In October, Japan will face a fresh round of price increases and tax-related rule changes.

A new wave of price hikes on food and services is scheduled for October, further squeezing the budgets of Japanese households, while freelancers and the self-employed may have to endure higher tax burdens under a new invoice system.

The persistent effects of a weaker yen, which inflates the prices of imported raw materials, are primarily responsible for the price increases as an increasing number of Japanese companies pass them on to....