Japan Tax-Free Shopping 2026: The New Refund System, Minimum Spend and Airport Procedure Guide

Last updated: 2026-11-04 · About 9 min read

This guide to Japan's new tax-free system covers how tax refunds work for purchases from November 2026, the minimum spend, where to do the airport procedure, and the most common pitfalls.

What changes from November, and how is it different from before?

From November 1, 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping for visitors works as a refund: you pay the tax-inclusive price at a tax-free shop, customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan, and the shop then refunds the consumption tax. Before, you paid the tax-free price at the till; now it's pay first, get the tax back after you leave.

Which system applies depends on the purchase date: anything bought by October 31 follows the old rules, and everything bought from November 1 follows the new ones, with no overlap period.

How much do I need to spend? Are consumables still separate?

The threshold is ¥5,000 or more before tax, at the same store on the same day. If a store hands its procedure to a shared tax-free counter, such as one in a department store or mall, same-day purchases from different shops can be added together. The refund is the consumption tax: 10% on most goods, 8% on food and drinks.

The new system no longer separates consumables and general goods, food and cosmetics don't need sealed bags, and the old ¥500,000 limit on consumables is gone. The only quantity limit is what you can carry out of Japan yourself. For a single item of ¥1,000,000 or more before tax, customs may ask for a warranty or certificate of authenticity, so keep it with you.

Gold and platinum bullion and items that aren't subject to consumption tax don't qualify. Consumables such as food, drinks and cosmetics can't be refunded once eaten or used in Japan; general goods like clothes, bags and electronics are fine to use, as long as you take them out of the country.

What do I need at the store, and what happens at the till?

There isn't much to do in the store: carry your passport, and the staff will explain how the refund works when you pay.

1. Pay at a shop showing the tax-free mark, show your passport and ask for tax-free.
2. Pay the tax-inclusive price; the staff register the purchase record, linked to your passport.
3. Follow the shop's or refund provider's instructions to register your refund method, and keep the receipt.
4. Keep everything you bought until you leave, and don't send it home or give it away first.

If you buy more than you can carry, some shops can ship the goods overseas straight from the store, which still counts as tax-free, but not every shop offers it, so ask before you pay.

Where and how do I do the procedure at the airport?

The tax-free procedure kiosks are in the international departure lobby, before the check-in counters. The key rule: do it before you check your bags, with all your purchases on you. Once your bags are checked, you can't do the procedure, and you can't get your bags back to do it.

1. In the departure lobby, don't check in yet; find a tax-free procedure kiosk.
2. Scan your passport; the kiosk reads your purchase records in a few seconds.
3. Check the result: green means you're done; red means you take your goods to the customs inspection area.
4. Once it's complete, check in and drop your bags.

7 airports let you do the refund procedure online on your phone

At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, you can use Visit Japan Web instead, anywhere in the departure lobby covered by the dedicated Wi-Fi, up to security. Set up Visit Japan Web beforehand, and still do it before checking your bags.

1. Connect to the airport's dedicated Wi-Fi, log in to Visit Japan Web and tap "Refund Procedure".
2. Check the purchase records on screen and tap "Confirm".
3. "Procedure Completed" means you're done; "Not Completed" means you take your goods to the customs inspection area.

If you connect from a domestic flight to an international one, do it at the airport you finally leave Japan from. The kiosk is quick, but a customs inspection means queuing, and neither airlines nor customs compensate a missed flight. Because the system has only just started, we suggest arriving 3.5–5 hours before your flight.

How and when do I get my refund?

Once customs confirms, the shop you bought from, or the refund provider it uses, pays you back; customs doesn't pay refunds. Each shop sets its own method, such as a refund to your credit card, a bank transfer or a transfer through an app, and whether cash is possible also depends on the shop.

How long it takes varies by shop too, so ask at the till how and when you'll be refunded. If something goes wrong, contact the shop or its refund provider, so it helps to photograph your receipts and the shop details.

What stops you getting a refund?

These are the most common problems under the new system, and most people find out on departure day, so sort your bags the night before.

• One item from a receipt is missing: customs checks receipt by receipt, and if anything is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded. Goods on other receipts or from other shops aren't affected.
• Consumables eaten or used: even if only part is used, skip the kiosk and tell a customs officer at the counter; that receipt won't be refunded.
• Bags already checked: once checked, you can't do the procedure, and this is the easiest mistake to make. Keep refund items in your carry-on and pack what you can check after the procedure.
• Passport in your checked bag: both the kiosk and customs need it, so keep your passport on you.
• More than 90 days: you must leave and complete confirmation within 90 days of the purchase date, so longer stays need to watch the dates.

If toners or lotions exceed carry-on liquid limits, complete the confirmation first and then put them in your checked bag: confirm first, then check in.

How can I make shopping and the airport run easier?

Under the new system your purchases have to travel with you all the way to the airport, and the more bags you have, the harder the trains get. In Tokyo, Lanytrip offers city private car hire and drop-offs to Narita and Haneda, and in Osaka and Kyoto there are transfers to Kansai and Itami airports, so you can book your shopping day and departure day together.

• Tokyo city shopping private car (10 hours): For anyone who wants to cover Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya in one day: leave your shopping in the car instead of carrying bags between trains, then head straight back to the hotel to sort what you need to keep on you.
• Tokyo city hotel → Narita / Haneda Airport (drop-off): For travellers with lots of luggage and shopping who want to reach the airport early for the tax refund: get in at your hotel door and wheel your bags straight to the kiosk in the departure lobby, with no station stairs.
• Mt Fuji or Hakone 10-hour private car (via Gotemba Premium Outlets): For anyone who wants shopping and sightseeing on the same day: see Mt Fuji or Hakone, stop at Gotemba Premium Outlets on the way back, and keep every bag in the car instead of hauling it onto a bus.

Recommended transfer options

Tokyo city shopping private car (10 hours)

Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quote ›

Tokyo city hotel → Narita / Haneda Airport (drop-off)

Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quote ›

Mt Fuji or Hakone 10-hour private car (via Gotemba Premium Outlets)

Get a 1-on-1 itinerary quote ›

Have this ready when you ask about a transfer on LINE

• Your hotel (name or address)
• Date of use
• Number of people and luggage (strollers, large bags)
• Your planned itinerary

For a faster, more accurate quote, please send all of the above in one message on LINE.

Summary: what to watch for and how to plan

Things to watch for

From November it's pay the tax-inclusive price, get the tax back after you leave, and the procedure must be done before check-in, with all your purchases at the kiosk. A missing item or used consumable means that receipt isn't refunded, so keep your passport and refund items on you.

How to plan it

Group your shopping into a day or two and reach ¥5,000 before tax at one store in one go. On your last night, pack refund items and receipts separately; on departure day, arrive 3.5–5 hours early, confirm at the kiosk first, then check in, or use your phone at the 7 major airports.

Why we suggest a private car and airport drop-off

The new system means your shopping follows you to the airport, and carrying bags between trains and hunting for lifts is the tiring part. A private car on shopping day keeps your bags in the car, and a drop-off on departure day takes you from the hotel to the departure lobby, leaving time for the tax refund. See the 3 options above, or message us on LINE.

Japan tax-free shopping FAQ