Tax-free shopping in Japan: the new refund system from November 1, 2026

What changes on November 1, 2026?

Until October 31, 2026, a tax-free shop takes the 10% consumption tax off at the till. From November 1, 2026, it works the other way round: you pay the full price, tax included, the shop records your purchase with your passport, and the tax is refunded after Japan Customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan. The date of purchase decides which system applies.

What changes is the method, not who may sell tax-free: licensed shops carry on, and each one arranges its own way of paying the refund — the tourism agency tells them to set it up with their tax-free system provider. Ask at the till how that shop does it.

How much do I need to spend?

At least ¥5,000 before tax, in the same shop, on the same day. The old split between “general goods” and “consumables” disappears: everything bought in one shop on one day counts towards the ¥5,000.

For collectors, this is good news: a few booster boxes, a figure and some snacks from the same department store now add up together.

How does it work, step by step?

1. In the shop: tell the staff you want tax-free, show your passport and pay the full price, tax included. The shop sends your purchase record to the tax-free system.
2. Keep the goods with you until you leave Japan. Food, drinks and cosmetics you use in Japan are no longer eligible for a refund.
3. At the airport or port, before checking in your baggage: scan your passport at a tax-free terminal (customs confirmation). This must happen within 90 days of the purchase.
4. The refund is paid by the shop or by the refund company it works with, after the customs confirmation. How and when (card, bank transfer, cash at the airport, app) depends on the shop: ask at the till when you buy.

Can I open my cards or figures before I fly home?

The special sealed bags for consumables are abolished. The official rule is clear for consumables: if you eat, drink or use them in Japan, you cannot get the refund. For everything else, the safe choice is to keep the goods with you, unused, until the customs terminal, and to keep the receipts the shop gives you.

Can I ship my purchases home instead?

Since April 1, 2025, items you send abroad yourself by international post are not tax-free. If the shop itself ships the goods abroad for you, ask the shop: that is a different procedure.

What if I do not take the goods out of Japan?

Then the tax is due, and the law provides for penalties. Do not buy tax-free for someone who stays in Japan.

How do I find tax-free shops on Kaidashi?

Shop pages show Tax-free ✓ when the shop’s official website or our team confirmed it. Look for the tax-free sign at the till as well, and ask: many card shops and second-hand chains are tax-free, some small shops are not.

Quick checklist

• Passport on you, every time you shop.
• ¥5,000 or more before tax, same shop, same day.
• Ask how the refund is paid before you pay.
• Keep the goods and receipts with you, unused.
• At departure: tax-free terminal before baggage check-in, within 90 days.