Tourists Targeted as Cash Cows: Overcharged by Tens of Thousands at Department Stores! Veteran Shoppers Warn Others

With the influx of tourists, xenophobic sentiments have become increasingly apparent in some parts of Japan. Recently, a local shared their experience of being “overcharged” at a well-known department store, effectively paying for items they did not receive. Many Taiwanese residents in Japan have confirmed that store clerks often target tourists as “cash cows,” a practice that has existed for some time.

A netizen posted in the Facebook group “Japan Free Travel Discussion Area” about an incident in a well-known department store in Tokyo‘s Ikebukuro. They purchased a 2200 yen lunch bag and other items. Despite requesting a receipt, they only realized back at their hotel that they had been charged for an extra lunch bag, leaving them extremely dissatisfied.

The post sparked a heated discussion, with many sharing similar experiences. One commenter mentioned that some clerks deliberately select the “most expensive items to double-charge.” Another shared that they were overcharged by more than 10,000 yen but only realized it too late and had to accept the loss. Taiwanese residents with work experience in Japan also noted that this is especially common in tourist hotspots like drugstores. Clerks might overcharge tourists either out of laziness to reconcile accounts or to deliberately cause trouble. They advise shoppers to be extra vigilant to avoid unnecessary expenses.