Big-box stores and online retailers join the fun as well. There are also “time sales”, or particularly large discounts at particular hours of certain days. This sales period is referred to by a particular name-hatsu-uri (初売り), or first sale of the year-and it is a whole affair: beyond just offering discounts on existing items, malls can offer limited-edition product lines and in-person events to stir up interest. Dick Thomas Johnson / Flickr (with modification) Some stores offer a later clearance sale that amps up the discounts even more, but beware: many items will have sold out by this point! Within the fashion industry, some 90% of items are on sale in the first week, with discounts often starting at 30%, ramping up to 50% later on. The sales period is typically broken into three phases: there is sometimes a presale for a few days in December, reserved to loyal customers, before a general sale beginning in January, usually starting on the 2nd and lasting at least two weeks. ![]() This is the time of year when you can most surely find a discount in most department stores, making it the Japanese equivalent of Black Friday in the US. The short, simple answer to “when should I wait for the biggest sales in Japan” is the period between December and early February. ![]() ![]() Thankfully, there is a relatively predictable annual schedule of sales for various products, and this article will go through it all! Japan’s Biggest Sales Period: “Hatsu-uri” There’s nothing more bitter than noticing a major sale for something you just recently bought at full price! If you’re looking to splurge on a major purchase, like Japanese designer goods or home appliances, you should make sure you time it properly.
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