Japan Eager To Welcome Tourists Amid Weak Yen

Above, Akihabara electronics shopping district of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is the day that Japan welcomes foreign tourists as in the pre-pandemic days.

The big change that the Japanese and tourists are eager for is the "cheap yen", which provides more purchasing power for tourists.

According to the Associated Press:

TOKYO (AP) — It’s hard to tell from his serious demeanor, but Akky International Corp. Chief Executive Hideyuki Abe can barely contain his excitement.

Foreign tourists are coming back, those big-spending visitors from abroad who used to flock into his colorful store in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district, its colorful shelves filled with watches and souvenirs like samurai swords and toy cats with bobbing heads.

Individual travelers will be able to visit Japan without visas beginning on Tuesday, just like in pre-COVID-19 times, and electronics stores, airlines and various tourists spots have big hopes for a revival of their businesses.

Japan kept its borders closed to most foreign travelers during much of the pandemic. Only packaged tours have been allowed since June. Meanwhile, the yen has weakened sharply against the dollar, giving some visitors much heftier buying power and making Japan nearly irresistible to bargain hunters.

To read more, go here. 

Pressure Builds To Reopen Japan To Tourists

Above, the Akihabara section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If a new article on Japan tourism is accurate, the hope that the country will be reopened in June is questionable.

The Akihabara News posted:

SNA Travel (Tokyo) — Representatives of Japan’s tourism industry are stepping up pressure on the Kishida administration to accelerate the country’s reopening to foreign visitors.

“We believe the weaker yen will help the tourism industry, and we see this as a business tailwind. This should be a great opportunity for the government to bring tourists back to Japan,” Japan Association of Travel Agents Chairman Hiroyuki Takahashi said this week.

Other organizations lobbying the government for opening the borders include the Japan Hotel Association, as well as major airlines and railway companies.

A formal request from these business groups was submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, specifically asking that the daily cap on entrants to Japan be abolished.

At present, the Kishida government has decided to raise the entry cap from 10,000 to 20,000 people per day beginning in June, but it still intends to maintain the controls.

The above highlighted phrase doesn't sound promising. Hopefully, the Kishida government will accede to the pressure and reopen Japan to foreign tourists. 

To read more, go here.

Sega Akihabara Building 2 Arcade Closing

Above, one of four Sega stores in Akihabara that will remain open in the foreseeable future. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, there will be one less thing for tourists to visit in Akihabara, Tokyo on August 30.

Mashable SE Asia reported:

It's official. 

After standing roughly 17 years as a landmarkin Japan's major tech shopping district Akihabara, the Sega Akihabara Building 2 arcade will soon shut its doors on August 30 forever. 

The news came as a surprise due to the short notice, and was only highlighted after several Japanese Twitter user circulated photos of the notice posted outside the building. 

“Thank you for your continued patronage. We are sorry to announce that this branch, Sega Akihabara Building 2, will be closing,” the note read, as translated by Sora News 24. “Our last day of operations will be Sunday, August 30." 

"The entire staff wishes to express, from the bottom of our hearts, our sincere gratitude at the loving support you have given our establishment for so many years.” 

Sega has not issued an official statement regarding the closure of the arcade.  

Thankfully, only Sega Akihabara Building 2 will be closing its doors for good. Sega's four other stores in the district will reportedly continue operations for the foreseeable future.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Cheapo: What To Do During A Typhoon

Above, the Akihabara area of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

First off, I have to confess that I have never experienced a typhoon while in Japan. So, I am not the one to tell anything based on experience. I only have experienced rain and snow storms while in Japan.

However, folks at Tokyo Cheapo have experienced typhoons and they have posted an article on what to do during one.

They start it with:

Late summer and early autumn is typhoon season in Japan. If you’re here between August and October, it’s likely that you’ll experience at least one “tropical cyclone”. Despite the dire warnings issued on TV, typhoons generally pass over central Tokyo without doing serious damage. Those in mountainous and coastal areas usually face much bigger threats. Nervous in the metropolis and unsure of what you should be doing when a typhoon hits? Here are some hints.

To read more, go here. 

Find It In Akihabara

Above, the Akihabara shopping district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one should be in Tokyo and have need for something for their laptop or other Internet devices, there's a section in the city that may have it.

That place is Akihabara.

According to Live Japan:

Once known as a black market where people dealt with random items from international troops stationed in Japan after World War II, Akihabara is now a paradise for those looking to find electronic equipment and for Otaku (Fanatics) looking for the latest anime and manga related merchandise! 

