Remember guys, that the VAT rate in Japan is just 8%, so even if you get it tax-free, you'll save 8% only (vs the 20+% in EU)

The "deals" would depend on the exchange rate, really. If/when the ¥ is weak, everything is cheap. If/when it's strong, everything's expensive. (At the beginning of the financial crisis, the €/¥ rate moved from 160 to under 110 or so within 6 months, making Tokyo from "good deal" to "no deal")