shuigao

I wonder why they don't buy the luxury stuff? Maybe the rich ones go direct to Europe to buy their LV's and Hermes'es.

AlwaysAisle

Chinese visitors in Japan do by luxury items in Japan, also. Department stores in major Japanese cities keep no secret about that, and admit sales to Chinese visitors has become big part of their revenue.

When visually comparing those discount shops in Tokyo and department stores in Tokyo, number of Chinese customers and number of items purchased look far different. However, in luxury item sales profit margin is very different from small low cost items.

Likely that department stores selling ten luxury items to Chinese visitors in one day result in far larger profit than discount stores selling one hundred small items to Chinese visitors in one day.

Not seeing large number of Chinese visitors flooding department stores in Tokyo and buying large quantity of items, does not mean Chinese visitors are not buying luxury items in Tokyo and does not mean department stores in Tokyo are not profiting from Chinese visitors.

I heard same thing about luxury item stores in the U.S. When strolling through Beverly Hills or Las Vegas casino shopping arcade, only see small number of customers or no customers at all. For those luxury items stores, sales of one items in one week can result in far larger profit than sales of one hundred small items in discount stores in a day.

mapleg

I was surprised to see Chinese tourists buying duty free goods in of all places a small town 7-11. I would have a problem even finding 5,000 yen worth of stuff to buy in the store, but they seemed to be pooling their purchases...mostly looked like makeup and things like that.

Could not understand why they go to 7-11 when there were several malls within a 5 minute walk.

And while a savings is a savings, it's not that much money on a 5.000 yen purchase.

Steve M

If those numbers are accurate, the one for Hong Kong is astounding, considering that there are only 7 million people in Hong Kong. That's more than 1 out of 5 people in Hong Kong visiting Japan (not taking into account repeat visitors).

evergrn

Good point. That can't be accurate unless they're counting same person visiting 3 times a year as 3 visitors.

swy

I imagine part of that is because HKD is pegged USD and so it is getting relatively cheaper to go to Japan.

beep88

Yes of course. They count number of arrivals.

Local HK travel forum for Japan has numerous trip reports of people who visit Japan monthly, for leisure. One such well known traveller is a local part time bus driver living in public housing - so it's not only for the rich. LCC return fare costs as little as 200USD.

Then there are those who source Japanese beauty products, electronics, Rolex (yes, cheaper in smaller Japanese cities for select models).... and sell them in HK.

Akihabara

Intrigued by the question around the Hong Kong number, I searched and found this other great source of information:

http://www.tourism.jp/en/statistics/

So, the Hong Kong number seems accurate... what's more the growth is also astounding.

What's interesting is at least for the month of November it does indeed show that visitors from China seemed to moderate a bit... I certainly didn't notice it!

kamchatsky

+1 on this. I am planning a trip to Japan, and HK forums provide so much information because to there are so many experienced travellers to Japan.

sigma6

Maybe I am biased by I have no desire to buy large international brands. I am planning to visit Japan but I am not traveling 6000 miles to shop at Uniqlo when there is one 15 minutes away at my local mall. Shibuya 109 and other JDM stores will catch my eye. LV or Burberry never catch my eye at home so they won't in Japan either.

basscadet75

Uniqlo in Japan is not the same as Uniqlo at your local mall. Not saying you'd find it anymore interesting, but there *is* a reason why people go to Japan to buy brands that are technically available elsewhere. The specific products available aren't the same. And in many cases it means more to someone (and those they know) to have a product that they know is not available locally but from a brand that's recognizable. It feels "exclusive".

The Rolex example is probably more apt than Uniqlo, though. But Burberry also fits.

sigma6

Yes I know Burberry has special editions sold only in specific stores. However when it comes to Uniqlo, it doesn't matter to me though as they do not have western sizes unless I go to the flagship store in Ginza. I would be interested in special edition patagonia or North Face gear though. Going to Korea I am interested in all the Kpop collaborations with NewEra.

acregal

Chinese tourists are coming to Japan to buy things largely because of very real quality issues in China.

I was in Kobe today walking around Sannomiya and was surprised that it was honestly dead - there were no tourists there today.

beep88

Popular Chinese tourist carry-on:

Rice Cooker
Washlet

Ok... I bought 2 rice cookers on previous trips. But in Canada, 3-cup cookers are very hard to find, and IH units cost least 2X as much.

LapLap

NHK transmitted "China Buys Japan" as part of its Inside Lens series.
It followed a small tour group in the first week of October 2015 (a particularly busy period as it coincides with a major Chinese holiday. The program makers also chatted with a few store owners. Made interesting viewing and it's currently still available:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/vo.../20160125.html

I was in Seoul last October with plenty of time on my hands and a modest amount in my pocket yet found it extremely difficult to do any meaningful shopping - with the exception of some children's clothes (loved the GoDeLaBon brand) and a few food items. The airside part of ICN airport in particular had literally nothing to offer me (had received a text from one of my husband's colleagues warning that there was nothing to buy, was surprised to realise he was right). This is not a problem I've ever had in Japan. The only reason we got to return home with a Turning Mecard transforming car for our amazed and overjoyed daughter was because it was presented to us as a gift for her by my husband's Korean hosts. Shame I only learned about it once we were back in the UK, but apparently they're (or at least they were) a b*gger to find in the stores.
I'd previously wondered why so many ordinary Chinese people chose to do their shopping in Tokyo rather than in Seoul, which is cheaper. Now I get it.