Connecting flights and cruises: where to do the customs check
If you fly a domestic leg first, do the customs check at the airport where you finally leave Japan, not where you start. Cruise passengers on a ship that starts and ends abroad use the electronic terminal at their last port in Japan, before checking in baggage.
Where to do the customs check, by route
The rule is the same in every case: the check is done where you finally leave Japan, before your bags are checked in.
| Your route | Where to do the customs check |
|---|---|
| Domestic flight, then an international flight | The airport where you leave Japan |
| Cruise ship that starts and ends outside Japan | The last port in Japan, at the electronic terminal, before baggage check-in |
| Cruise from Japan that calls abroad and returns, then a flight home | The airport where you leave Japan, before baggage check-in |
On a cruise from Japan that calls at ports abroad and comes back, followed by a flight home from Japan, nothing is needed when the ship leaves Japan during the cruise.
Do the customs check before you check in your bags. You must have every item with you at the terminal. Bags handed to the airline cannot be brought back for the tax-free procedure.
Showing your passport on a cruise
From 1 November 2026 passengers who landed under a landing permission for cruise ship tourists show a passport in the shop as well as the landing permit.
A copy of the passport is accepted in the shop for cruise ship tourists.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I do the customs check if I have a connecting flight in Japan?
At the airport where you leave Japan. With a domestic flight followed by an international flight, the procedure is done at the last airport.
How do cruise passengers do the tax-free procedure in Japan?
On a ship that starts and ends outside Japan, use the electronic terminal at the last port in Japan before checking in baggage.
I take a cruise from Japan and then fly home. Where do I do the procedure?
At the airport where you leave Japan, before baggage check-in. You do not need to do it when the ship leaves Japan during the cruise.
Related items
Official FAQ: Japan Tourism Agency
Sources for this page
- Japan Tourism Agency Refund method: page for travellers (旅行者向け特設ページ)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Frequently Asked Questions for Travelers (Refund Method)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Who can buy tax-free under the refund method (免税購入対象者一覧)checked October 2, 2026
- National Tax Agency Q&A on the tax-free shop system under the refund method, overview, April 2026 (輸出物品販売場制度に関するQ&A)checked October 2, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026