Tax-free shopping in Japan from 1 November 2026: how the new refund method works
Japan is changing how tourists shop tax-free. If you buy on or after 1 November 2026, you pay the tax first and get it back only after a customs check at the airport. Here is what to do at the shop, at the airport, and what can make you lose the refund.
The short version
- Purchases up to 31 October 2026: eligible visitors pay the tax-exclusive price at the tax-free counter, as before.
- Purchases from 1 November 2026: you pay the full price including Japan’s consumption tax, then get the tax back after a customs check when you leave Japan.
- The customs check happens before you check in your bags, at a tax-free procedure terminal in the departure lobby, within 90 days of the purchase.
- Still required: at least ¥5,000 (excluding tax) per store per day, and the goods must leave Japan with you.
What changes on 1 November 2026
Until 31 October 2026, foreign visitors and other eligible shoppers have been able to buy goods at participating tax-free shops without paying consumption tax at the till. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, for purchases made on or after 1 November 2026 the system switches to a refund method: you buy at the tax-inclusive price, and the amount equivalent to the consumption tax is refunded after customs at the airport or seaport confirms that the goods are leaving Japan.
In practice, the extra work moves from the shop counter to the airport. The shop still checks your passport, but whether you actually receive the money now depends on completing the departure check correctly.
Who can use tax-free shopping
The system is for eligible purchasers such as foreign visitors staying in Japan for a short time; the shop checks your passport. Japanese nationals who have lived outside Japan continuously for two years or more can also qualify. The official leaflet adds that, under the new method, an Individual Number Card (My Number Card) may also be accepted as one of the documents for showing those two years abroad. If you are unsure whether your status qualifies, ask the shop before paying.
What counts, and what does not
| Rule from 1 November 2026 | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| ¥5,000 or more (tax excluded) per store per day | Smaller purchases at one shop on one day are not eligible. |
| Goods must be taken out of Japan | You must carry them out when you depart. Plan to keep them with you until the customs check. |
| Quantities you can personally carry | Purchases should be limited to what you can take out of Japan yourself at departure. |
| No special sealed packaging for consumables | Food, drink and cosmetics no longer need the sealed tax-free bag, but if you eat, drink or use them in Japan they are not eligible for the refund. |
| Excluded items | Gold and platinum bullion, and items already exempt from consumption tax. |
Step by step
- At the shop: show your passport and pay the tax-inclusive price. Ask how the refund will be paid to you (for example to a card) and whether any handling fee applies, because the shop explains the refund steps for its own purchases. Keep every receipt.
- Before you pack for the flight: keep all tax-free items with you, grouped by receipt. Customs works receipt by receipt: if even one item from a receipt is missing, none of the goods on that receipt can be inspected for a refund.
- At the departure airport or seaport, before baggage check-in: go to a tax-free procedure terminal (a kiosk or electronic terminal) in the international departure lobby and present your passport. This must be within 90 days of the purchase date.
- Read the result: a green result means no inspection is needed and the procedure is complete. A red result means you must take the goods to the customs inspection area to be checked.
- Refund: once customs has confirmed the export, the refund is processed by the shop (or its refund operator) using the method you set up.
At seven major airports, Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, you can also complete the procedure online through Visit Japan Web instead of a terminal, inside designated areas of the international departure lobby (up to the security checkpoint) where dedicated Wi-Fi is provided for this purpose.
Mistakes that cost you the refund
- Checking your bags first. The terminal check needs the goods with you, and checked luggage cannot be retrieved from the airline to do it afterwards.
- Arriving late. The check, including any inspection, must be finished before boarding. If you abandon it because time runs out, it counts as not completed, and neither the airline nor customs compensates you for a missed departure.
- Doing it at the wrong airport. If you fly domestically and then connect to an international flight, complete the procedure at the airport where you actually leave Japan. The same applies to “fly & cruise” trips that end with a flight out.
- Using the goods in Japan. If you have eaten or used some items and no longer have them, do not use the terminal; report it to a customs officer at the counter instead.
- Not exporting cleared goods. Goods that passed inspection must leave Japan without delay. Otherwise the tax is collected and penalties can apply.
For expensive purchases, the official leaflet notes that customs may ask to see certificates of authenticity or warranties together with the items, so keep those documents in your hand luggage too.
Sources
- Japan Tourism Agency, Tax-Free Shopping System: Refund Method (English).
- Japan Tourism Agency and National Tax Agency, Refund Method leaflet for travelers (PDF).
- Japan Tourism Agency, Changes to tax-free goods (PDF).
- Japan National Tourism Organization, Everything you need to know: Japan’s new tax-free shopping system.
- Digital Agency, Visit Japan Web.
This page explains the rules for travelers; it is not tax advice. Shops set their own refund method and any handling fee. Japan Info has no connection with any refund operator.
Quick answers
When does Japan's tax-free shopping change?
For purchases made on or after 1 November 2026, Japan uses a refund method: you pay the tax-inclusive price in the shop and receive the consumption tax back after a customs check when you depart. Purchases up to 31 October 2026 follow the old tax-exclusive system.
Where do I get the tax refund in Japan?
You complete the customs check at a tax-free procedure terminal in the international departure lobby of the airport or seaport you leave from, before checking in your bags. After customs confirms the export, the shop or its refund operator pays the refund using the method you arranged at purchase.
What is the minimum spend for tax-free shopping in Japan?
Purchases must total 5,000 yen or more, excluding tax, per store per day.
Can I eat snacks I bought tax-free before leaving Japan?
Special sealed packaging is no longer required from 1 November 2026, but food, drink or cosmetics consumed or used in Japan are not eligible for the refund.
How long do I have to leave Japan after buying?
The customs check must be done when you depart within 90 days of the purchase date.