Japan's consumption tax is 10%, and visitors can avoid it on purchases of ¥5,000 or more before tax, at one store on one day, with a passport. That threshold is not changing.
How you get the money is changing, on 1 November 2026. Until then, eligible goods are sold tax-free at the till. From that date, you pay the full price including tax and reclaim it at the airport before departure. If you are travelling around that date, the advice you read online will be split between two systems, and much of it will not say which.
Use this as a travel checklist rather than tax advice. For an expensive purchase, confirm the store's procedure at the counter before paying.
Start here
Read this guide as a practical checklist. Start with the points that affect your route, stay choice, booking decision, or day-of-travel comfort.
In this guide
- Tax-free is different from duty-free
- Who should pay attention
- Until 31 October 2026: tax comes off at the till
- From 1 November 2026: pay first, reclaim at the airport
- Departure timing matters
How to use this guide
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Tax-free is different from duty-free
Tax-free shopping in city stores usually refers to Japan consumption tax exemption for eligible non-resident visitors buying eligible goods at approved tax-free shops. Airport duty-free shopping is a separate retail setup.
For travelers, the practical difference is timing. City-store tax-free purchases may involve passport checks, purchase records, packaging rules, and customs confirmation at departure. Airport duty-free shopping usually happens after departure procedures.
Who should pay attention
- Short-term foreign visitors buying goods to take out of Japan.
- Travelers buying cosmetics, medicine, food, electronics, clothing, bags, or souvenirs in approved tax-free stores.
- Travelers with long itineraries who may not leave Japan soon after shopping.
- Foreign residents and long-stay visitors, because eligibility is not the same as nationality.
Until 31 October 2026: tax comes off at the till
- Spend ¥5,000 or more before tax at one store on one day, show your passport, and the 10% is deducted at the counter.
- The ¥5,000 is counted separately for two categories: general goods such as clothing and electronics, and consumables such as food, drink and cosmetics. You cannot combine them to reach the threshold.
- Consumables are sealed in a bag you must not open until you leave Japan. Opening it makes the purchase taxable.
- General goods may be used in Japan before you go.
From 1 November 2026: pay first, reclaim at the airport
- You pay the full price including 10% tax in the shop, then reclaim it at the airport before departure. In-store exemption ends.
- The ¥5,000 minimum stays, but the category split goes: all items count toward one threshold, so a ¥3,000 jacket and ¥2,500 of snacks now qualify together.
- The sealed-bag rule for consumables is abolished, and the consumables category itself is being phased out.
- Refund methods vary by seller and operator, and may include card, bank or app transfer, or cash at the departure port.
- Budget more airport time than you think. Everyone who shopped now queues at the same counter, on the day they fly.
- Rules verified against Japanese government and retailer guidance in July 2026. Confirm at the store, since implementation detail is still settling.
Departure timing matters
- Keep your passport and purchase information accessible at the airport or departure port.
- Leave time before departure if your refund or customs confirmation requires extra steps.
- Be ready to show tax-free goods if customs asks to inspect them.
- Do not assume you can pack every tax-free item deep inside checked luggage without checking the departure procedure first.
- If you do not export the goods as required, you may lose the exemption or owe the tax amount.
Common mistakes
- Thinking every store in Japan can sell tax-free. The store must be approved for the procedure.
- Confusing tax-free shopping with airport duty-free shopping.
- Opening or using restricted consumable goods in Japan before departure.
- Forgetting the departure confirmation step after a busy shopping day.
- Relying on old blog posts that do not mention the November 2026 refund-method change.
A simple traveler checklist
- Ask whether the store is a tax-free shop before you shop seriously.
- Carry the passport or required entry-status proof used for the procedure.
- Ask whether the purchase is tax-free now or refund-based later.
- Keep receipts, purchase records, and any sealed packaging until departure.
- Plan airport time for customs or refund steps if your trip includes large purchases.
- Check official guidance again before travel, especially for trips after November 1, 2026.
Sources
Rules and availability can change. Use official sources for final confirmation.
Common questions
FAQ
What is the minimum spend for tax-free shopping in Japan?
¥5,000 before tax, at one store on one day, with your passport. That threshold is not changing on 1 November 2026. What changes is that until 31 October the ¥5,000 is counted separately for general goods and consumables, and from 1 November everything counts toward one combined total.
How does Japan tax-free shopping change in November 2026?
From 1 November 2026 you pay the full price including 10% consumption tax in the shop and reclaim it at the airport before departure. In-store exemption ends, the general goods and consumables categories are merged for the ¥5,000 threshold, and the sealed-bag rule for consumables is abolished.
Can I open tax-free food and cosmetics before leaving Japan?
Not until 31 October 2026. Consumables are sealed at the counter and opening the bag makes the purchase taxable. From 1 November the sealing requirement is abolished, because you will have already paid the tax and are reclaiming it instead.
How much extra airport time do I need for a tax refund?
More than you would guess, once the November 2026 system starts. Every departing traveller who shopped tax-free now processes a refund at the airport on the day they fly, at the same counters. Treat it as a queue to budget for, not a formality at the gate.
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