Where do foreign tourists want to shop in Japan?
I often hear that foreign tourists, especially those from Asian countries, like to shop in Japan. I'm not a big shopper at home or away, so I am curious about where tourists shop and what Japanese products people buy.
Interesting for me, Geelee Media Group recently conducted a survey through its website Let's Go Japan, which provides tourist information for people from Taiwan and Hong Kong who want to visit Japan. The survey received responses from 2,634 people. When asked where they wanted to shop in Japan, 89.9% said drugstores, 86.9% said supermarkets, 85.9% said convenience stores, and 76.4% said department stores.
The next question in the survey asked what daily necessities do you want to buy in Japan? The highest response was toiletries, including toothbrushes, shampoo, and bathsalts at 80.7%. Next was cosmetic items at 62.3%.
Another question asked about what types of medicinal products the respondents wanted to buy. Remedies for stiff shoulders, back pain, and muscle strain topped the list with 71.9%. Another 64.8% wanted medicine for insect bites and skin inflammation. 64.3% listed fever reduction and pain relief items, and 62.9% said eye drops. Only 1.8% said they don't plan to buy medicinal products when visiting Japan.
Do you shop for things when you are traveling? What do you buy to take back home? I buy snacks or souvenir treats for my friends, but never the kind of things people responded about in this survey. I wonder if this means Japanese products are excellent or maybe it is the current exchange rate.
8 comments:
Wherever I went, when I used to travel, I looked for textiles! Double weaving in Finland, furoshiki in Japan, for example. Dot
Usually souvenirs and chocolate for those at home.
My favorite shopping in Japan is at the flea markets, especially one in Kyoto.
I think it has something to do with the current exchange rete, but it's been famous for People from Asia countries who have been traveling to Japan for a long time and do shopping called Bakugai. Explosive buying is buying large quantities of expensive or affordable products. They buy multiple brands and home appliances. Maybe it's because the wealthy are growing.
Japanese sweets have a reputation for being delicious even overseas, and some people buy dozens of them. In addition, it seems that cosmetics, sanitary products, diapers and powdered milk are made in Japan and have a sense of trust. However it is troublesome that there are people who buy in large quantities for the purpose of resale. Game consoles are often targeted.
When I travel, I buy souvenirs for others and for myself, but I don't buy many. When I travel abroad, I always go to supermarket. Because you can know a lot about the country.Also, I always go to the stationary shop.
For me, the stationery store is a wonderland.😆
I think there are several reasons why Asian tourists buy things in Japan. They have spending power they did not use to have, they want to give a gift to friends and family left at home, they trust the Made In Japan labels, or they want to resell goods for a good profit.
I usually take some Japanese sweets when I visit Sweden to give to friends and family. many unusual flavours or shapes become conversational topics. 'What IS this?' 'Oh, how beautiful!' 'Poor Japanese kids, having to eat such horrid sweets!' are things I have heard.
Before returning to Japan I buy the things which are difficult to find in Japan, Swedish books, clothes that fit my size, candles that fit my candlesticks!, and of course food items that remind me of my childhood.
What would YOU take to the US and what would bring back to Japan?
Today I was sent an ad for a tour to Japan which included going to a wholesale sewing supplies place! "Get every Japanese notion at wholesale prices."
I would be more interested in that than in toiletries and medicines. Japanese sweets would be good - the more unusual the better! Different KitKat flavours would be good to buy. Like one of your previous commenters, I love to check out supermarkets when I am away from home, just to see all the different products.
I always shop and I like to bring home snacks or treats, sometimes a product for hair or powder or soap (sometimes not), but mostly books, postcards, holiday ornaments and things that speak to me of the country. In Japan I bought beautiful paper.
Steffi and I had a lot of fun shopping for merchandise from anime and video games. There are so many big and small stores in Akihabara to find treasure! I also bought a lot of craft supplies and some candy to take home.
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