What changes on November 1, 2026?

Until October 31, 2026, tax-free stores deduct the tax at the register. From November 1, 2026, you pay full price including consumption tax, the store registers your purchase against your passport, and the tax is refunded after customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan. The old split between consumables and general goods, the sealed bags, and the ¥500,000 cap are gone. See old vs new system and the 2026 overview .

Who qualifies for the Japan tax refund?

Non-residents who entered Japan on Temporary Visitor status — the standard tourist entry — plus a few special statuses such as diplomatic and official-duty visas. You need your physical passport at every store; a photo or copy isn't accepted. If you live, work, or study in Japan, or have been here six months or more, you don't qualify. See who qualifies .

How much do I get back?

The consumption tax you paid: 10% of the before-tax price on most goods, 8% on packaged food and drink (alcohol and medicine are 10%). For a 10% item that works out to about 9.1% of what you paid at the register, and a handling fee may be deducted depending on the refund operator. See how much comes back, and when and the worked examples .

Is there a minimum purchase, and what can I buy tax-free?

You need at least ¥5,000 before tax at one store on one day; same-day purchases at the same store can be combined, but two different shops can't. Almost anything qualifies except gold and platinum bullion and coins, and you can only buy what you can personally carry out of Japan. See eligible items .

Is every store tax-free? How do I check?

No. Look for tax-free signage near the entrance or register, or just ask staff; in malls and department stores participation can vary shop by shop or even counter by counter. A tax-free store registers your purchase electronically while you're still there. See eligible stores .

What do I do at the register?

Show your physical passport before you pay, pay the full price including tax, confirm the store has registered your purchase before you leave, and keep every receipt. It's also the moment to ask how the refund will be paid to you (see how much comes back, and when ). See at the store .

Tax-free, tax refund, duty-free — what's the difference?

From November 1, 2026, "tax-free" (the sign on the store) and "tax refund" (how the tax comes back to you) describe the same program. "Duty-free" is different: shops past airport security sell tax-free on the spot with no refund process, and that isn't changing. See tax refund vs tax-free and duty-free vs tax-free .

Can I open or use what I bought before I fly?

Clothes, electronics, and other non-consumables: yes, as long as they leave Japan with you. Food, drink, cosmetics, and medicine: no — consume any part of it and customs can't confirm it, and because the check runs per receipt, every other item on that receipt is at risk too. If it has already happened, skip the kiosk and tell the customs counter. See the consumables rule .

Do I need to keep the box and tags?

Yes, until you're through the customs check. Boxes with model numbers, brand tags, and authenticity cards are how customs matches the item to your purchase record; separate an item from the packaging that identifies it and customs may be unable to confirm it — which can fail the whole receipt. See keep the box .

What happens at the airport?

Before you check any bags, go to the customs kiosk in the international departure lobby with your passport and every purchase in your carry-on. The kiosk reads your passport in seconds: green means you're done; red means an officer checks your goods first. The whole step has to be finished before boarding procedures close. See at the kiosk and the Narita & Haneda guide .

Can I do the customs check on my phone?

At seven airports — Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha — you can complete it through Visit Japan Web on your own phone, in the dedicated Wi-Fi area of the international departure lobby before security. You must register with Visit Japan Web beforehand. See online confirmation via Visit Japan Web .

What does a red result mean?

That a customs officer confirms your goods in person before the refund is released — routine, not an accusation. Take all your registered purchases and receipts to the inspection area and finish before boarding procedures close; walking away mid-inspection means no confirmation. See red judgment at the kiosk .

How long do I have to leave Japan after buying?

Goods must leave Japan within 90 days of the day you bought them, and the customs confirmation has to happen within that window. On a long trip, count from your first shopping day, not your flight date. See the night-before checklist .

When does the money arrive, and what if it doesn't?

Typically 1-2 weeks to a credit card or 2-4 weeks to a bank account — typical refund-operator processing times, not an official rule. If nothing has arrived after 4 weeks, contact the refund operator printed on your receipt, or the store itself; the store is responsible either way. See after departure and refund not arrived .

I left Japan without using the kiosk. Can I still get the refund?

Honestly, no — the customs confirmation at departure is what releases the refund, and the official materials describe no way to get it afterwards. Contact the store or operator only to confirm the status, and use the pre-departure checklist next time. See missed the kiosk .

I'm buying something over ¥1 million. Anything extra?

For any single item of ¥1 million or more before tax, the store must record identifying details — brand, model, features, and the serial number if it has one — on your purchase record, and customs may ask to see the certificate or warranty along with the item. If the serial number is missing from the record, customs may not be able to confirm the item. See the ¥1 million rule .

I lost a receipt. Is the refund gone?

Not necessarily. The store sent your purchase record electronically at the register, and the kiosk works from your passport, not the paper. Receipts still help at an inspection and are usually where the refund operator's name is printed, so note the store, date, and operator now. See lost your receipt .

Is it worth doing at all?

For a few small souvenirs, maybe not — the refund is the tax only, and the airport step costs time. For electronics, fashion, or anything into the tens of thousands of yen, yes. See is it worth it? .

Japan Tax-Free Shopping FAQ (2026 Refund System) | Yenrescue

Every answer here is the short version of a full guide on this site, condensed so you can check one thing in ten seconds. Nothing appears here first — if an answer and its linked guide ever seem to disagree, the guide is the fuller picture, and the official pages at the bottom are the final word.

