Japanese 7-Eleven outlets cash in on tourism boom; to sell various duty-free items next year

▲ 7-Eleven Japan will roll out duty-free benefits at 1,000 stores next year, with two outlets starting a trial run on the 1st. (Photo / Screenshot from 7-Eleven Japan’s official website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

To attract foreign travelers' spending, Japanese convenience store 7-Eleven began offering tax-exempt deals at two of its stores—one in Asakusa, Tokyo, and another in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto—from yesterday (the 1st). In recent years, an increasing number of department stores and supermarkets in Japan have introduced duty-free services, but this marks the first time convenience stores have joined the trend.

With Japan expanding its list of duty-free goods starting October this year and the yen depreciating, the leading convenience store chain 7-Eleven plans to offer duty-free services at 1,000 stores next year to capitalize on the tourism boom.The two stores participating in the trial run are “Asakusa Raidenmon-mae Store” in Tokyo’s famous tourist spot Asakusa, and “Nishien Station Minami Store” in Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward. Foreign tourists can enjoy an 8% consumption tax exemption by placing duty-free items in a designated shopping basket and presenting their passports at the duty-free checkout counter.

Currently, duty-free goods in Japan include not only the usual clothing, accessories, home appliances, bags, and shoes, but also newly added items such as food, alcohol, tobacco, and health and beauty products. Cosmetics and food among the duty-free items will be sold in bulk, and scanning the QR code on the product label with a smartphone will display product information in 15 languages.