Tsukiji relocation & relaxed tax-free rules: 8 Japan travel must-knows in 2016

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwanese travelers never tire of Japan—not only for its abundant flight options and favorable yen exchange rates, but also because this fun and shopping-friendly destination always has something new to offer each year. In 2016, Japan introduced brand-new conveniences and benefits for international visitors, along with exciting updates to attractions and transportation. Here are 8 important Japan travel updates for this year that you might want to know before planning your trip.

Japan relaxes its tax-free policy starting May 1. Pictured is the well-known drugstore chain Matsumoto Kiyoshi. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

1. Relaxed tax-free policy takes effect from May 1

To attract more tourists, Japan’s Tourism Agency has once again relaxed its tax-free policy. Starting May 1, the tax-free threshold has been unified—whether you’re buying electronics, clothing, cosmetics, or snacks, purchases over 5,000 yen qualify for tax refund at participating stores.

▲ Tsukiji Market's famous Sushi Dai. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

2. Tsukiji Market relocates and gets a new name

Tsukiji Market has long been a must-visit for seafood lovers in Tokyo, but in November 2016, it moved to Koto Ward and was renamed “Toyosu Market.” It is scheduled to officially open on November 7, marking the end of an 81-year history since Tsukiji first opened in 1935.

In addition to fruit and vegetable vendors, popular shops among foreign visitors like “Sushi Dai” will also relocate to Toyosu Market. The nearest station to the new location is Toyosu Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (Yurikamome) line.

▲ Tokyo now has its own Snoopy Museum too!(Photo / From the official Tokyo Snoopy Museum website)

3. Asia’s first Snoopy Museum opens in Tokyo

Asia’s first “Snoopy Museum” is set to open on April 23 in Tokyo’s Roppongi district. It is the first overseas branch of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in California, USA, and will feature many rare and previously unreleased original artworks, with up to 150 pieces making their Tokyo debut. The museum will also include a gift shop and a Peanuts Café.

However, the Tokyo Snoopy Museum is a limited-time exhibition, running from April 23, 2016, to September 2018—fans should make sure to visit while they can.

▲ Tokyo Metro’s one-day pass will soon be time-limited. Pictured is the three-day pass. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

4. Tokyo Metro one-day pass becomes time-limited starting March 26

Tokyo Metro’s one-day, two-day, and three-day passes, which allow unlimited rides on 13 subway lines, are now switching to a time-based system. Tokyo Metro announced that the current one-day pass will be changed to a 24-hour validity period, effective March 26.

Starting March 26, the Tokyo Metro one-day pass will be calculated based on a 24-hour window from the time of first use. For example, if you start using it at 1 PM on March 27, it will be valid until 1 PM on March 28.

▲ Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Museum. (Photo / Screenshot from Travel Book)

5. Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Museum closes for 3 months

The Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Museum is filled with the charm of Studio Ghibli’s beloved animated worlds—from My Neighbor Totoro and Castle in the Sky to Kiki’s Delivery Service. To undergo renovation work, the museum will be closed for an extended period from May 9 to July 15. Travelers planning a Tokyo trip in the first half of the year should take the opportunity to visit before the closure.

▲ Hokkaido Shinkansen (Photo / From Wikipedia)

6. Hokkaido Shinkansen begins operation

The long-awaited Hokkaido Shinkansen officially began operation on March 26, 2016. Travelers can now reach Hokkaido from Tokyo in just about 4 hours. The new Shinkansen line starts from Shin-Aomori Station, the terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen, and crosses the Seikan Tunnel into Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Shinkansen is being launched in two phases: in March 2016, the line between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto opened, allowing direct travel from Tokyo to Hakodate in approximately 4 hours and 9 minutes without transfers.

Ticket prices for the Hokkaido Shinkansen are also drawing attention. For example, a one-way ticket from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto costs 22,690 yen (about NT$6,135); Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is 7,260 yen; and Sendai to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is 17,310 yen.

▲ Universal Studios Japan unveils the world’s longest roller coaster (Photo / Provided by Universal Studios Japan)

7. World’s longest roller coaster to open at Universal Studios Japan in March

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Universal Studios Japan is launching an exhilarating new attraction—the world’s longest and steepest flying roller coaster, “Flying Dinosaur,” which officially opens on March 18.

The new “Flying Dinosaur” roller coaster is located in the Jurassic Park area, featuring a track length of 1,124 meters and a maximum height difference of about 37.8 meters. Unlike traditional roller coasters, riders are positioned face-down, as if being carried through the air by a pterosaur, zooming at high speed along the track.

8. Kyoto Railway Museum to Open on April 29

Japan has merged the Osaka Transport Museum and the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, renaming them the “Kyoto Railway Museum.” The new museum will exhibit over 50 locomotives and train cars, all of which come from the two former museums. Additionally, the museum building itself is Japan’s oldest surviving wooden railway station structure. It is scheduled to officially open on April 29.