40% of Japan department stores expect tourist spending to rise

RetailWeak yen driving luxury goods purchases as inbound traffic recoversIsetan's iconic Shinjuku location in Tokyo. (Photo by Makoto Okada)YOSHIHIRO HARA and UTAKO KAWAKAMIAugust 26, 2026 05:50 JSTTOKYO -- Nearly 40% of department stores in Japan expect sales from international tourists to edge up this fiscal year, with visitors from Europe, the U.S. and Southeast Asia helping to offset a decline in travelers from China.