Shopping in Japan
Consumption tax and Tax-free shop
When you buy the products in Japan, the prices include Consumption tax.
It is currently 10%.
And the tax of foods, drinks except for alcoholic beverage, and newspapers is 8% as reduced tax rate.
When you buy the products at Tax-free shop and bring them to your country, the tax is exempted.
In this case, you need to do the procedures for tax exemption at the shop.
(Duty-free shop is in the area after procedure for departure in the airport, so the procedure for tax exemption is not required.)
Japan Tourism Agency announces the info about Japan's Tax Exemption.
Tax-free shops are mostly in the main cities and sightseeing cities.
Department stores, the stores in the big shopping mall, major retail stores, etc. are mainly the tax-free shops.
There is the website to search tax-free shop.
Payment methods in the shops
Now, main payment methods for shopping in Japan are cash and credit card.
Recently, QR code payment and mobile payment are increasing, but they are managed by Japanese companies.
So, it will be hard for you to use them during the travel in Japan.
About Japanese cash and credit card, check this page.
Department stores, convenient stores, the stores in a busy section of town, etc. accept credit cards in most cases.
But, many small shops and street stalls probably accept only cash.
Therefore, you should have any cash in Japan.
Various types of shop for tourists in Japan
Souvenir shop
Nakamise street in Asakusa in Tokyo
There are usually some souvenir shops around the sightseeing spots.
Souvenirs, confectionary, folk crafts, etc., various goods associated with the spot are sold.
Around major Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrine, there are traditional streets formed by many souvenir shops.
These are the shops for tourists, so you may find interest products.
Department store
Department stores in Ginza in Tokyo
It is a commercial facility selling various high‐quality products.
It is called "depâto" shortly in Japanese.
Department store is generally in the downtown or near the central railway station in the large city and forms a shopping area.
Both credit card and cash are OK, and the procedure of tax exemption is also acceptable in most stores.
In many case, there are food court areas in the basement floors.
"Basement" is called "chika" in Japanese, so the floors are familiarly called "Depa-chika".
It is very popular place in the department store, and it may be an attractive place for tourists.
Various local and traditional foods and confectionery are sold, and take-out of the cooked foods also available.
Major department stores in Japan are the followings.
Large retail store, Discount store
Electronics retail stores in Akihabara in Tokyo
There are large stores in which a large number of commodities are sold cheaply on the wide floors in a building.
Most stores are located in the commercial areas and the suburbs of the city.
Many of them have numerous chain stores spread across a wide area in Japan.
Some of them treat the tax-free procedure.
In Electronics retail stores, various electronic products are sold, and video game softwares and toys of anime are also popular.
Main chain stores are Yamada, Bic Camera, Yodobashi, Edion, LAOX, etc.
As discount store, Don Quijote is well-known.
Various Japanese general goods are sold, and you may find the interesting goods you can only get in Japan.
Convenience store
Convenience store opens all night
Convenience store is the type of store started in the U.S., but it has developed independently in Japan.
It is called "konbini" shortly in Japanese.
Cooked food such as onigiri (rice ball), box lunch, sandwich, etc., cup noodles, various drinks, confectionery are sold.
And various daily necessaries are also sold.
The sizes of many goods are small and for personal use.
New and fresh foods are set out every day.
And the variety of items interests many foreign tourist.
It also handles payment of utility bills like bank, commission of sending home delivery baggage, etc. and it sets up ATM machine of a bank.
When you travel around the city and town and you want to get any food and lacked goods, convenient stores are convenient.
The shops are located in the busy places in the cities and towns, and the style of the all stores is the same.
So, it is easy to find the store.
In addition, many of them are open 24 hours.
So, you can do the shopping late at night.
The three major convenience store chains in Japan are the following.
There are over 50,000 stores of three chains across Japan.
Drugstore
A drugstore chain
Drugstore chains develope as big shop for health.
They are the pharmacies receiving doctor's prescription.
And, basic medicines are sold, and reasonable cosmetics, foods and general goods are also sold.
Especially, skincare products, eye drops, face pack sheets, compresses, cold medicines, etc. are mainly bought by asian tourists.
The store looks like a big convenient store or supermarket without fresh foods.
Main chain stores are Welcia, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sugi Pharmacy, Tsuruha, Sundrug, etc.
Supermarket
Vegetable section in a supermarket
Supermarket is a store where common people in the area buy the necessities of life.
It is mainly located around residential district.
It is called "sûpâ" shortly in Japanese.
Vegetables, fruits, fishes, meats, and various foods are mainly sold.
Lunch boxes and cooked foods are also sold.
You may be able to know what Japanese people in the area are eating every day.
Vending machine
A vending machine / Coin throw-in port
Various vending machines are installed everywhere in Japan.
It is said that over 3 million vending machines are in Japan now.
When you walk around in any city and town, you will find any vending machine easily.
Most of them sell various drinks in can or plastic bottle.
Coffee, tea, juice, carbonated drink, sports drink, Japanese green tea, etc. are the main product.
The drinks are cooled, but some heated drinks are also sold in the cold season.
To buy the goods, cash is main and coins are useful.
But, most machines accept only the coins of 10, 50, 100, 500 yen and 1000 yen bill.
(Other coins and bills are not accepted.)
New vending machines accept IC card for transportation and credit card.
But the number isn't a lot now.
Shopping spots during a drive
When you use a long-distance express bus, it takes a restroom break a few times.
And, when you drive a rental car, you need to takes a restroom break.
Some areas for restroom have popular shopping facility.
Within a time limit, you can do shopping there.
Service Area (SA)
Otsu SA in Shiga Prefecture
Along main expressways in Japan, Parking Areas (PA) are set up for restroom every 15 to 25 km.
In English, it corresponds to "Rest area".
There is a restroom and some vending machines are set up.
Service Areas (SA) is the large PA, and it is set up every 50 to 150 km.
The parking area and restroom is wide, so express buses stop by for restroom break.
There is also a gas station.
There is a building with the shopping area and restaurant for travellers.
You can find the local souvenirs, and you can eat the local foods.
Some SA have observation decks, amusement park for children, bathroom, etc.
They look like amusement facilities.
Michi no Eki
A michi no Eki in Iwate Prefecture
Michi no Eki is the rest area set up by general road, and it is translated as "Roadside station" in English.
It is designated by the government, and over 1,200 Michi no Eki are set up throughout Japan now.
It has wide parking area and restroom, and there is a facility with shopping area and restaurant, etc.
Fresh products and local specialty in the area are sold, and the facility is also the center of the information for the local area.
Popular Michi no Eki is one of the sightseeing spots.
Outlet Mall
Gotemba Premium Outlets
Outlet Mall is a facility with many shops selling brand‐name goods cheaply.
Many outlet malls are like a theme park of shopping, and the visitors can enjoy all days.
There are about 30 outlet malls in Japan.
Many of them are located in the local area or the sightseeing spot on the outskirts of major cities.
Most outlet malls are near the interchange of expressway.
So, car is convenient to visit there.
To popular outlet mall, tour bus is also operated from the city.
Most of them are managed by "Premium Outlet" by Mitsubishi Estate company or "Outlet Park" by Mitsui Fudosan company.
Sightseeing spots for shopping all over Japan
Omicho Market in Kanazawa city
Since ancient times, markets to sell products in the area had been formed in the center of the city and town, and people gathered.
Some of them became sightseeing spots and many tourists visit there.
You will find any interesting products and the restaurants for local foods.
And, there are the streets or towns where many specialty stores gather.
You may find the interesting products which are used for your work or hobby.
There are such places all over Japan.
Check them in the following page.