Tips for Shoppers in Japan

Japan is a premiere shopping destination for those who love innovative products like electronics and traditional items like ceramics. The country offers a vast range of eye-candy stuff for those who have a penchant for shopping. If you are enticed to go shopping in Japan, you might as well read some useful advice.

Japanese shops are usually open for business on the weekends and during national holidays, from 10 in the morning until 8 in the evening. Department stores, however, would normally take a weekday off, which would occur at different days for different stores. They would also close an hour earlier (at 7 in the evening) than most shops. Some speciality shops would close during the weekends and national holidays. Speciality stores and department stores are the perfect places to find sought-after items like kimonos, bamboo ware, etc.

To enjoy tax-free shopping, bring your passport with you as you visit authorised shops in urban shopping districts. Duty-free shopping is available at any of Japan’s international airports. If you have the luxury of time, compare prices at duty-free and tax-free shops to those offered by discount stores and flea markets. Spend more than 10,000 Japanese Yen on certain items and you may enjoy exemption from Japan’s 5 percent “consumption tax.”

When you buy electronic appliances and gadgets, make sure that the circuits are suitable or adaptable to those in your home country.