Hey everyone! I’m from Norway and I’ve just scored an unbelievable opportunity to travel to Japan for three weeks. I’m super excited to also check out the newly released Switch 2. From what I’ve seen, the prices in Norway are about $200 more than the market price, so I thought buying one in Japan could be a good idea. I’m especially interested in the multilingual version. If anyone has advice on how I could get my hands on one while I’m there, I’d greatly appreciate it!
5 Answers
Just a tip, if you don’t find one in Japan, you can always check out Amazon in France or Germany. A lot of folks from Sweden have had success doing that. I even picked mine up while in Austria!
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend buying a Japanese Switch 2 unless you speak Japanese. They’re technically region-locked, meaning you’ll struggle to play games unless they’re from Japan. You can change your account’s region for lottery applications, but it’s risky.
Yeah, the cartridges are fine across regions but eShop is locked, so it can be a pain!
Getting a multilingual version is tough because it’s sold through lotteries on the My Nintendo Store JP only. You’d need a Japanese account and some gaming credentials to even apply, and lotteries aren’t open right now. If you plan to get one, be prepared as they can be pretty scarce!
So, the multilingual version isn’t typically available at stores. Your best bet is checking out electronics shops in Akihabara since they cater to tourists. Just a heads up, it might not be much cheaper than what you’d find back in Norway.
The international version is basically a myth over there unless you get lucky secondhand or through the Nintendo store lottery. Plus, you should know that all purchases are currently happening through a lottery so plan ahead if you want to try!
Wait, are you saying if I get one, it only works for Japanese games? That seems like such a hassle!