The Isetan Mitsukoshi group, the largest department store group in Japan, will expand its hospitality services for the growing number of foreign visitors to Japan, including setting up or enlarging duty-free counters to expedite procedures for tax-exempt purchases and offering multilingual catalogs to make shopping more convenient and enjoyable, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. announced Sept. 24.

"We will polish our sales service, which is our most distinctive value on top of our unique products, shopping space and environment, in continuing to offer the best hospitality that only a Japanese department store can provide," says Hiroshi Ohnishi, President and CEO of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings.

Examples of service expansion starting Oct. 1

*For details of the service expansion listed below, please visit our website: http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/

[Enhancing Our System of Handling Tax Exemption]

--Stores where duty-free counters will be enlarged: Seven stores, including Isetan Shinjuku Main Store, Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store and Mitsukoshi Ginza Store

--Stores where new duty-free counters will be set up: Five stores, including Sendai Mitsukoshi, bringing the total number of stores with duty-free counters to 27

--Stores where an IT system for tax exemption procedures will be introduced: Seven stores, bringing the total number of stores with the tax exemption system to 17

--Stores where currency exchange machines will be installed: Two stores, bringing the total number of stores with currency exchange machines to seven

[Providing Information for Customers]

--Drawing up catalogs of recommended products (Isetan Shinjuku Main Store, Mitsukoshi Ginza Store, JR Kyoto Isetan)

-We will select products that are popular with foreign visitors and introduce them in multiple languages (English, Chinese) on the catalogs.

*An example of such catalogs for the Ginza store, called "GINZA MIYAGE," can be seen at the site below:

http://mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/store/ginza/library/index.html

--Presenting online information services in multiple languages (Today's Guide)

  -Mitsukoshi Ginza Store    URL:  http://miguide.jp/ginza/

  -JR Kyoto Isetan              URL: http://miguide.jp/kyoto/

In Japan, the number of foreign visitors in fiscal 2013 surpassed 10 million for the first time, showing an increase of 24% from the previous year. It is thought that the growing trend of visitors from abroad will continue toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to improvements in infrastructure so as to receive larger numbers of foreign visitors coupled with a better economic environment as seen in the recent weakening of the yen.

The Isetan Mitsukoshi group was formed in 2008 out of the management integration between Mitsukoshi, which was founded in 1673, Isetan, which was established in 1886, and a department store that originated as a kimono store. With its three core stores being Isetan Shinjuku Main Store, Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store and Mitsukoshi Ginza Store, it is the largest department store group in Japan, with a network of 28 stores in Japan and 31 outlets abroad.

*For information on the store network and scope such as sales, please visit the websites below:

    http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/company/about.html

    http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/company/number.html

Within the Isetan Mitsukoshi group, the amount of domestic sales subjected to tax exemption procedures in fiscal 2013 more than doubled from the year before, indicating a sharp increase in shopping by foreign visitors. Also in the autumn of 2015, the first domestic duty-free shop outside airports in Japan (excluding Okinawa) will open at the Mitsukoshi Ginza Store.