For purchases made on or after 1 November 2026, Japan’s tax-free shopping changed from removing consumption tax at the till to a refund method. Purchases up to 31 October 2026 followed the earlier system. This guide summarises the official visitor information; the refund itself is paid by the shop or its refund provider, so ask about the method and timing when you buy.
What changed on 1 November 2026
Until 31 October 2026
Eligible visitors paid the price without consumption tax at a tax-free shop.
From 1 November 2026
You pay the tax-inclusive price. After customs confirms you are taking the goods out of Japan, the consumption-tax amount is refunded.
Goods categories
The split between general goods and consumables, and the former ¥500,000 consumables cap, were abolished. Consumables no longer need special sealed packaging.
Time limit
Customs confirmation must happen when you depart within 90 days of purchase, counted from the day after purchase. A purchase on 1 November has a deadline of 30 January.
Photo credit
Kakidai · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.
Photo credit
MaedaAkihiko · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.
Photo credit
Akonnchiroll · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.At the shop: four things to check
- Bring your passport. It is checked at the point of sale and the purchase is recorded electronically.
- Your total at one tax-free shop on one day must be ¥5,000 or more before tax. Goods categories are no longer counted separately.
- Ask how the refund will be paid and when. Shops can use a refund provider, and methods differ by shop. Keep the receipt and any refund instructions together.
- Buy only what you will carry out of Japan in your own baggage. Gold or platinum bullion and goods already exempt from consumption tax are not eligible.
At the airport or seaport: before you check your bags
- Step 1
Go to a tax-free procedure terminal first
In the international departure lobby, scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk or electronic terminal before airline baggage check-in. Once a bag has been checked it cannot be retrieved for the procedure.
- Step 2
Green or red result
A green result means no inspection is needed and the procedure is complete. A red result means you take the goods to the customs inspection area.
- Step 3
Then check in and board
Allow extra time. Customs and airlines do not compensate for a missed flight caused by the procedure. On a connecting itinerary, complete it at your final departure point from Japan.
At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, New Chitose, Fukuoka and Naha, you can start the procedure online with Visit Japan Web in designated pre-security areas. The customs confirmation itself is still required.
Plan your shopping days
Editorial suggestions, not official rules:
- Group larger purchases into a few receipts and keep each receipt’s goods together, so one missing item does not affect a whole shopping trip.
- Shop near your hotel on the last full day if you are buying bulky items, so you are not carrying them across the city.
- Leave food and cosmetics you want refunded unopened until you have left Japan.
- Add the airport procedure to your departure-day plan: arrive early enough for the kiosk, a possible inspection, check-in and security.
Official sources and editorial notes
Official sources checked 22 October 2026. This is a summary for travellers, not tax advice. Refund methods, timing and fees are set by each shop or refund provider; confirm them when you buy. If the official guidance changes, the official pages take priority.
JNTO — the new tax-free shopping system ↗ · Japan Tourism Agency — refund method ↗ · National Tax Agency — refund method (PDF) ↗ · Japan Customs — departure procedures ↗