For years, shopping tax-free in Japan was simple. You showed your passport at the till and the 10% consumption tax came off the price on the spot. That ends on 1 November 2026. From that date, you pay the full price in the shop and get the tax back when you leave Japan, after a customs check at the airport. If you have a trip booked for November or later, here's exactly what changes, and how to make sure you actually get your money back.
- From 1 November 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping becomes a refund system. There is no transition period.
- In the shop: show your passport and pay the full price, including 10% consumption tax.
- At departure: scan your passport at a customs terminal before you check in your bags, within 90 days of the purchase.
- Then: the shop or its refund company pays the tax back, in cash at the airport or later to your card, bank or app.
- Still the same: you need to spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one shop on one day, and the goods must leave Japan with you.
What's changing: before and after 1 November 2026
The biggest difference is when you get the tax back. Under the old system, the tax never left your wallet. Under the new one, you pay it, and Japan only refunds it once customs confirms the goods are actually leaving the country.
| Until 31 October 2026 | From 1 November 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| At the till | Tax removed on the spot | Pay the full price, including 10% tax |
| Getting the tax back | Not needed | Refund after a customs check when you leave Japan |
| Time to take goods out | 30 days | 90 days |
| General goods vs consumables | Separate categories with separate rules | One category, judged on the total spend |
| Sealed bags for food and cosmetics | Required | No longer required, but you still can't use them in Japan |
| ¥500,000 daily cap on consumables | Applied | Removed |
| Minimum spend | ¥5,000 before tax | ¥5,000 before tax, per shop, per day |
Based on guidance from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the National Tax Agency and Japan Customs.
How the new tax refund works, step by step
What happens at the customs terminal
The tax-free terminals are in the international departure lobby, before check-in. After you scan your passport, the screen shows one of two results:
Do it before you check in your bags. Customs may ask to see the goods, and you can't get them back once your suitcase has gone. If you miss your flight because the check took too long, neither customs nor the airline will compensate you, so allow extra time at the airport.
Using Visit Japan Web instead of a terminal
At seven airports, you can start the customs step on your phone through Visit Japan Web: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, New Chitose (Sapporo), Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa). It only works in designated areas of the departure lobby, before security, which have dedicated Wi-Fi. Registering on Visit Japan Web before your trip also speeds things up in shops, because its QR code can share your passport details.
Who can shop tax-free in Japan?
- Foreign tourists visiting on a Temporary Visitor status, which covers most holidaymakers, and who have been in Japan for less than six months.
- Japanese citizens living abroad who have lived outside Japan for at least two years and can prove it with documents.
- Cruise passengers with a cruise landing permit.
People living and working in Japan generally can't use the system. You also can't shop on someone else's behalf. If you're shopping as a group or family, each person should pay for their own items separately, because the person whose passport is on the purchase must take the goods out of Japan.
What qualifies for a tax refund?
Qualifies
- Purchases totalling at least ¥5,000 before tax in one shop on one day
- Most goods, from clothes and electronics to cosmetics and snacks. The old "everyday use" rule is gone.
- Food, drink and cosmetics, as long as they stay unopened until you leave
- Quantities you can reasonably carry out of Japan yourself
Doesn't qualify
- Anything used, opened or eaten in Japan
- Gold and platinum bullion or coins
- Items already exempt from consumption tax
- Goods you post home yourself. Only shipping arranged directly by the shop is still tax-free.
The ¥5,000 is before tax. A receipt showing ¥5,000 including tax works out at about ¥4,545 before tax, so it won't qualify. Aim for at least ¥5,500 including tax in a single shop on the same day.
Buying something expensive? For any single item costing ¥1,000,000 or more before tax, the shop must record extra details such as brand, model and serial number. You don't need to apply for anything, but checkout takes longer.
The 90-day rule, explained
You must complete the customs step within 90 days of each purchase, counting the day after you buy as day one. Every receipt has its own deadline. If you leave after the deadline, that purchase doesn't qualify and no refund is paid.
For most holidaymakers 90 days is plenty. It matters more for long stays, working holidays and slow travel around Asia.
How and when you get your money back
The refund comes from the shop or the refund company it works with, not directly from the government. Each shop chooses which methods it offers, so ask before you pay.
| Refund method | How long it can take | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cash at the airport or port | Same day | The fastest option, where it's offered |
| Credit card | Up to 1 to 2 weeks | Use a card in your own name |
| App or digital wallet | Varies by provider | Follow the shop's QR code or app instructions |
| Bank transfer | About 2 to 4 weeks | Depends on your bank and country |
Timings are a guide from published reporting. Each shop and refund company sets its own process.