Questions and answers

1. What changes on November 1, 2026?: Until October 31, 2026, tax-free stores deduct the tax at the register. From November 1, 2026, you pay full price including consumption tax, the store registers your purchase against your passport, and the tax is refunded after customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan. The old split between consumables and general goods, the sealed bags, and the ¥500,000 cap are gone. See old vs new system and the 2026 overview.
2. Who qualifies for the Japan tax refund?: Non-residents who entered Japan on Temporary Visitor status — the standard tourist entry — plus a few special statuses such as diplomatic and official-duty visas. You need your physical passport at every store; a photo or copy isn't accepted. If you live, work, or study in Japan, or have been here six months or more, you don't qualify. See who qualifies.
3. How much do I get back?: The consumption tax you paid: 10% of the before-tax price on most goods, 8% on packaged food and drink (alcohol and medicine are 10%). For a 10% item that works out to about 9.1% of what you paid at the register, and a handling fee may be deducted depending on the refund operator. See how much comes back, and when and the worked examples.
4. Is there a minimum purchase, and what can I buy tax-free?: You need at least ¥5,000 before tax at one store on one day; same-day purchases at the same store can be combined, but two different shops can't. Almost anything qualifies except gold and platinum bullion and coins, and you can only buy what you can personally carry out of Japan. See eligible items.
5. Is every store tax-free? How do I check?: No. Look for tax-free signage near the entrance or register, or just ask staff; in malls and department stores participation can vary shop by shop or even counter by counter. A tax-free store registers your purchase electronically while you're still there. See eligible stores.
6. What do I do at the register?: Show your physical passport before you pay, pay the full price including tax, confirm the store has registered your purchase before you leave, and keep every receipt. It's also the moment to ask how the refund will be paid to you (see how much comes back, and when). See at the store.
7. Tax-free, tax refund, duty-free — what's the difference?: From November 1, 2026, "tax-free" (the sign on the store) and "tax refund" (how the tax comes back to you) describe the same program. "Duty-free" is different: shops past airport security sell tax-free on the spot with no refund process, and that isn't changing. See tax refund vs tax-free and duty-free vs tax-free.
8. Can I open or use what I bought before I fly?: Clothes, electronics, and other non-consumables: yes, as long as they leave Japan with you. Food, drink, cosmetics, and medicine: no — consume any part of it and customs can't confirm it, and because the check runs per receipt, every other item on that receipt is at risk too. If it has already happened, skip the kiosk and tell the customs counter. See the consumables rule.
9. Do I need to keep the box and tags?: Yes, until you're through the customs check. Boxes with model numbers, brand tags, and authenticity cards are how customs matches the item to your purchase record; separate an item from the packaging that identifies it and customs may be unable to confirm it — which can fail the whole receipt. See keep the box.
10. What happens at the airport?: Before you check any bags, go to the customs kiosk in the international departure lobby with your passport and every purchase in your carry-on. The kiosk reads your passport in seconds: green means you're done; red means an officer checks your goods first. The whole step has to be finished before boarding procedures close. See at the kiosk and the Narita & Haneda guide.
11. Can I do the customs check on my phone?: At seven airports — Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha — you can complete it through Visit Japan Web on your own phone, in the dedicated Wi-Fi area of the international departure lobby before security. You must register with Visit Japan Web beforehand. See online confirmation via Visit Japan Web.
12. What does a red result mean?: That a customs officer confirms your goods in person before the refund is released — routine, not an accusation. Take all your registered purchases and receipts to the inspection area and finish before boarding procedures close; walking away mid-inspection means no confirmation. See red judgment at the kiosk.
13. How long do I have to leave Japan after buying?: Goods must leave Japan within 90 days of the day you bought them, and the customs confirmation has to happen within that window. On a long trip, count from your first shopping day, not your flight date. See the night-before checklist.
14. When does the money arrive, and what if it doesn't?: Typically 1-2 weeks to a credit card or 2-4 weeks to a bank account — typical refund-operator processing times, not an official rule. If nothing has arrived after 4 weeks, contact the refund operator printed on your receipt, or the store itself; the store is responsible either way. See after departure and refund not arrived.
15. I left Japan without using the kiosk. Can I still get the refund?: Honestly, no — the customs confirmation at departure is what releases the refund, and the official materials describe no way to get it afterwards. Contact the store or operator only to confirm the status, and use the pre-departure checklist next time. See missed the kiosk.
16. I'm buying something over ¥1 million. Anything extra?: For any single item of ¥1 million or more before tax, the store must record identifying details — brand, model, features, and the serial number if it has one — on your purchase record, and customs may ask to see the certificate or warranty along with the item. If the serial number is missing from the record, customs may not be able to confirm the item. See the ¥1 million rule.
17. I lost a receipt. Is the refund gone?: Not necessarily. The store sent your purchase record electronically at the register, and the kiosk works from your passport, not the paper. Receipts still help at an inspection and are usually where the refund operator's name is printed, so note the store, date, and operator now. See lost your receipt.
18. Is it worth doing at all?: For a few small souvenirs, maybe not — the refund is the tax only, and the airport step costs time. For electronics, fashion, or anything into the tens of thousands of yen, yes. See is it worth it?.

Why this page only summarizes

The refund system has a lot of small rules, and the place you most need a quick answer is usually the least convenient — a register, a hotel room the night before, a departure lobby. That’s what this page is for: the conclusion of each guide in two or three sentences, with a link to the guide itself for the steps and the reasoning.

It also means this page adds no facts of its own. Each answer is lifted from a guide that cites the National Tax Agency, the Japan Tourism Agency, or Japan Customs, and when those guides are updated — for example, once Customs publishes terminal-by-terminal details for the airport kiosks — the answers here follow. If you’re about to act on one of these answers for a large purchase or a tight connection, read the linked guide first, and check the official pages below.

Japan Tax-Free Shopping FAQ (2026 Refund System)

Questions and answers

Why this page only summarizes

Official sources

Related guides