Akiba, as it's known to the locals, is a great place to spend a day traveling and sightseeing. Being close to Asakusa and Ueno, there are a variety of interesting shops and cafes such as the ever-popular maid cafes, where you can be a “master” for a day as elegant young ladies and/or gentlemen cater to your needs! 

If shopping is on your mind, there are a ton of electronic shops, some as small as an office cubicle and others with more than 10 floors of the latest technology! Once you finish shopping, you can head to Ueno or Asakusa and relax and take in the atmosphere of many temple and shrine grounds or visit one of the many museums. With so many things to do in Akihabara, you are sure to have an amazing time!

 To read more, go here.

Tax-Free Shopping In Japan

Above, duty-free stores can be found in Akihabara's "Electric Town". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the U.S. dollar has been taking a bit of a beating by the stronger Japanese yen lately, at least Americans and other foreign visitors can still take advantage of duty-free shopping in Japan.

That's an 8% savings per item!

Tokyo Cheapo has posted an article on how the system works and what goods are covered.

It begins with:

If you’re a temporary visitor (i.e. staying for less than six months), not working in Japan, and not a Japanese citizen, you can be exempted from paying the 8% consumption tax when shopping at certain shops around the country. 

To read more, go here. 

Japan Still Considered A Low-Cost Destination

Above, Asakusa section of Tokyo at night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the U.S. dollar has dropped in its foreign exchange rate against the Japanese yen in Tokyo trading in recent weeks, it is considered a low-cost destination by Inquirer.net.

They wrote:

Japan 

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = JPY 108.23 

With this great exchange rate, you can now enjoy both the quirky and calm sides of Japan without spending so much. Explore the cultural landscape of modern Japan, from the youthful streets of Shibuya to the electronic paradise that is Akihabara. You’ll be able to encounter many fun and amazing activities when you have the right amount of money in your pocket.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo's Creative Budget Hotels

Above, Akihabara's Electric Town. The article features a capsule hotel in the district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The current boom in foreign tourism in Japan, hotel rooms (and space in general) are filling up.

Fortunately, creative minds in Japan are finding other ways to increase the number of accommodations available to tourists.

The Japan Times reported:

With Japan’s tourist numbers and hotel prices on the rise thanks to a weaker yen, developers are getting creative with a new niche line of stylish but cheap accommodations in bunks, cabins and pods of all shapes and sizes. 

Even a tiny double room in a hotel with limited service can set you back ¥30,000 ($240) a night in central Tokyo these days. But if you look a little more, you can bed down in comfort for a mere fraction of that.

To read more, go here. 

Tips On Buying Electronics In Japan

Above, the electronics meccs of Akihabara, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are quite a number of Americans and other foreigners who have gone to Japan for vacationing and, also, to buy electronics, computers, software and cameras. Bargains can be found as well as models that are not available outside of Japan.

But, as the saying goes: "Buyer beware!" A big mistake (or two) may be made while buying electronics and other goods in Japan.

Gaijinpot.com has some tips that should be followed so that when you get your prized item home, you will find that it meets your expectations and works properly. Although the article focuses on Osaka, the same tips apply to goods that are purchased in places like Akihabara, Tokyo.

They begin their article with:

In Osaka, there are several places to go to for electronics. You can go to the big chains like Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, or you can venture into Den Den Town. You can find just about anything you are looking for in Osaka, at a price. Sometimes that price is paid in frustration. 

Here are some steps you can take to avoid unnecessary problems.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's Goal of 10,000 Tax-Free Shops Already Met

Above, there are many duty-free shops to be found in Tokyo's Akihabara "Electric Town." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is always great news when targets that are set for a certain number by a certain year are met much earlier than expected.

Such is the case of Japan's goal of 10,000 duty-free shops by 2020. They've already achieved that goal.

According to Customs Today:

TOKYO: Japanese stores are offering tourists tax free shopping. In fact, the government’s growth target of 10,000 tax-free shops by 2020 has already been achieved since it was implemented in October. 

Tax free Shopping have hit their government target five years early, as the number offering the service shot up by 60% in the last six months. 

As of October 1st, duty-free products in Japan, previously limited to electronics and clothing, included items like food and cosmetics.

 To read more, go here.

8 Things To Look Out For In Akihabara

Above, some of the advertising that adorn businesses in Akihabara. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you've never been to Japan or have been to Japan but never stepped foot in Akihabara, Tokyo's "electric town," Inside Japan Blog has an article on 8 things for visitors to look out for while in the district. Akihabara is known as a mecca for otaku of varying Japanese pop-culture.

