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If you are shopping in Japan on or after 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping no longer means paying less at the till. Under the new system you pay the full, tax-inclusive price in the shop, and the consumption tax is refunded to you after Japan Customs confirms, at your departure, that you are taking the goods out of the country. This guide is for anyone visiting Japan from November 2026 who plans to buy cosmetics, electronics, clothes, snacks or souvenirs at tax-free shops such as Don Quijote, department stores or drugstores.
The short answer: keep spending ¥5,000 or more (before tax) per shop per day to qualify, keep every receipt-linked item with you, do not use or eat what you bought tax-free, and leave Japan within 90 days of purchase. At the airport, scan your passport at a tax-free terminal in the departure lobby before you check in your bags. Green on the screen means you are done; red means customs wants to see the goods. Facts in this guide were checked on the Japan Tourism Agency and Japan Customs official pages on 26 October 2026.
What actually changes on 1 November 2026
Until 31 October 2026, a tax-free shop took the tax off at the register: you showed your passport and simply paid less. From 1 November 2026, Japan switches to a refund method. The Japan Tourism Agency's traveler page states that purchasers buy tax-free goods at tax-inclusive prices, and the tax-free sale is completed only when customs confirms the goods are being exported. The refund is then paid by the shop itself or by a refund service provider the shop has hired.
Japan has made the change mainly to stop tax-free goods being resold inside Japan. For an ordinary traveler it means two practical things: you need a little more money (or card limit) at the moment of purchase, and you have a job to do at the airport that you could previously skip.
| Until 31 Oct 2026 | From 1 Nov 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price you pay in the shop | Tax-free price | Full tax-inclusive price |
| When the tax comes back | Never charged | After customs confirms export at departure |
| Who refunds you | — | The shop, or a refund company working for the shop |
| Minimum purchase | ¥5,000 (before tax) per shop per day | ¥5,000 (before tax) per shop per day — unchanged |
| Sealed bags for consumables | Yes | Abolished |
| Airport step | Hand in / scan at customs | Scan passport at a tax-free terminal before check-in; refund depends on it |
| Time limit | Take the goods out when you leave | Customs confirmation within 90 days of purchase |
Purchases made up to and including 31 October 2026 follow the old rules, even if you fly home in November. Purchases on or after 1 November 2026 follow the new ones. There is no overlap period where a shop can choose.
Who can shop tax-free
Tax-free shopping is for foreign visitors taking goods home. You will need your physical passport at the shop — a photo of it is not accepted. Japanese nationals living abroad can also qualify, but the official FAQ says they must show they have lived overseas for two years or more, with documents such as a residence certificate. If you are in Japan on a work or student residence status, check with the shop before buying; tax-free sales are aimed at short-term visitors.
Cruise passengers can also use the system. The official FAQ explains that if your cruise starts and ends at foreign ports, you complete the procedure at the final Japanese port using a terminal before boarding. If you fly into Japan to join a cruise, you complete it at the domestic departure airport.
What qualifies — and what does not
- Minimum spend: ¥5,000 or more, tax excluded, at the same shop on the same day. Receipts from different shops cannot be combined.
- No upper limit in yen. The official FAQ says the quantity is limited to what you can personally carry and take out of Japan when you leave.
- General goods and consumables are no longer split. Under the old rules cosmetics and snacks had their own ¥5,000 threshold and a ¥500,000 cap. From November that distinction and cap are gone, and the special sealed packaging for consumables is abolished.
- Excluded: gold and platinum bullion, and items that are not subject to consumption tax in the first place.
- Shipping home separately no longer counts. Sending tax-free goods home by post or courier instead of carrying them was abolished on 31 March 2025. Some shops arrange their own overseas shipping — ask the shop how that works with tax-free.
Step by step: in the shop
- Look for a shop displaying the official "Japan. Tax-free Shop" sign, or ask at the counter. Large stores often have a dedicated tax-free counter, sometimes on a separate floor.
- Have your passport ready. The shop records your passport details electronically.
- Pay the full price, including the 10% consumption tax (8% on most food and non-alcoholic drinks).
- Ask how the refund will be paid. The official FAQ lists bank transfer, refund to a credit card, app-based refund, or cash at the port of departure — it depends on the shop or its refund company.
- Keep the receipt and any refund paperwork together, and keep the goods unused.
Because you now pay the full price up front, it is worth checking your card's foreign transaction fee and limit before a big shopping day. Our cash vs card guide explains which cards work best in Japan, and best credit cards for Japan travel compares fees.
Step by step: at the airport
This is the part that decides whether you get your money back. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, you must present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal (a kiosk or electronic terminal) in the international departure lobby, within 90 days of the purchase, and before checking in your baggage.
