Japan’s duty-free allowance: how much can I bring?

Goods over the allowance at the Japanese border

This is decided when you land in Japan, by Japan Customs. Airport security at your departure airport is a separate check.

Goods other than alcohol, tobacco and perfume are duty free up to a total overseas market value of 200,000 yen per person. Item types whose total value is 10,000 yen or less are free and not counted. One article worth more than 200,000 yen gets no allowance and is taxed on its full value.

Total allowance: 200,000 yen (overseas market value)
Not counted: item types totalling 10,000 yen or less, e.g. 9 chocolates at 1,000 yen each, or 2 neckties at 5,000 yen each
One article over 200,000 yen: no duty-free allowance; taxed on the whole value
If the total is over 200,000 yen: items that fit within 200,000 yen are exempt and the rest are taxed, chosen in the traveller's favour
Simplified rate above the allowance: 15% on other articles (except those free of customs duty)
Traveller's baggage scope for souvenirs: up to three pieces per item; more than three pieces only if their customs value is not more than about 300,000 yen

Green channel or red channel

The green channel is for passengers with no goods subject to duty or tax; otherwise use the red channel. If your goods go beyond the traveller's baggage scope, general customs clearance is required.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I bring into Japan duty free?

Goods other than alcohol, tobacco and perfume are duty free up to a total overseas market value of 200,000 yen per person. Item types whose total value is 10,000 yen or less are free and not counted. One article worth more than 200,000 yen gets no allowance and is taxed on its full value.

Is the 200,000 yen counted per item or in total?

In total. It is the total overseas market value of all articles other than alcohol, tobacco and perfume.

Do cheap souvenirs count towards the total?

Item types whose total overseas market value is 10,000 yen or less are in principle duty free and are not included in the total, for example 9 chocolates at 1,000 yen each or 2 neckties at 5,000 yen each.

What if one item costs more than 200,000 yen?

There is no duty-free allowance for an article worth more than 200,000 yen each or each set; it is taxed on its whole value.

When does simplified traveller clearance stop applying?

Souvenirs count as traveller's baggage up to three pieces per item in principle; with more than three pieces, the customs value must be not more than about 300,000 yen. Beyond that scope, general customs clearance is required.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Customs — Procedures of Passenger Clearancechecked October 1, 2026
Japan Customs — Duty-free allowance for overseas travellers (Japanese)checked October 1, 2026
Japan Customs — Customs Answer 7104: Import Customs Clearance for Traveler's Baggagechecked October 1, 2026

Japan's duty-free allowance: how much can I bring?