JR-West has expanded service for foreign tourists visiting Japan. The company started consumption-tax-exempt service at the convenience store "Seven-Eleven Heart-in" in Nijo Station from February 22, and will also expand discount tickets for foreigners from March.

Targeting foods, drinks, cosmetics and others, the tax-free service will be consecutively expanded at other main stations from April. From that day, February 22, 13 convenience stores in various locations, including Kyoto Station, have been selling prepaid "SIM cards," the cards used in a smartphone or a tablet for data communication.

Furthermore, a discounted ticket for the Kansai-Airport Express, "HARUKA," (between Kansai Airport and Kyoto), which has been provided as a combined sale with an "ICOCA" IC card, will allow access up to Saga-Arashiyama Station from March, with the one-way ticket price of 1,600 yen remaining unchanged.

The company has also been investigating the establishment of tourist information centers in order to correspond to visitors' requests related to hotel reservations, baggage delivery arrangements etc., at Kyoto, Osaka and other stations.