Keep every receipt until the money arrives. If a refund doesn't come through, the receipt is your proof of purchase.
7 mistakes that can cost you your refund
- Checking in your suitcase first. Customs may want to see the goods, and you can't get a checked bag back. Always do the tax-free step first.
- Leaving one item behind. If one item from a receipt is missing, none of the items on that receipt qualify. Pack everything from the same receipt together.
- Opening the snacks. Food, drink and cosmetics you use in Japan don't qualify. If you have used something, don't use the terminal. Tell a customs officer at the counter.
- Doing it at the wrong airport. Do the tax-free step at your final departure point from Japan. If you fly from Sapporo to Tokyo and then home, do it in Tokyo.
- Missing the in-store step. If the shop didn't register your purchase as tax-free at the till, you can't fix it later at the airport.
- Shopping for friends. Goods bought on someone else's behalf don't qualify. Each traveller should check out separately.
- Running out of time. Allow extra time at the airport, especially if you've bought a lot, because a red result means an inspection.
Good news for airport shopping: duty-free shops after security aren't affected. They still sell without tax at the till, with no refund step.
Two more Japan travel changes to know
- Higher departure tax: Japan's international tourist tax, the "sayonara tax", rose from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person from 1 July 2026. It's normally included in your plane ticket, so you don't pay it separately.
- No more posting tax-free goods home yourself: since April 2025, goods you send abroad by post or a shipping agent aren't tax-free. Carry them, or let the shop ship them for you.
Why your phone matters more under the new system
The new process runs largely through your phone, more than the old one did:
- Visit Japan Web shares your passport details in shops and handles the customs step at seven major airports.
- Refund companies often use QR codes, apps or emails to collect your card or bank details and confirm your refund.
- Receipts and confirmations may arrive by email, and you'll want to check them before you leave Japan.
- Maps, translation and train apps get you to the right tax-free shop, and to the airport with time to spare.
Shop Wi-Fi is patchy, and airport Wi-Fi often wants you to log in. Having your own mobile data means you can scan a refund QR code at the till or check a refund email on the train, without hunting for a connection.
Stay connected in Japan with an ETravelSim eSIM
The ETravelSim Japan eSIM runs on the KDDI 5G network and gives you local data from the moment you land. Buy it online, scan the QR code at home on Wi-Fi, and it connects when you arrive at Narita, Haneda or Kansai. There's no SIM queue and no pocket Wi-Fi to return.
Japan eSIM
- KDDI 5G network
- Data plans for short trips and long stays
- Hotspot on supported plans
Truly Unlimited Japan
- No data cap and no speed throttling
- Stream, video call and upload freely
- Hotspot on most plans
Starting prices checked on etravelsim.com in October 2026 and may change.
Land in Japan already online
Scan refund QR codes, check your tax-free emails and find your way to the right shop, all on your own data. Install your eSIM before you fly.
Get your Japan eSIMFirst order in the app? Use code APP10 for 10% off.
Japan tax-free shopping FAQs
Do I still get a tax refund in Japan after November 2026?
Yes. You still get the 10% consumption tax back, but as a refund rather than a discount at the till. You must complete the customs check at your departure airport or seaport within 90 days of the purchase.
Where do I claim my Japan tax refund?
At your final departure airport or seaport, before you check in your bags. Scan your passport at a tax-free terminal in the international departure lobby. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, New Chitose, Fukuoka and Naha, you can also use Visit Japan Web in designated areas.
Can I open or eat tax-free items before leaving Japan?
No. Sealed packaging is no longer required, but anything you use, open or eat in Japan doesn't qualify for a refund. If you have used an item, tell a customs officer at the counter instead of using the terminal.
What happens if I forget one item from a receipt?
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, if one item from a receipt is missing, none of the items on that receipt are eligible. Keep everything from the same receipt together and with you.
Are airport duty-free shops affected?
No. Duty-free shops after security at the airport still sell without tax at the till, with no refund step.
Plan your Japan trip
- Japan eSIM: KDDI 5G data from $4.50
- Truly Unlimited Data for Japan
- Best Places to Visit This Winter 2026–27, including Shirakawa-go
- eSIM for International Travel: How It Works and What It Costs
Last updated: 9 October 2026. Based on published guidance from the Japan National Tourism Organization, the National Tax Agency and Japan Customs. Rules and refund processes can vary by shop, so follow the instructions you're given at the till and at the airport, and check official sources before you travel.