Japan continues to be the top destination of choice for Filipino tourists especially as it reopened to foreigners in late 2022. As of October 2022, half a million tourists have flocked to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Thousands of these were Filipinos seeking to experience one of the rare destinations that offer all four seasons. It’s also famously a land where equal importance is placed on new development and traditional culture preservation.

Not to mention, Japan is a shopping haven for many tourists seeking well-designed and unique products, from distinctive Japanese food and fashion to specialized personal care and cutting- edge technology. And because shopping there is tax-free for tourists, foreigners are exempted from paying the ten percent consumption tax.

Alipay+, a global cross-border digital payments solution, just made shopping in Japan even more enjoyable, convenient, and cost-saving, especially for Filipino tourists, through a partnership with local e-wallet GCash.

Japan is one of the Asian markets where Filipino tourists can seamlessly use GCash—with savings on currency exchange and exclusive promos in participating retailers to boot, all thanks to Alipay+. With one less logistical feature to worry about, you can enjoy going around the country’s famed metropolises, Tokyo and Osaka.

In these two locations alone, you can enjoy discounts of up to 1,000 yen from participating airport merchants, retail shops, convenience stores, drugstores, amusement parks, and department stores. GCash users can discover all the discounts and digital coupons available to use in the e-wallet app.

To kickstart your way into the best deals with Alipay+, here are three must-visit shopping establishments in Japan.

Don Quijote

Also known colloquially as “Donki,” Don Quijote is a beloved Japanese discount store chain with over 400 locations domestically. To say that you can find everything here is an understatement as it stocks a range of products from groceries to electronics and even clothing. In some locations, Donki stores are even open as late as 3 a.m. or 5 a.m., with some even open 24 hours for your shopping convenience.

Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores

From its humble beginnings as a kimono store during the Edo era, Daimaru and Matsuzakaya has grown to become one of the most recognizable department store brands in Japan with its wide selection of products ranging from everyday items and food to high-end luxury products.

In Tokyo, just outside the Tokyo Station’s Yaesu North Exit, there’s a sprawling 13-level Daimaru store. It’s famous for its basement food section called “depa chika” with an overwhelming selection of boxed lunches, while the ground floor has a confectionary section called “depa ichi” famous for the many sweets ideals for souvenirs.

Isetan Mitsukoshi Group

Isetan Mitsukoshi of Japan is an international department store group. The company had its humble beginnings in small kimono shops. Mitsukoshi’s first store was founded in 1673, and Isetan in 1886. Today, Isetan Mitsukoshi department stores in Japan receive more than 200 million annual store visits in its around 50 stores all over the world.

In Japan alone, there are 20 stores located in central Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ginza, and Nihonbashi. At Isetan Mitsukoshi, you can discover the spirit of Japanese culture and the creation of the Japanese way of life.

BONUS: LAWSON, 7-ELEVEN, and FamilyMart convenience stores

A trip to Japan is not complete without a rundown of its famed convenience stores. Nowhere in the world have these 24-hour konbinis been elevated to cult status, thanks to their diverse offerings that you can’t find anywhere else. From ingeniously packaged food to top-tier meals at affordable prices, these merchants have it all.

LAWSON, 7-ELEVEN, and FamilyMart are among the biggest players in Japan’s convenience store arena. Each has its own specialty but konbini connoisseurs generally recommend looking for these items when rummaging through stores: seasonal and limited-edition products, fresh and hot specialty food, soft serve, shelf-stable meals and drinks.

But other than having something to eat, convenience stores also offer many other services including cash transactions, bills payment, parcel pickups, charging your devices on the fly, and many more.

In addition to the great shopping experience, tourists planning their trip to Japan can also conveniently book accommodations and transportation through Agoda and use GCash  to pay for the bookings, thanks to the partnership between Agoda and Alipay+. This means you can enjoy a hassle-free and secure payment experience without worrying about foreign currency exchange rates or transaction fees. So why not start planning your dream trip to Japan today?

Get the best out of GCash’s overseas travel benefits by downloading the app on Google Play Store for Android and on Apple App Store for iOS or by watching this video.

ADVT