shopping in big japan 1
So whenever and wherever in Japan, don’t miss on any opportunity to shop until you drop because the best spots to shop in Japan are yours for the taking. But before you go on a shopping spree there are some basics of shopping in Japan which all visitors like you need to know.
Shopping hours. If you are an early riser and plans to shop the earliest possible time, then you might have to reschedule everything. Shopping hours among Japanese shopping centers usually starts at 10 a.m. and ends 8 p.m. Depending on the stores some of them close shop any day of the week but most likely fall on a weekday. Shoppers normally troop to the stores during Saturdays and Sundays, however there are those prefers to close on Sundays and certain national holidays. That makes it shopping in Japan all the more exciting if you hit the target, and sometimes frustrating if you miss on the chance.
Credit card and cash. For some unfathomable reasons that inspite of the apparent modernity in Japan, only a few stores accept credit card payment. So, if you plan to max out your card for an indulgent shopping, better yet keep your credit cards aside and prepare a hefty number of bills to pay for any item you wish to bring home with you. Remember to take charge of your cash, as there are many people who you will be meeting and chances are one of them is undesirable, just to be cautious.
Tax-free and duty free. When shopping in Japan, the 5% tax is a must, however there are some stores that will forego the tax if you reach a total purchase of 10,000 yen. Duty-free shops are all located in any of Japan’s international airport; nevertheless there are authorized tax-free stores in the cities. So don’t forget to bring you passport. Talking to shop staff will not be difficult because all the staff are trained very well to speak the English language. If you have the luxury of time, comparing prices will prove to be helpful, however setting aside the chance of getting that perfect purchase because you want to look for a cheaper kind will probably not be helpful, chances are there are some shoppers you are also eyeing on the same item that you want. The moment you put down the item, somebody will take it and pay for it right away. At the blink of an eye
