The government will relax a rule for duty-free shopping from Sunday in its latest effort to spur spending by foreign visitors, after "explosive buying" by Chinese tourists appears to have cooled down.
Under the current rule, foreign visitors have to buy at least ¥5,000 ($45) worth of consumables, such as food and cosmetics, or the same value of general items, such as clothing, to be exempted from paying the nation's 8 percent consumption tax. But some visitors have complained that they are not sure if they are buying items classed as "consumable" or "general" goods .
From July, foreign visitors' purchases will be eligible for the tax-free program if the total purchased amount of the two categories reaches ¥5,000.