Japan Travel and Shopping Guide

Japan can be said to be a shopping paradise, with many shopping locations in major cities across the country.

Main department stores include Takashimaya, Isetan, Marui, PARCO, Mitsukoshi, Seibu, Tobu, Hankyu, etc.; major home creative stores include LOFT, Tokyu Hands, MUJI, etc.; The most famous drugstores can be found almost everywhere in the streets and alleys of every city, and some are also hidden in shopping malls. They can be found basically everywhere.

In addition to the daily health care medicines and cosmetics that are very popular among tourists, the drug store also sells many practical daily necessities, beauty tools, drinks and snacks, etc. It is very easy to shop. It should be noted that the same product, even in different drugstores of the same chain brand, may have different pricing and discounts. If you have time, you can compare prices.

Common drugstores include Matsumoto Kiyoshi (Matsumoto Kiyoshi), Drug Stores, コクミン, Sundrug (Sundrug), etc., each with its own advantageous prices of goods. There are also some brands of cosmetics that are only sold in their own brand stores or over the counter.

Discount Season

It is rare to raise prices first and then discount Japanese products. There are three major discount seasons every year.

December to January: Mainly for New Year promotions, with lucky bags in early January being the focus.

The end of February to the end of March: It is basically a continuation of the New Year discount. Japan's annual settlement is in April. In March, some unsalable goods are often cleared at very low prices, but they are generally not new products.

End of July to end of August: Japanese companies give out bonuses in August. At this time, Japanese people often have money to go out for fun, and stores will cooperate with discounts. During this period, new styles are often discounted, but the discounts are generally not as strong as at the end of the year.

Tax Refund

Japan’s consumption tax is currently 8, and may rise in the future. In many stores, the pre-tax and after-tax prices are marked separately, called "tax category" and "tax 込" respectively. "If only one price is marked, it is usually the price after tax.

For shops that are tax-free, when the tax-free goods purchased exceed 10,800 yen, the consumption tax of 8% can be refunded. In Japan, you fill out a tax refund form on the spot and then refund the tax directly. The tax refund form will be stapled to your passport.

Starting from October 1, 2014, Japan has adjusted its consumption tax policy for tourists. Tax refunds can be obtained if you spend more than 5,000 yen on tax-free goods in the same store.

Japanese specialties

1. Japanese skin care products

Japanese skin care products are cheap, of high quality, with strict hygiene and raw material control and are guaranteed by Asian women. favorite. Especially the popular cosmeceuticals in recent years, you must not miss it. Famous brands include SHISEIDO, KOSE and so on.

2. Electronic products

There are many famous electronic brands in Japan, such as Toshiba, Hitachi, SONY, Nikon and so on. Some of the latest DV, cameras, computers and other products of these brands can only be purchased in Japan. Because of the tax exemption, the price is also much cheaper.

3. Japanese-style snacks

Japan has always been famous for its exquisiteness, and its snack culture is no exception. These beautiful, irresistible sweet snacks, coupled with exquisite packaging, are definitely a good gift for relatives and friends when you return home.

4. Dolls

Japanese toys and dolls are small and exquisite, and some of the brands are familiar. Such as kimono dolls, Hello? Kitty series, etc. Seeing their cute appearance and exquisite workmanship, I believe you can't help but be tempted.

Good shopping places in Japan

1. Tokyo

For shopping enthusiasts, Tokyo is undoubtedly the best place.

Shibuya, Ginza, Harajuku, and Akihabara are the main gathering places for specialty street fashion stores in Tokyo. They are shopping paradises for young people composed of some popular stores. Shoes, cosmetics, accessories and small household appliances are the four hot spots for shopping in Tokyo.

Visitors can choose from a variety of products in major shopping malls in Tokyo. Clothing, cosmetics, electrical appliances, the latest electronic products, etc., everything is available.

2. Hokkaido

Hokkaido is most famous for milk, so it is famous for its many delicious dairy products, and most of the products are limited to the region and can only be bought locally.

Japan Shopping Travel Recommendations

Free travel is undoubtedly the best way to travel and shop in Japan. You can have more fun and have more shopping time, so you don’t have to worry about free travel. Question, it is not difficult to travel independently in Japan because many texts can be understood. Here are some in-depth independent travel routes that we have customized for customers before. Please refer to them: /destination?utm_source=baiduamp; utm_medium=linkamp ;utm_campaign=zhidao