They begin their list of things to look out for with:

Akihabara is truly the Japan’s capital of “otaku” – often translated as ‘someone who has obsessive interests in video games, manga, anime, electronics and the like’. There’s more manga and anime in this little district of Tokyo than exists anywhere else in the world. But whether you consider yourself a fan of such things completely misses the point; this neighborhood is a traveler’s dream because it is unlike anywhere else any of us have ever been and will ever go to. And isn’t that why we travel in the first place? 

In a simple stroll through “Akiba” (as it is commonly and affectionately known by most Tokyo-ites) there are more things to point out, talk about and be astonished by then would ever fit in a single blog post so instead I’ve chosen 8 things that I love about this quirky part of town. If you are coming to the area be sure to keep an eye out for the following!

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Without Billboards and Neon

Above, Akihabara's electric town would look barren without its clutter of signs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is one city overloaded with giant video monitors, neon signs and billboards.

Rocket News 24 has an interesting post on what Tokyo would look like if all those were eliminated. It would look pretty drab. They have a number of GIF photos with and without signage posted.

They wrote:

If you’ve ever walked the streets of Tokyo, you’ll know how the buzz of people, street signs and giant screens can heighten all your senses and fill you with a rush of excitement that stays with you well after you’ve returned back home. While travel brochure photos can never truly prepare you for the dense onslaught of visual and aural stimuli that envelop you when you visit the megalopolis, one creative photographer has come up with a clever way of highlighting the main features of the city by showing us just how bare the city landscape looks without them there.

 To read more, go here.

It's Official: Japan Is In A Recession

Above, Akihabara's "electric town" section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One could have almost predicted this. Japan is now in a recession thanks to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's consumption tax hike.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —Japan’s economy dropped into a recession after a second-straight quarter of contraction, official data showed Monday, in a huge blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s bid to turn around years of laggard growth. 

The country’s gross domestic product shrank 0.4% in the July-September quarter, or an annualised rate of 1.6%, underscoring how an April tax rise dented growth in the world’s number three economy and weighing on the chances of a second levy hike next year.

Raising taxes will make people modify their spending (in other words, tighten their belts). This is especially true with high-ticket items such as electronics, major appliances, furniure and automobiles. People will either forego or delay purchases of these items due to the tax bite.

To read more, go here.

Japan's New Duty-Free System For Travelers

Above, amid the forest of stores in Akihabara, Tokyo, is a duty-free store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As reported previously, Japan has expanded items on their duty-free list for foreign travelers.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has posted a notice on this along with a tutorial video that provides details on the new duty-free system. The link to the video is within the paragraph below.

In the notice, they wrote:

As of 1st October 2014 the duty free system in Japan has changed. The number of items eligible for tax exemption have been increased and all items are now duty free, making shopping even more enjoyable and affordable. Tourists in Japan can now buy consumables including medicine, food and cosmetics, tax-free from designated shops. See more here.

The above information is from the Australian branch of JNTO. I checked, but the U.S. branch does not have the duty-free information up as yet.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Otaku Mode Partners With Japan Tourism Agency; Kaiju Fans Ignored

Above, Akihabara, Tokyo, a center of otaku subcultures. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Otaku Mode (TOM) is partnering with the Japan Tourism Agency in promoting Japan travel, according to an Anime News Network article.

They wrote:

TOKYO - Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc. (incorporated in Delaware, U.S. by President and CEO Tomo Kamei), the managing body of Tokyo Otaku Mode (TOM), a worldwide distributor of otaku content including anime, manga, and cosplay, announces its participation in the Visit Japan Campaign, the Japan Tourism Agency's project to promote travel to Japan, as well as the implementation of promotions for overseas Japanese pop/subculture fans through a partnership with Expedia (Washington, U.S. / CEO Dara Khosrowshahi), the world's largest online travel site. This is the second year in a row that TOM will be participating in Visit Japan Campaign. 

The special website (http://otakumode.com/sp/visit_japan) launched last year by TOM during its participation in the Japan Tourism Agency's Visit Japan Campaign, held with the cooperation of Japanese-managed companies using Japanese pop culture in overseas marketing, is getting a massive renewal for this promotion. The site will reopen on Aug. 1, 2014 and will include a survey campaign in which Expedia travel discount coupons will be given out, as well as videos of influential overseas figures introducing Japan, and other content to promote travel to Japan. 

