How tax-free shopping works in Japan: three steps from 1 November 2026
There are three steps. In the shop you show your passport, pay the price including consumption tax and register how you want the refund. At the airport you scan your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal before you check in your bags. After that check the shop pays the tax back.
The three steps
Shop, customs check, refund. The order matters at the airport: the customs check comes before baggage check-in.
| Step | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1Buy | Tax-free shop | Show your passport, pay the price including consumption tax and register how you want the refund. |
| 2Customs check | Airport or seaport, before you check in your bags | Scan your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal. A green result ends the procedure. A red result means a customs officer inspects the goods. |
| 3Refund | After the customs check | The shop or its refund operator pays back the consumption tax. |
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.
Step 1: in the shop
The shop explains the refund when you buy.
- Show your own passport.
- Spend 5,000 yen or more before tax in the same shop on the same day.
- Pay the price including consumption tax.
- Register how you want the refund, following the shop's instructions.
Buy only what you can carry out of Japan yourself. You must be able to show every item to customs if asked.
Step 2: the customs check
When you leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase, scan your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal in the departure lobby.
- Green result
- No inspection is needed. The customs procedure is finished.
- Red result
- Show the goods at the customs inspection point.
Step 3: the refund
After the customs check, the shop or its refund operator pays back the consumption tax by the method you registered.
Frequently asked questions
How does tax-free shopping work in Japan?
From 1 November 2026 you pay the price including consumption tax, pass a customs check when you leave Japan within 90 days, and the shop refunds the tax.
Do I need my passport to shop tax-free in Japan?
Yes. You show your passport in the shop and scan it at the tax-free procedure terminal when you leave Japan.
Can I get the tax back in the shop on the day I buy?
The standard order is a refund after the customs check. The National Tax Agency says a shop may refund earlier at its own risk, so it depends on the shop.
Is there a limit on how much I can buy tax-free?
You can buy only what you can carry out of Japan yourself when you leave. There is no upper amount in yen.
Related items
Official page: 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 Refund method leaflet for travellers (English)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Frequently Asked Questions for Travelers (Refund Method)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