BicCamera’s Services for Travelers: 7 Inside Tips to Know Before You Go

BicCamera Shinjuku East Exit: Easy Shopping for International Visitors

Just a short walk from Shinjuku Station’s East Exit, a major tourist hub, this branch features one of the largest sales floors among all BicCamera stores. Its prime location attracts numerous international visitors, offering a wide range of popular products and must-have items for shopping in Japan.

The store is also highly accommodating to foreign customers, with multilingual signs, friendly staff, easy-to-navigate sales floors, and a proactive approach to providing tourist-focused services.

1. Coupons: BicCamera Tax-Free & Special Discount Coupons（10% Tax-Free + Extra 3-7% OFF）

The tax-free system is a special discount available exclusively to travelers to Japan (not available to residents). This system provides discounts equivalent to the 8-10% consumption tax (varies by product), with the opportunity for even more discounts with tax exemption coupons: 3% on alcoholic beverages, 5% on medicines and cosmetics, and 7% on household appliances.

2. Pocket Talk AI Interpreter: Breaking Language Barriers with Free Device Rentals!

The BicCamera Shinjuku East Exit location employs multilingual staff, though occasionally, only Japanese-speaking staff may be available. In these cases, the Pocket Talk portable AI translator can be very useful, supporting 85 languages via both voice and text.

(Info as of June 2023, see product page for details).

At the Shinjuku East Exit location, Pocket Talk devices are readily available at the first-floor reception desk without needing prior reservation or application. Simply return it when finished (some locations may require users to sign in). So long as you have this device, communication while shopping will be the least of your worries!

“It’s super convenient! It’s free, needs no reservation, and is easy to use,” recommends Chen.

3. Multilingual Payke Tablet: Detailed Product Info at Your Fingertips!

The Payke Tablet is a dedicated terminal installed in stores that allows customers to scan a product’s barcode to instantly see product information (available in multiple languages). This tool is especially useful for understanding specific details that are usually difficult to translate, such as medical ingredients and technical product specifications.

At the BicCamera Shinjuku East Exit branch, you’ll find these tablets conveniently placed right near the popular products that tend to have hard-to-translate specific information.

4. Pre-Order Popular Items Before Your Trip

There’s no disappointment quite like traveling all the way to Japan for a particular item, only to find that it’s out of stock! While most items tend to be in plentiful supply, there’s always the chance that highly sought-after goods may not always be available, especially in specific versions or colors. The smartest way to ensure you can get what you want is by reserving them online before your trip and choosing a specific store for pickup. BicCamera offers a convenient reservation service tailored to foreign tourists, allowing you to either call the store directly or reserve online before even leaving your home country!

“Japanese products are known for their high quality, so my friends and family always ask me to shop for them when I travel. With so many places to visit, being able to reserve items in advance is a huge time-saver. It also allows me to plan my trip without having to worry about something being out-of-stock when I get there,” explains Chen.

(*Passport information required to apply. Only the same passport holder who applied may pick up reserved items. Note that some items may not be eligible for layaway.)

Layaway items can be picked up at the online layaway service counter on B2F upon presentation of necessary information.

5. Airport Delivery Service: Airport Pick-up for Lighter Sightseeing

The Airport Delivery Service delivers your purchased items directly from the store to the airport. Some electronics can be bulky to carry, and considering that you can’t even use duty-free items while still in Japan, there’s really no point bringing them back to your hotel. By sending your purchases directly to the airport, you can travel light not only on the day of your shopping, but for the entire duration of your trip!

Delivery to major airports nationwide is available as soon as the next day (note that deliveries can only be scheduled for the same day of your flight; earlier or later dates not available).

BicCamera Shinjuku East Exit has a dedicated reception desk next to the B1F duty-free counter for this service. You can also complete the process at the cash registers on each floor. Since you’ll need to pick up your items before boarding, be sure to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, and be careful not to leave anything behind!

6. Currency Exchange: No Yen? No Problem!

You’ll find the currency exchange machine right by the main entrance, in front of the general information desk. Being able to exchange currency right in-store without a visit to the exchange counter is super convenient! It supports euros, dollars, and yuan.

“It’s super helpful to be able to exchange currency right in the store, not to mention reassuring from a security standpoint,” says Chen.

7. Save More with Credit Card and E-Payment Perks

While specific campaign details vary seasonally, the store also offers discounts for major credit cards and electronic payment methods preferred by foreign tourists. It’s a good idea to check these options before going to pay.

“In addition to tax-free purchases and coupons, some payment methods offer even more perks! They’re clearly posted at the registers, so it’s easy to understand,” added Chen.

Using the Duty-Free Counter

Q. Where can I complete the duty-free procedures?

A: Duty-free procedures can be completed at the cash registers on each floor. There’s also a dedicated duty-free register on the B1 floor.

Q. Can I shop duty-free for items on different floors?

A: Yes, items from any floor can be bought together duty-free. When moving between floors, you can get a purchase card for heavy products so you won’t need to carry them with you. However, note that alcoholic beverages must be purchased at the Liquor Sales Corner Cashier. Duty-free procedures for alcohol cannot be combined with other items.

BicCamera: An Economical & Convenient Shopping Experience

“In Taiwan, many visitors come to Japan five or even ten times, so their souvenir needs can vary greatly. Especially when it comes to home appliances and beauty products, even those that are available in Taiwan tend to be more affordable in Japan. Discounts through coupons and tax-free shopping is truly a perk for tourists, and mass retailers like BicCamera are incredibly helpful with their wide range of souvenirs. They’ve got just about everything you could want!” says Chen.

While it’s always nice to shop the best prices, one of the biggest perks of in-store shopping is being able to see products in person and get detailed explanations and recommendations from staff. This especially goes for home appliances, beauty products, alcoholic beverages, and foods, where you may want to take time to find certain items to suit your preferences. It’s also great not having to stress about dealing with packages.

So when you’re planning a trip to Japan, be sure to take advantage of BicCamera’s unique services, and grant yourself an affordable, stress-free, and seamless shopping experience!

Written by:

Miyu is a travel writer and tour conductor with over a decade of experience in developing educational content for working individuals. She has a passion for exploring new cultures and has visited more than 150 cities in around 50 countries. Her goal is to sample great food, experience nature, enjoy historical sites, and bathe in hot springs around the world. Miyu left her corporate job to pursue her passion for travel and now spends over 100 days a year abroad while working as a writer. She promotes the joy of travel, the beauty of Japan, and the diverse cultures of the world by traveling to different parts of Japan and collaborating with inbound tour operators and fellow travel writers.