The grass is not always greener on the other side

For Chinese tourists who have visited Japan, what has lingered in their minds after their return is not only the cherry blossom at the foot of Mount Fuji, but also the electric toilet seats and rice cookers.

The Japanese yen's depreciation, the country's expanding tax-free policy and the relaxed visa requirements for Chinese tourists have made the already popular trips to Japan a shopping spree.

During this year's cherry blossom season, from the end of March to the middle of April, Japan is expected to have received around 350,000 Chinese tourists, whose total spending is estimated at 7 billion yuan ($1.13 billion), or 20,000 yuan each person, according to Online travel agency Ctrip.