Guide - Plan the trip
Japan tax-free shopping from 1 November 2026: how the refund works
Pay the tax at the till, then claim it back at departure: $32 (¥5,000) minimum per store per day, leave within 90 days, scan your passport before bag drop.
From 1 Nov 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan works as pay first, claim later. You pay the price including consumption tax, spend at least $32 (¥5,000) before tax at one store in one day, and leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase date. At the airport you scan your passport at a tax-free terminal before baggage check-in. A Green result finishes the procedure with no inspection. A Red result sends you to customs with the goods.
Purchases made up to 31 Oct 2026 still use the old system, with the tax taken off at the till. The rules below follow Japan Customs and JNTO. Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.
What changes on 1 November 2026?
The date that counts is the purchase date. Japan Customs and JNTO give the same dates and mechanics.
| Purchase date | How tax-free works |
|---|---|
| Until 31 Oct | The shop takes the tax off at the till. |
| From 1 Nov | You pay the tax-inclusive price and get the tax back at departure under the Refund Method. |
Anything bought from 1 Nov 2026 follows the new rules, whatever date you fly home.
Which purchases qualify?
Six rules decide whether a purchase is eligible.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum spend | $32 (¥5,000) or more before tax, per store per day; stores and days count separately |
| Deadline | Leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase date |
| Quantity | Only what you can personally carry out of Japan at departure |
| Excluded items | Gold and platinum bullion, and items already exempt from consumption tax |
| Consumables | Not eligible once consumed in Japan |
| Receipts | Customs checks each receipt on its own |
The receipt rule is the one to watch. If one item from a receipt is missing at inspection, none of the goods on that receipt qualify. Keep every receipt with the goods it covers.
For items of $6,450 (¥1,000,000) or more before tax, the national tax-free leaflet says customs may ask for authenticity certificates or warranties.
What happens at the airport?
Scan your passport at a tax-free terminal in the departure lobby of the airport or port you leave from, before you check bags. The steps follow Japan Customs and JNTO:
- Keep each receipt together with its goods.
- Present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal (also described as a kiosk) in the departure lobby.
- Read the result. Green means the procedure is done and there is no inspection.
- On Red, take the goods to the designated customs inspection area.
Keep eligible goods in your carry-on until the procedure is finished, because a Red result means showing them.
Before you go Finish the tax-free step before you check bags and allow extra time. JNTO says a flight missed because of the procedure is not compensated.
What if you have eaten or used something?
Consumed goods are not eligible. Food, drink and cosmetics that you use up in Japan get no refund. The special sealed packaging for consumables is abolished, but the consumption rule stays.
If you have consumed some of the goods, do not use the terminal. Go to the customs counter and tell an officer. JNTO gives this as the route for consumed items.
What if you connect through another airport or a cruise port?
Do the procedure at your final departure airport or port, the point where you leave Japan. JNTO names two cases that follow this rule: a domestic flight followed by an international flight, and a fly-cruise trip.
Can Visit Japan Web replace the terminal?
Yes, at seven airports, and it is optional: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha. Visit Japan Web is the Digital Agency’s online service for immigration, customs and tax-free procedures, and registering in advance speeds up the tax-free step, according to the leaflet. You complete the step through the dedicated Wi-Fi in the international departure lobby, before security. If Visit Japan Web fails, use the Tax Refund Kiosk.
Neither the Customs nor the JNTO page mentions a QR code step, so none is given here.
Who pays the refund, and when?
The tax-free shop or its contracted refund operator pays, per the Japan Tourism Agency’s shop page. Neither Customs nor JNTO states the timing, and card or bank timing is shop-specific. Before you pay, ask the shop how and when it refunds, and whether it handles tax-free under the Refund Method, because the discount at the till no longer applies.
What if the goods do not leave Japan?
If goods are not exported after inspection, you may owe the refunded tax plus penalties, according to JNTO.
Where next?
For the rest of the 2026 changes, read What changed in 2026. For a district where this applies to figures, games and electronics, see Akihabara for first-timers. More planning pages are in the Plan hub.
Quick answers
Is tax-free shopping in Japan ending?
No. From 1 Nov 2026 it changes from tax taken off at the till to pay then refund. You pay the tax-inclusive price, complete a procedure at your departure airport or port, and the shop or its refund operator pays the tax back.
What is the minimum spend for tax-free in Japan?
$32 (¥5,000) or more before tax, per store per day, according to Japan Customs. Stores and days are counted separately, so check your total at each shop.
Do I have to show my purchases at the airport?
Only on a Red result. You scan your passport at a tax-free terminal before baggage check-in. Green means no inspection and the procedure is done. Red sends you with the goods to a designated customs inspection area, so keep them in your carry-on.
Can I claim tax back on food, drinks or cosmetics I have used?
No. Food, drink and cosmetics consumed in Japan are not eligible, and the special sealed packaging has been abolished. If you consumed some of the goods, skip the terminal and tell an officer at the customs counter.
How long does the tax-free refund take?
The shop or its refund operator sets the timing, and the official pages give none, so ask before you pay. The goods must leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase date.