One of the highlights of traveling to Japan is undoubtedly shopping. In particular, Japan’s seasonal sales offer excellent opportunities to enjoy shopping at great discounts.
Japanese sales are world-renowned for their scale and diversity.
From large-scale seasonal sales to limited-time events, there are various opportunities to shop.
By effectively utilizing these sales, you can acquire more wonderful products during your stay in Japan.
Japanese sales are not just discount events; they are often deeply connected with the culture and customs of the season, offering an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Japanese culture through shopping.
This article introduces major sale seasons in Japan and tips for enjoying budget-friendly shopping for tourists visiting Japan.
Major Sale Seasons in Japan
New Year’s Sale (January)
Image from photo-ac.com
The New Year’s sale, a traditional Japanese event celebrating the new year, starts from January 1st. Many stores sell “fukubuka” (lucky bags) and offer significant discounts.
Fukubuka are bags with unseen contents containing multiple items, often available at less than half the regular price.
Lucky bags containing cosmetics sets or electronics from famous brands are particularly popular, sometimes resulting in long queues from early morning.
Winter Clearance Sale (Mid-January to February)
Image from unsplash.com
This sale aims to clear winter stock, with particularly large discounts seen in fashion brands.
It’s a chance to get winter clothes and accessories at bargain prices.
It’s not uncommon for high-end brand coats and boots to be discounted by 50-70%. As it’s still cold during this period, make sure to dress warmly when you go out shopping.
Spring Sale (March to April)
Image from pixabay.com
Sales of clothing and daily necessities are held to coincide with the start of the new school year and fiscal year.
As many people start new lives during this period, there are also substantial sales on home appliances and furniture.
This period often overlaps with the cherry blossom season, allowing you to enjoy flower viewing between shopping trips.
Early Summer Clearance Sale (Mid-June to July)
Image from photo-ac.com
This early disposal sale for summer items allows you to buy summer items at a discount while it’s still the height of summer. Swimwear and summer clothing are especially cheap.
As Japanese summers are hot and humid, it’s appealing to be able to immediately wear the cool clothes purchased in the sale.
Summer Bargain Sale (Mid-July to August)
Image from pixabay.com
Japan’s summer bargain sales are large in scale, with many stores offering discounts of over 50%.
As there are many tourists during this period, popular items may sell out quickly. If you have specific items in mind, it’s recommended to visit first thing in the morning on the first day of the sale.
Autumn Sale (September to October)
Image from pixabay.com
This sale focuses on autumn clothing and new products. As temperatures fluctuate greatly during this period, light jackets and cardigans are often good bargains. Many food sales featuring autumn flavors are also held during this time.
Winter Clearance Sale (Mid-December to January)
Image from unsplash.com
Large-scale sales of winter items are held from the end of the year to the beginning of the new year. Winter items like coats and boots become bargains. This period often overlaps with the year-end sale, enveloping the entire city in a sale mood.
Year-End Sale (December)
Image from unsplash.com
Many stores hold large-scale sales towards the end of the year.
This period is tied to Japan’s gift-giving culture, with a wide array of high-quality food items and daily necessities for “Oseibo” (year-end gifts) on display.
Many Christmas gift items are also available, and the streets are decorated with illuminations, creating a festive atmosphere.
Special Sale Periods
Golden Week Sale (Late April to Early May)
Image from unsplash.com
Many stores hold sales to coincide with this holiday period. As it’s also a travel season for Japanese people, sales of travel goods and outdoor gear are plentiful.
Ochugen Sale (July)
Image from photo-ac.com
This sale coincides with the summer gift-giving season. Food and household items become bargains. Ochugen is part of Japan’s traditional gift-giving culture, and department store food sections are particularly busy during this time. You might find high-quality fruits or premium Japanese tea at bargain prices.
Silver Week Sale (September)
Image from pixabay.com
This sale is held to coincide with the autumn holiday period. As it’s also the autumn leisure season, many sales on outdoor goods and travel items can be found.
Black Friday (November)
Image from pixabay.com
This large-scale sale event at the end of November has recently become established in Japan.
It’s characterized by significant discounts on electronics and international brand items.
As major online shops also hold sales, it’s recommended to check both stores and online platforms.
Shopping Tips for Tourists
How to Use Tax-Free Shops
Many large commercial facilities and department stores have tax-free counters where tax is exempted for purchases over a certain amount.
Don’t forget your passport. Tax-free procedures can be done in bulk at the end, so it’s smoother to enjoy shopping first and then complete the procedures.
For more information on tax-free shopping, please refer to the following articles:
Services for Foreign Tourists in Department Stores
Some department stores offer multilingual concierge services and special discount coupons for foreign tourists.
Some department stores also have early morning openings or special sales exclusively for foreign tourists, so it’s good to check in advance.
Popular Shopping Areas for Tourists and Their Sale Information
Popular shopping areas like Ginza, Shinjuku, and Shibuya often hold their own sale events.
It’s good to check the websites of each facility in advance. In these areas, gourmet events in collaboration with local restaurants are sometimes held during sale periods, allowing you to enjoy not only shopping but also dining.
Points to Note
Checking Return and Exchange Policies
Returns and exchanges are not as flexible in Japan as in Western countries. Be sure to check the policy before purchasing. Sale items, in particular, are often non-returnable, so choose carefully.
Credit Card Usage and Cash Preparation
While credit cards are accepted at large stores, some shops only accept cash. It’s reassuring to prepare for both. As cash transactions are still common in Japan, it’s convenient to have some cash on hand.
Dealing with Crowded Periods
It gets very crowded during sale periods. Early morning or weekday visits are recommended. If you’re aiming for popular items, lining up before the store opens on the first day of the sale is one strategy. Also, large stores sometimes distribute numbered tickets, so it’s good to check store information in advance.
Conclusion
Japan’s sales offer excellent opportunities to enjoy shopping at great discounts.
Clearance sales held at the change of seasons, in particular, offer large discounts, especially on fashion items.
Moreover, these sales are closely tied to Japanese culture and customs, allowing you to deepen your understanding of Japan through shopping.
Use the sale timings and points to note introduced in this article to enjoy a wonderful shopping experience.
Get Japan-specific products at bargain prices and create wonderful memories.
Planning your trip to coincide with sale seasons will undoubtedly lead to a more fulfilling stay in Japan.
