Japan duty free sales soared in the first quarter of the current financial year as Chinese tourist ranks swelled.

Major duty free retailers have reported sales on the mainland soared 20 per cent or more year on year, with brands preferred by Chinese shoppers performing the best.

Japanese government figures show inbound tourists into the nation soared 47 per cent in the first six months of the 2015 calendar year – to 11 million. In the whole of 2014, inbound visitors totalled just 13.4 million.

Sales of jewellery – especially gold jewellery – and watches lead the growth in a virtual mirror image of the experience of Hong Kong retailers, demonstrating clearly how the cashed up Chinese have changed their preferred duty free shopping destination.

Leather goods are reportedly selling well and airport boutiques are experiencing healthy turnover increases.

Japan’s government scrapped visas for Chinese mainlanders early this year, which has definitely helped fuel the boom.