From free Wi-Fi to prayer rooms, Japan's retailers are devising creative ways to encourage foreign tourists to spend.

On Wednesday the government significantly expanded the range of goods that stores can sell to visitors duty-free. But some retailers are going it alone in pursuit of the tourist dollar.

On Monday the Shinjuku branch of Takashimaya Co. opened a prayer room to cater to devout Muslims. Tourists from nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia have soared since Japan started relaxing visa requirements for Southeast Asians by stages in July last year.