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Friday, 8th November 2013
In General Japan News,
Tax free shopping to be extended
Visitors to Japan will soon be able to enjoy an increased number of tax-free goods for foreign visitors on popular souvenir items, informed sources claim, with the aim being to stimulate consumption.
As reported by newsonjapan.com, the government has ambitions to implement the plans as early as spring next year, which is good news for those travelling to Japan in 2014.
It also bears well for those hoping to attend the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, although details on how the tax exemption will be extended have yet to be revealed.
Foreign visitors are already exempt from paying consumption tax when they make purchases of 10,000 yen or more at department stores or specialist tourist shops. However, no refund is granted for the purchase of cosmetics, food, alcohol, medicine, film, batteries or cigarettes.
If you're planning a big spend in Japan next year in celebration of this news, consider a shopping spree in one of Tokyo's upmarket shopping districts, such as Shibuya or Shinjuku.
Written by Graham McPherson
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Japan lowers corporate tax (14th December 2010)
Japan postpones sales tax increase until 2019 (1st June 2016)
Famed economist warns against sales tax hike in Japan (17th March 2016)
Japanese stores offering tourists tax-free shopping rise by 60% (4th March 2015)