Japan's New Tax-Free Shopping from Nov 2026: Pay First, Get Refunded at Departure

From 1 November 2026, tourists pay tax-inclusive prices and claim the refund when leaving Japan. Minimum spend, the 90-day limit, the airport steps and what trips people up.　About 6 min read · Updated 2026-11-01

One big change first: from 1 November 2026 you no longer get tax taken off at the till. You pay the full price, then complete a procedure when you leave Japan and the consumption tax is refunded.

Old vs new

• Old system (purchases up to 31 October): show your passport and pay no tax at checkout.
• New system (from 1 November): pay the tax-inclusive price, then complete the departure check at the airport and receive a refund.
• The purchase date decides which system applies. There is no transition period.

When you shop

• The minimum is 5,000 yen before tax, per tax-free shop, per day.
• There is no maximum, but you must carry the goods out of Japan yourself.
• Sealed packaging for consumables is no longer required, but anything you eat or use in Japan cannot be refunded.
• Each receipt is treated as one unit. If one item on a receipt is missing or used, the whole receipt may fail.

At the airport

1. Bring your passport, all the goods and the receipts, and arrive early.
2. Before checking in baggage, use a tax-free terminal in the international departures lobby and scan your passport.
3. Green means you are done and customs does not need to see the goods.
4. Red means you take the goods to the customs inspection area first; the refund is processed after that.
5. You must start the procedure within 90 days of purchase.

At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can do the first step through Visit Japan Web in a designated area before security.

How much do you actually get back?

General goods carry 10% tax; food and drink 8%. Refunds usually go through a refund-service company that charges a fee. Fees vary by shop and provider, commonly around 1–1.5%, and some shops advertise 0%. Check the sign in the shop and your receipt.

Four common mistakes

• Opening or using goods before the check.
• Checking baggage before doing the procedure.
• Doing it at the wrong airport: it must be your final departure point from Japan.
• Leaving it until just before boarding. Neither customs nor the airline will compensate a missed flight.

Our take

Budget at the tax-inclusive price and treat any refund as a bonus. Give yourself extra time at the airport, especially in busy seasons.

FAQ

Does every shop use this process?

Only tax-free shops do. Look for the tax-free sign at the entrance.

Can I claim at any airport?

No. You must do it at the airport or port you finally leave Japan from.

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