Japan's Consumption Tax Raised From 8% to 10%

Above, the Shibuya shopping district in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here we go again!

Today, the Japanese consumption tax is now 10% (with some confusing differences) from 8%. The last time the consumption tax was raised, it caused a huge uproar in Japan.

No doubt the new tax rate will cause another uproar.

According to Time Out Tokyo:

Nope, this isn't a spooky Halloween joke. Beginning today, October 1, Japan's consumption tax is raised from 8 to 10 percent, despite the outroar of controversy. This means most items purchased, such as household goods, souvenirs, clothing, etc, is subject to the new price. However, this tax hike comes with a set of complications, confusing both consumers and retailers because not everything will be taxed at 10 percent. Baffled? Let us explain some of the nitty-gritty details.

This means travelers to Japan will have to budget a little more for their trip.

To read more, go here.