I did some perusing of the site and didn't find anything kaiju fan-related. It appears that for some reason kaiju fans don't seem to warrant the attention of Japan's tourism promoters. Hopefully, this will change in the future. After all, kaiju fans also have money to spend on Japan travel as do fans of manga, anime and cosplay.

It seems odd that this should occur as the new American Godzilla is getting a lot of attention since it opened in Japan July 25. Plus, since Godzilla raked in over half a billion dollars worldwide, do they really think our numbers are too small for their attention?

To read the article, go here. 

Cheapo 1-Day Tour : Tsukiji – Asakusa – Akihabara

Above, the "Hotaluna" Sumida River bus. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

TokyoCheapo.com (the site, is as the name implies, is for people who want to spend little or no money while in Tokyo) has a post on five things to do in a day "on the cheap" in Tokyo.

They begin with:

Check off five of Tokyo’s top sightseeing spots in one day, without spending a fortune. You’ll be sampling fresh sushi, strolling around a traditional Japanese garden, stopping by a famous temple, buzzing around the city’s anime and electronics hub, and doing a spot of shopping too. Whether it’s your first time in the capital or you’re a long-time resident with family or friends visiting, this cheapo self-guided tour won’t disappoint.

I've done four of the five items (all except number five on the list), but not all in one trip. Besides making their five suggestions, TokyoCheapo.com also provides a handy "rough budget" to give one an idea on how much they should expect to spend (or not spend) and a map.

To see the top five spots, go here.

Japan Govenment Plans To Double Number of Tax-Free Shops

Above, a duty-free store in the Akihabara electronics district of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the Japanese government plans to double the number of tax-free stores for foreign tourists.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

The government plans to double the number of tax-free shops in the nation to about 10,000 by 2020, with an eye on the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. 

The government is set to include the plan in its new growth strategy, to be compiled at the end of June, according to sources. 

Tax-free shops are currently located mostly at international airports and big-city department stores and electronics stores. The government intends to create more such shops outside of major urban centers.

To read more, go here.

Japan Airlines Renews "Guide To Japan" Section On Website

Above, Akihabara, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

eTurboNews is reporting that Japan Airlines (JAL) is renewing its "Guide To Japan" section on its website.

They report:

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Airlines (JAL) renewed the "Guide to Japan" section on its overseas homepage (http://www.jal.com/) on March 27, 2014 to attract overseas visitors to Japan by distinctive introduction on Japanese cultures and current trends, JAL staffs' recommendations of original travel experiences, an easy guide to the information about ramen, hot springs, world heritages, festivals and places to visit in the country. 

To read the full article, go here. 

ANN: "Nerd Tour Japan 2014"

Above, the writer of the article took a ride on one of these, but found it underwhelming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For one who has traveled to Japan seven times, I still find it interesting to read about other people's experiences there and to see their photographs.

One of the writers at the Anime News Network (ANN) recently visited Japan and just posted the first part (he will do several as he indicates that the next one will cover Harajuku, Shinjuku and more) of his travelogue.

The article covers his visits to Asakusa, Odaiba (including Gundam Front) and Akihabara. He calls his trip "Nerd Tour Japan 2014." Plenty of photographs are included with the article.

To read it, go here.

Japan Considering Expansion of Duty-Free Products For Tourists

Above, a duty-free home electronics store in Akihabara's "Electric Town."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese government is considering expanding the number of goods for duty-free sales to tourists.

According to an article at Globalpost.com:

The Japanese government will consider expanding the range of duty-free products for foreign tourists in a bid to bolster consumption and the economy, Finance Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday. 

As part of fiscal 2014 tax reform, the Japan Tourism Agency has proposed the addition of foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics to a list of tax-exempt items for foreign travelers who have fill out necessary documents at duty-free shops in the country.

I've noticed quite a number of duty-free shops in Tokyo (although I am sure they're in other cities as well). Generally, the duty-free system in Japan works this way:

Overseas visitors in Japan with temporary status who spend more than 10,001 yen on any given day in one shop are entitled to a refund of the 5% consumption tax. Only department stores and specialty shops used to dealing with foreign tourists offer the refund, and clients must show their passports. No refund is granted for cosmetics, food, alcohol, cigarettes, medicine, film and batteries, which include the consumption tax in their price tag. 

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization 

Duty-free stores definitely come in handy if tourists wish to purchase electronics and cameras (and other goods) while in Japan.

To read the full article, go here.