Whether it's Japan's gorgeous seasonal scenery, the unique traditional culture and performing arts, or the diverse food culture featuring global favorites like sushi, ramen, yakiniku and tempura, every tourist has their own reasons for coming to Japan.

Another common draw is <@shopping in Japan|article:a0001775@>. As you might expect, stores near sightseeing spots across the country are full of tourists, eager to shop.

In addition to department stores and brand-name shops, tourists love Japan's electronics stores. But these stores have started selling much more than appliances, and the high-end wristwatches they sell are particularly popular. Apparently, a lot of foreign visitors come here specifically to purchase a SEIKO watch.. Some go to SEIKO stores, but the watch department of electronics stores is another convenient place to find them.

Visitors to Japan love SEIKO watches. Before we share where they're sold and what they're like, let’s take a look at the brand’s history.

SEIKO's origins trace back to 1881 with the establishment of the Hattori Watch Store in Ginza,Tokyo. Since then, the company has remained a leading figure in Japan's watch industry, competing with renowned European and global brands. The SEIKO trademark was officially formed in 1924, marking the beginning of their journey in developing innovative technologies. Their watches, used for timekeeping in various international sports events, have played a significant role in enhancing the watch culture in Japan. Continuously innovating, SEIKO persists in advancing the boundaries of their technological capabilities to the present day.

We’ll introduce two brands that are particularly popular among visitors to Japan.

PROSPEX is a brand with a lot of helpful functions suited for use in sports and outdoors. The brand was originally developed as Japan's first diving watch. Since then, it has developed for use in a wide variety of activities. Recently, Major League Baseball player Shohei Otani has become well known as SEIKO’s image character. Its sophisticated design shines through in business settings as well.

PRESAGE is the result of over 100 years of experience in mechanical watch manufacturing. This popular brand aims to capture a distinctly Japanese sense of beauty by incorporating Japanese elements in the dial. It's like wearing a piece of Japanese art on your wrist, and for that reason, this brand has become especially popular with Japan-lovers from overseas. These watches exude the pride and reverence the manufacturers hold for Japanese craftsmanship and tradition.

Akihabara is one of the best places in Japan to buy electronics and is also a paradise for fans of anime, video games, and other niche interests. Among the many electronics stores in Akihabara, Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba is perhaps the most revered. "This store has the largest selection of SEIKO watches among all Yodobashi Camera stores."

We were greeted by Rabin Patel, the group leader of the watch department at Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba. Fluent in Japanese, English and Nepali, he helps tourists from all over the world on a daily basis.

According to Patel, "SEIKO is popular across the globe. They're trusted for their high quality." He explains that the PROSPEX line, in particular, got a huge boost in popularity after partnering with Shohei Ohtani and garnered a lot of attention abroad. Now, we'll introduce some of the most popular PROSPEX products available at Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba.

All of SEIKO's expertise as the first Japanese manufacturer of diving watches went into creating the PROSPEX Diver Scuba SBEJ011, a premium sports watch. This is the first of SEIKO's mechanical diving watches with a GMT function, which displays the time in a second time zone, a convenient addition for travelers. The 72 hours of power reserve make it highly functional, and the stylish black color is perfect for the office.

The Alpinist line finds its roots in SEIKO's inaugural sports watch, the Laurel Alpinist, introduced in 1959. Perfect for hiking and mountain climbing, these classic sports watches exude a timeless style. The SBDC091 model, featuring a robust brown leather strap, is elegant but durable enough for outdoor activities and everyday use.

With its luxurious forest green dial accented by the red of the secondary GMT hand, which denotes an additional time zone, the SBEJ005 model is a truly premium iteration of the Alpinist line. This model is exclusive to Japan.

Near the upscale shopping district of Ginza and within walking distance of Tokyo Station, BicCamera Yurakucho is conveniently located among the area's many brand-name stores. You'll see a lot of tourists here with their arms full of shopping bags.

"We’re seeing lots of foreign tourists visiting partly because the yen is weak at the moment," says Takahiro Shindo, the manager of the watch department at BicCamera Yurakucho.

In the large SEIKO area of BicCamera Yurakucho's watch department, the PRESAGE line is the most prominent. "Some of our overseas customers have done considerable research in advance and are drawn to the PRESAGE," Shindo says. Let's take a look at the most popular PRESAGE models that visitors to Japan are most eager to purchase.

Designed around the theme of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, the new SARX107 of the Craftsmanship Series features an impressive lacquered dial that is handcrafted by artisans. The unique luster and depth of the black lacquer is a beautiful contrast to the glittering gold-colored second hand. Though the design may remind you of a precious piece of lacquerware, this watch is far from delicate. With shock and water resistance to rival any other SEIKO watch, you can treasure this watch for many years.

When you purchase applicable products at Yodobashi Camera or BicCamera, you'll receive a free pair of SEIKO chopsticks (with a chopstick bag). In addition, if you show the LIVE JAPAN website at Yodobashi Camera Akiba, Yodobashi Camera Umeda, BicCamera Yurakucho, or BicCamera Namba, you can get a Japanese-style drawstring bag with the SEIKO logo. (Limited quantity; available on a first-come, first-served basis.)

The two electronics stores we introduced in this article are both SEIKO Global Brand Core Shops, which stock SEIKO's global lines. In addition, Global Brand Core Shops offer a wide array of products and are staffed by watch experts who are happy to answer questions in a variety of languages. They also carry models you can only find at Core Shops and other exclusive models.

In addition to Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba and BicCamera Yurakucho, the stores described in this article, there are electronics stores all across Japan where you can buy SEIKO wristwatches. Make sure to drop by one during your visit to Japan.

The representative store of Yodobashi Camera in Osaka

The representative store of Bic Camera in Osaka