Kintetsu Osaka targets foreigners

Kintetsu Department Store, located in Osaka’s tallest building, has launched a program to attract tourists.

Like most Japanese retailers – and especially department stores – Kintetsu Osaka is battling to maintain sales and growth in a depressed economy with a steadily declining population.  Many retailers are developing programs to attract more foreign customers – with even convenience store network 7-Eleven launching duty free sales in selected stores for customers who can show a foreign passport.

From April 20, Kintetsu’s main Osaka store in Abeno Harukas Tower will open a new ‘Foreign Customers’ Salon’ and Kokumin’ drugstore in the Wing Building. The new salon is designed to attract more foreign tourists by providing tailored customer services.

The new salon consists of two sections – an 80sqm ‘Service Salon’ which provides services such as duty-free procedures and luggage check-in and a 500sqm ‘Experience Salon’, which offers traditional Japanese experiences.

Both salons will feature bonsais, traditional gravels and washbasins and provide foreign customers with a Japanese-styled, relaxing space. The drugstore offers popular Japanese products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

The service salon will provide duty-free procedures, guest coupons, complimentary beverages, smartphone charging, internet connection, a shopping escort service with an interpreter (reservation required),  luggage check-in, delivery of purchased articles to hotels (Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, Tennoji Miyako Hotel, Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka) or the airport, sightseeing tours and ATMs.

The Foreign Customers’ Salon, includes Japanese tea tasting, Tanabata star festival decorations, traditional crafting, electronic beauty products testing and seasonal events.

The Kokumin drugstore will showcase not only ordinary pharmaceutical products but also electronic beauty products, home appliances, Hello Kitty products and other popular Japanese products.

Storewide, the company will offer translation services through human interpreters and a QR Translator allowing shoppers to scan a QR code and read translated information on their smartphones.

Kintetsu Department Store Chain’s Main Store Abeno Harukas is the first department store to have this new service, available in 10 languages.

In other initiatives, in-store signboards, floor guides and brochures are now in multiple languages.