My small travel agency also offers a concierge service and receives a lot of requests.
I can’t talk about the specific wishes of my clients, but I am happy to advise them on their purchases in Japan.
Some tourists come to Japan without inquiring beforehand because they think that in Japan you have easy access to everything you want For most things it’s not a problem, but it becomes more difficult when you want to buy something specific.
The time you will spend in Japan is limited. It is better to inform yourself in advance.
Special care should be taken if you want to buy antiques or works of art.
This is because some goods require documents issued by the Japanese government and are subject to customs inspection when leaving Japan.
Naturally, the documentation process takes time.
You also need to be careful with electrical appliances.
Electricity voltage may differ between Japan and other countries. Please note that in such cases, electrical appliances purchased in Japan cannot be used at home.
Some large electrical stores carry appliances that can be used worldwide. Ask the shopkeeper before you buy.
Tax-free shopping is not possible everywhere. Most small stores do not offer it. The current system in Japan is that the stores take care of the VAT refund. Customers pay the tax-exempt amount. No tax refund procedure is required for airport customs.
However, the system is currently being revised to allow travelers to make the VAT refund themselves at the airport. The exact date of the change is not yet known.
My small travel agency will be happy to assist you with your purchases.
Travel Concierge