During my recent trip, I visited Dolce multiple times and I ran into quite a few tourists and I think the increase of the foreigner tax has a lot to do with the influx of tourist visiting Japan after the reopen. Tourist is nearly everywhere on subway, every restaurant.. and yes soapland. Pervious I never run into tourist around Minowa station.. but this time I overheard some tourist (a couple) trying to figure out direction... not sure what the attraction around there
With the yen's deprecation the shop see an opportunity for price increase. I think the foreigner tax purpose was targeting tourist, but unfortunately local expat/foreigner has been lump as the same foreigner group as tourist.
Also, for someone who live in Japan the price change might see steep. but for someone from outside of Japan (especially North America) the price if you converted to USD the price adjustment is almost constant .
Ex. My last visit to Dolce 80 min course was 31K (course+tax+nomination) in 2019 the USD/Yen rate is 110 so if you convert to USD that's around 281 USD. My recent visit after Dolce July 1 price increases the 80 min course is 39K the USD/Yen is 140, if convert to USD that's around 279 USD. It is actually cheaper than my last visit.
And given that almost everyone outside Japan have been dealing with high inflation, the price even look more attractive, I certainly can't get any P4p at this price with the quality of girl in any major US city. That why's I think the tax is actually targeting foreign tourist based on USD pricing.
Side note. I think the reverse culture shock thread is an excellent thread for further understand the topic on inflation/tips-flation outside Japan.
Also it might not matter whether the local foreigner walk away those price increase, if foreign visitor segment > local foreigner segment then I don't think the shop will see traffic drop off. And given the attitude some of Dolce's staff treat foreigner, I really doubt they are seeing any less of foreigner.
And I am sorry I am part of the culprit too, I did visit Dolce (even after it raised the price on July 1) I don't like the shop .. but I did end up with 2 girls which kind enough to put in reservation for me and gave me a good time. For someone who don't speak much Japanese, it does save me a lot of time and I am actually paying less in USD term than my 2019 visit.
By no mean I like paying extra based on my nationality but as an outsider I just want to point out the possible pricing scheme these group is deploying to target tourist.
unfortunately local expat/foreigner has been lump as the same foreigner group as tourist.