- Arrive with all tax-free goods with you, not yet checked in. The official FAQ is clear that checked baggage cannot be retrieved once it has gone.
- Find a tax-free terminal in the departure lobby and scan your passport.
- Green screen: the procedure is complete. You can check your bags in as normal.
- Red screen: take your tax-free goods to the designated customs inspection area and show them.
- After customs has confirmed the export, the shop or its refund company processes your refund using the method you chose.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Flying from Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose or Naha | You can also use **Visit Japan Web** for the procedure — it must still be done before security |
| Connecting from a domestic flight to an international one | Do the procedure at the **final departure airport** in Japan |
| Fly-and-cruise trips | Do it at the domestic departure airport, before check-in |
| Cruise leaving from a Japanese port | Use the terminal at the final Japanese port before boarding |
| One item from a receipt is missing or used | None of the items on that receipt qualify — tell customs; do not use the terminal for it |
| Items worth ¥1 million or more | Customs may ask to see a certificate of authenticity or warranty — keep it with the item |
How the refund is paid
The refund is paid by the shop or a refund service provider it has appointed, not by the government directly. That is why the method varies. The official FAQ lists four possibilities: bank transfer, credit card refund, app-based refund, and cash at the port of departure. The refund is generally processed after customs has confirmed the sale.
The official pages we checked do not state a fixed processing time or whether handling fees are deducted, and these can differ between shops and refund companies. Ask at the tax-free counter before you pay — "How will I get the refund, and is there a fee?" — and keep any QR code or app details they give you.
| Purchase (before tax) | 10% tax you pay up front | What decides your refund |
|---|---|---|
| ¥5,000 (minimum) | ¥500 | Customs confirmation + the shop's refund method and any fee |
| ¥20,000 | ¥2,000 | Same — ask whether a fee is deducted |
| ¥50,000 | ¥5,000 | Same — card refunds may also be affected by exchange rates |
| ¥100,000 | ¥10,000 | Same — worth choosing a shop whose method suits you |
Food and non-alcoholic drinks are usually taxed at the reduced 8% rate, so the amount at stake on snacks is a little lower. If your card refund is converted back into your home currency, the rate on the refund day may differ from the purchase day.
Is it still worth bothering?
For most shoppers, yes — 10% on ¥30,000 of cosmetics and electronics is ¥3,000, which pays for a good dinner. But the effort now sits at the end of your trip, so it is worth being selective.
| Your shopping | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Big-ticket items (electronics, watches, bags) | Definitely use tax-free — keep the warranty card with the item |
| One big haul at Don Quijote or a drugstore | Worth it if you will not open anything before you fly |
| Snacks and drinks you will eat during the trip | Pay normally — opening one item voids the whole receipt |
| Lots of small purchases under ¥5,000 per shop | Not eligible — consolidate into fewer, bigger shopping trips |
| Very tight airport connection | Consider skipping tax-free unless the amount is large |
Our Don Quijote guide covers what to buy there and how the store is laid out, and the depachika guide is useful if you are buying food gifts in department stores.
Packing so you do not lose the refund
- Pack all tax-free goods in one bag you carry to the airport and do not check in until after the terminal step.
- Keep each receipt with its items — if customs asks, you must show everything from that receipt.
- Liquids, gels and aerosols (cosmetics, sake) still have to follow carry-on security rules after the customs step. You can usually check them in after the terminal shows green.
- Do not send tax-free items home with a luggage forwarding service — that no longer counts as export. Our luggage forwarding guide is still useful for sending your suitcase to the airport, just keep the tax-free bag with you.
When does Japan's new tax-free refund system start?
It applies to purchases made on or after 1 November 2026. Purchases up to 31 October 2026 follow the old tax-free-at-the-till system.
Do I still get a discount at the till at Don Quijote or department stores?
No. From 1 November 2026 every tax-free shop charges the full tax-inclusive price. The tax is refunded later, after customs confirms at your departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.
What is the minimum purchase for tax-free shopping in Japan?
¥5,000 or more, excluding tax, at the same shop on the same day. The old separate limits for consumables (including the ¥500,000 cap) are abolished.
How long do I have to leave Japan after buying tax-free goods?
You must complete the customs procedure at a tax-free terminal within 90 days of the purchase date.
Can I put tax-free items in my checked suitcase?
Only after you have scanned your passport at the tax-free terminal and seen a green result. The terminal step happens before check-in, and customs may ask to see the goods.
How do I receive the refund?
From the shop or its refund company, by bank transfer, credit card refund, an app, or cash at the port of departure, depending on the shop. Ask at the counter when you buy, including whether any fee is deducted.
What if I used one of the items before leaving?
Then none of the items on that receipt are eligible. Do not scan for it at the terminal; report it at the customs counter instead.
