Japan Tax-Free Shopping 2026: How the New Refund System Works
Since November 1, 2026, tourists in Japan pay the full price with tax and get the tax back at the airport. Here is what changed, the ¥5,000 rule and what to do at the airport.
Japan changed how tax-free shopping works for tourists. For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, you no longer skip the tax at the register. You pay the full price, including consumption tax, and get the tax refunded after customs confirms at departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.
Here is how the new system works, how much you can expect back, and the easy mistakes that can cost you the refund.
In this guide
- What changed on November 1, 2026
- The ¥5,000 minimum on real price tags
- How much tax you can get back (10% vs 8% items)
- What to do at the airport, step by step
- Five mistakes that cost you the refund
What changed on November 1, 2026
Japan's tax-free system switched from an exemption at the register to a refund after departure, which the government calls the "Refund Method". The Japan Tourism Agency says the main aim is to stop tax-free goods being resold inside Japan.
| Before (until Oct 31, 2026) | Now (from Nov 1, 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| At the store | Paid the price without tax | Pay the full price with tax |
| Sealed bags for cosmetics and food | Required | Abolished |
| At the airport | Customs could check goods | Customs confirmation is required to get the refund |
| Refund | Not needed (no tax paid) | Tax is refunded after export is confirmed |
Purchases made up to October 31, 2026 still follow the old rules.
The ¥5,000 minimum on real price tags
You must spend ¥5,000 or more, excluding tax, at one tax-free store on one day. Most price tags in Japan show the tax-included price, so here is what that means at the register:
| Item type | Tax rate | Minimum before tax | Minimum on the price tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most goods (clothes, electronics, cosmetics) | 10% | ¥5,000 | ¥5,500 |
| Food and drinks to take home (not alcohol) | 8% | ¥5,000 | ¥5,400 |
Tip
Spending ¥5,000 at two different stores does not count as ¥10,000. The minimum is per store, per day. Some stores in a mall or department store hand tax-free procedures to a shared counter, where same-day purchases from several stores can be combined. Ask at the counter.
There is no general upper limit, but the goods must be things you can carry out of Japan yourself. Gold and platinum bullion are excluded.
How much do you get back?
The refund is the consumption tax you paid. As a share of the price on the tag, that is:
- 10% items: tax is 1/11 of the tax-included price (about 9.1%)
- 8% items: tax is 2/27 of the tax-included price (about 7.4%)
| You pay (tax included) | Tax rate | Tax refunded (before any fee) |
|---|---|---|
| ¥5,500 | 10% | ¥500 |
| ¥33,000 (a camera lens) | 10% | ¥3,000 |
| ¥110,000 (a laptop) | 10% | ¥10,000 |
| ¥10,800 (snacks and tea to take home) | 8% | ¥800 |
Check the refund method and any fee at the store
The official pages say the tax is refunded after customs confirmation, but how you receive it (to your card, in cash, or another way) and whether a handling fee is deducted depend on the store or its refund service. Ask when you pay, and keep the receipt.
What to do, step by step
- At the store: show your passport, pay the full price and keep every receipt.
- Keep the goods with you. Do not put them in checked luggage before the customs step, because checked bags cannot be taken back out for the check.
- At the airport, before check-in: find the tax-free procedure terminal in the international departure lobby and scan your passport. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also use Visit Japan Web in designated areas.
- Read the result. Green means you are done. Red means go to the customs inspection area and show the goods.
- Within 90 days of purchase. The customs confirmation must happen within 90 days from the purchase date.
- Receive the refund in the way the store explained.
Leave extra time. The procedure must be finished before you board, and you will not be compensated for a missed flight.
Flying home via another Japanese airport?
If you take a domestic flight first and then leave Japan from a different airport, do the procedure at the airport you finally depart from.
Five mistakes that cost you the refund
- Eating or using the goods in Japan. Food, drinks or cosmetics you consume in Japan are not eligible. If you no longer have them, do not use the terminal; tell a customs officer.
- Checking the bag first. Do the tax-free step before baggage check-in.
- Missing one item from a receipt. Confirmation is per receipt. If one item from a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded.
- Waiting more than 90 days. Long stays need planning.
- Arriving late at the airport. An unfinished inspection does not count.
Is it still worth it?
For a ¥5,500 purchase, the refund is ¥500 before any fee, and you need to keep the item unopened and spend a few minutes at the airport. For electronics, watches or a big cosmetics haul, the refund is often several thousand yen and clearly worth the effort. The bigger the single receipt, the better the trade.
Sources
Prices change
Prices, exchange rates and rules in this article were checked on the date shown above. They can change at any time, so please confirm on the official website before you book or buy.
