky if they have a single model train shop within a hour or so transit, and they wont have any japanese trains! If everyone only orders from online shops there wont be any local shops open anymore.

 

That is why when i go back to Hong Kong/China (would use taobao if china) every year its great for overall toy shopping including model trains. The shops are 30min walk/transit or less and i have lot more time to shop around/multiple visits. It helps when i get 2weeks stuck there as it is my Second home (have place to stay at). 

 

I only get like 3-4 days in Japan and it is really difficult to find time with so much else to do. Meals and Tax Free at the department store (ladies skincare generally) and even uniqlo/muji takes couple hours easily.

 

I do wish there were more shops that are effectively both a storefront in china and in north america for model trains. Inventory is from china/asia side but they just ship directly to themselves. It exists in my city for gundam and anime stuff.

Edited Friday at 04:54 PM by disturbman
shortening quote

[Kingmeow]

8 hours ago, Lessigen said:

Fresh from their Instagram page: INSTA777 for ¥2,000 off ¥10,000. Double their usual monthly discount.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIkZaGOtfWh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Thanks for pushing me over the edge!  🤣  I am sitting on my shopping cart for days, even with the monthly discount.  Now with this ¥2,000 discount it will push me click on that Order button!  Like Section31 said, this will help with the shipping.  It will cut my shipping in half (DHL Express).

 

BTW, do you know when it expires?  I'm not on Instagram.  I did get an e-mail recently about this ad campaign from Plaza.

[Section31]

Same decided to place my order with that discount too. Got to love how individual tracks and controllers cost more to ship than the actual n scale trains. 

Edited Friday at 04:54 PM by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[Lessigen]

2 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

 

Thanks for pushing me over the edge!  🤣  I am sitting on my shopping cart for days, even with the monthly discount.  Now with this ¥2,000 discount it will push me click on that Order button!  Like Section31 said, this will help with the shipping.  It will cut my shipping in half (DHL Express).

 

BTW, do you know when it expires?  I'm not on Instagram.  I did get an e-mail recently about this ad campaign from Plaza.

 

Unfortunately they did not specify an expiration date for this code, however they did mention there will be a "next code"

[Kingmeow]

"Next Code"???!!!!  Uh oh!  😲  (What's that noise?  Mr. Wallet is running away.)

[Section31]

1 hour ago, Kingmeow said:

"Next Code"???!!!!  Uh oh!  😲  (What's that noise?  Mr. Wallet is running away.)

For me : Now onto next part which is paying for the incoming khaho may preorder and modellippe order. Might pickup some of the discount N stuff there myself. Its absolutely fun balancing all my preorders and then forced to be careful what i pickup 

 

I have decided on getting the sudexpress euro9000 too after seeing the recent german trade show. I also badly want the hobbytrain/kato lemke dcc stadler kiss (four car version with sound), the six carriage one is going to be expensive.

Edited Friday at 09:29 PM by Section31
preorders

[Kingmeow]

Note, INSTA777 expired.  Last day of use was yesterday, April 20th.  Of course I dragged my feet (had other more important issues) and when I went to order just now it popped up an expiration message.  😞  It was a good one at $14 off which cuts the shipping in half.

 

Oh well, @Lessigen please post the "Next Code" if you ever get one.

 

With the decreasing strength of the USD, might as well wait a little.  I'll also be in Japan for 4 weeks in October.  Hopefully the USD will strengthen back up by then.  🤞

Edited 2 hours ago by Kingmeow