Shoppers crowd the sales floor to buy lucky bags (January 2, Daimaru Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

The New Year opening sales on January 2 of all five department stores in Kyoto City started off on a poor note, with none of them exceeding the previous year's sales amounts. However, various types of expensive "Fuku-bukuro," or lucky bags, sold well, generally lifting sales figures after January 3.

At Daimaru Kyoto, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, practical goods for everyday life, bedding, and specially-planned lucky bags were popular. All three 100,000-yen "Maiko-asobi Fuku-bukuro," or lucky bag for "Maiko," or apprentice geisha, at Miyagawa-cho in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, were sold out in the morning, while 329 people signed up for 1,010,000-yen "Gaisha no Fuku-bukuro," or imported car lucky bag. Total sales remain nearly the same as the previous year.

Sales figures at Takashimaya Kyoto, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, were also nearly unchanged from last year. Lucky bags for brand-name children's clothing and men's wear were hot sellers, and other lucky bags with food, such as ham or meat, also sold well. Also, there were 30 applicants for a 25,250,000-yen lucky bag for an environmentally-conscious house and housewarming-banquet catered by a famous restaurant.

Lucky bags were well received at JR Kyoto Isetan, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto. Some lucky bags priced at several tens-of-thousands of yen, including tailor-made suits, cashmere coats, and accommodation coupons, were on sale for the first time on January 3.

While lucky bags priced around 10,000 yen almost sold out at Fujii Daimaru, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, its sales were slightly less than last year due to decline in customers' average spending. However, the totals for customer traffic and sales increased by 5% and 3% respectively over the consecutive holidays up to January 6.

Kintetsu Department Store, Momoyama Store, in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, fell below last year's customer traffic and sales figures. It struggled in sales of casual clothing and food, but its jewelry lucky bags priced around 100,000 yen sold well.

Each store began a winter-goods sales campaign along with the New Year opening sales, aiming to rally sales.