Explosive tourist growth in Japan
Jan 28, 2016, 12:55 am
#31
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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.
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.
Jan 28, 2016, 1:18 am
#32
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Ladies like me? I bought a pack of self heating (self basting) steam masks for Chinese friends in London when I was in Japan last year, but I honestly didn't know what I was looking at when I was Korea.
On the last day of my Seoul trip I gave up and plundered Daiso
(now I think about it, that might explain why a group of Chinese visitors made bulk purchases from a 7-11 in the Tokyo Suburbs, 7-11 convenience stores exist in China too giving a sense of familiarity).
On the last day of my Seoul trip I gave up and plundered Daiso
(now I think about it, that might explain why a group of Chinese visitors made bulk purchases from a 7-11 in the Tokyo Suburbs, 7-11 convenience stores exist in China too giving a sense of familiarity).
Last edited by LapLap; Jan 28, 2016 at 1:28 am
Jan 28, 2016, 3:41 am
#33
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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
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
In particular, I can relate to the buses blocking the roads around where I live. It's now at the point where I think the local government really need to make plans to accommodate them better.
Jan 29, 2016, 8:07 am
#35
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Jan 29, 2016, 9:22 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2005
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If your baby suffers organ damage because of crap formula, you can't get your baby repaired or replaced.
Jan 29, 2016, 11:10 am
#37
Join Date: May 2012
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they can buy Zojirushi in China but the tourists say it's cheaper in Japan.
Jan 29, 2016, 6:06 pm
#38
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Our obsession with Japan is definitely real 
I would guess out of a random sample of 10 people I know, 5-6 would have gone to japan at least once a year, 2-3 twice and 1 probably thrice. There's this saying 'it's cheaper to go to Japan than go to Macau', given the rise of HK Express...
PS
And the tax refund thing is just insane. I was shopping at Seibu Ikebukuro the last time I went, the whole tax refund area was sealed off, and there were staff sort of 'emceeing' everyone waiting, speaking exclusively in putonghua. When I approached the counter and asked if I could speak in english (just to minimize confusion), the associate just blankly said 'no, putonghua'...
That being said I love shopping for high end stuff in Japan, for example for LV, the staff at Japanese stores are 10000x times more welcoming and friendly than those in HK/USA/France etc, let alone the price differential between HK/USA.
I would guess out of a random sample of 10 people I know, 5-6 would have gone to japan at least once a year, 2-3 twice and 1 probably thrice. There's this saying 'it's cheaper to go to Japan than go to Macau', given the rise of HK Express...PS
And the tax refund thing is just insane. I was shopping at Seibu Ikebukuro the last time I went, the whole tax refund area was sealed off, and there were staff sort of 'emceeing' everyone waiting, speaking exclusively in putonghua. When I approached the counter and asked if I could speak in english (just to minimize confusion), the associate just blankly said 'no, putonghua'...
That being said I love shopping for high end stuff in Japan, for example for LV, the staff at Japanese stores are 10000x times more welcoming and friendly than those in HK/USA/France etc, let alone the price differential between HK/USA.
Jan 29, 2016, 9:31 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 257
It seems like for people from HK, Japan is always a preferred option. Great food, good service, etc. But it was always a more expensive option compared to places in SE Asia, China, or Taiwan or Korea. With the favourable exchange rates, and the large amount of LCCs, it seems to have become a much more popular destination.
I think in general, though, Chinese tourism (outside of China) has grown significantly. Mandarin is widely heard in places such as Myeongdong in Seoul, Causeway Bay or TST in Hong Kong, Dotonbori in Osaka, which wasn't so much the case even ten years ago.
I think in general, though, Chinese tourism (outside of China) has grown significantly. Mandarin is widely heard in places such as Myeongdong in Seoul, Causeway Bay or TST in Hong Kong, Dotonbori in Osaka, which wasn't so much the case even ten years ago.
Jan 31, 2016, 12:07 am
#40
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Regarding whether things are moderating or not, one observation that I'd make is that the lines through immigration out of Narita haven't seemed to be so crazy so far this year - on Sunday afternoons when I typically fly out (at the same time always). Towards the end of last year there was a couple of times when it was absolutely crazy operating well beyond capacity with lines snaking about and so forth, but today for instance it was pretty tame. But perhaps that's just seasonal... Guess we shall see over the coming days coming into the CNY period.
Jan 31, 2016, 12:38 am
#42
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I guess it depends on the time of day and day of the week. My observations, from Sunday and Monday mornings, of the lines through security of Haneda in the last few months of last year were pretty brutal - typically the lines were backed back by 30-40m beyond the entrance. Actually after that though oddly enough immigration wasn't too bad - so actually the reverse to Narita where security was reasonably quick but immigration terrible. I was so thankful I could use the elite status line.
Jan 31, 2016, 2:00 am
#43
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 61
No line for me sept 2014. Huge shocker April 2015 because there was a line. Went again in Dec 2015 expecting a line but since I was one of the first to get off the plane, I didn't have to wait. But of course there was a huge line. Such a shock to me because I have been so used to only a handful of people who weren't entering with Japanese passports.
Feb 16, 2016, 3:21 am
#44
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PS
And the tax refund thing is just insane. I was shopping at Seibu Ikebukuro the last time I went, the whole tax refund area was sealed off, and there were staff sort of 'emceeing' everyone waiting, speaking exclusively in putonghua. When I approached the counter and asked if I could speak in english (just to minimize confusion), the associate just blankly said 'no, putonghua'...
And the tax refund thing is just insane. I was shopping at Seibu Ikebukuro the last time I went, the whole tax refund area was sealed off, and there were staff sort of 'emceeing' everyone waiting, speaking exclusively in putonghua. When I approached the counter and asked if I could speak in english (just to minimize confusion), the associate just blankly said 'no, putonghua'...
Feb 16, 2016, 3:23 am
#45
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No line for me sept 2014. Huge shocker April 2015 because there was a line. Went again in Dec 2015 expecting a line but since I was one of the first to get off the plane, I didn't have to wait. But of course there was a huge line. Such a shock to me because I have been so used to only a handful of people who weren't entering with Japanese passports.