Japan Tax-Free Shopping Changes November 2026: Refund Guide

From 1 November 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping for visitors switches from an "exempt at the register" system to a "refund" system. You will pay the full, tax-inclusive price in the shop, then get the 10% consumption tax back after customs confirms at your departure airport or seaport that you are taking the goods out of Japan. Until 31 October 2026 the current point-of-sale exemption still applies.

This is as of September 2026, based on the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the Tourism Agency and other sources listed below. A few practical details, such as refund payout methods and fees, are set by each shop or refund provider and are not standardized.

What exactly is changing on 1 November 2026?

Under the current system, a visitor who shows a passport at a tax-free shop pays a price without the 10% consumption tax. Under the new "refund method," the shop charges the tax first. The amount is returned once customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan.

Several related simplifications arrive on the same date, according to tax and tourism sources:

The old split between "general goods" and "consumables" goes away, so one set of rules covers everything.
The 500,000 yen purchase limit that applied to consumables is removed.
The special sealed packaging for consumables is no longer required.
There is no long transition period reported: sources describe the old system ending completely on 31 October.

Separately, exemptions for goods sent home as international parcels ended on 1 April 2025. Goods must travel with you, so plan luggage space accordingly.

What is the 90-day window?

Customs must confirm that your tax-free goods are leaving Japan within 90 days of the purchase date. If you leave after that, the purchase no longer qualifies and you will not get the tax back.

One guide (GOOD LUCK TRIP) describes the count as starting the day after purchase, so day 1 is the day after you buy. Treat that as a helpful reading, not a legal definition, and leave yourself a margin if you are close to the limit. For most trips shorter than three months this rarely matters, but it does for long stays and for people who buy items on their first day of a long journey.

The minimum spend is unchanged: 5,000 yen or more before tax, at the same tax-free shop on the same day. Items that are already tax-exempt and certain precious metals are not eligible, per JNTO. The scheme is for non-resident visitors, so check your own status with official sources if you are staying long term.

What do I do at the airport?

Based on JNTO and the Tourism Agency, the departure steps are:

Go to a tax-free procedure terminal in the international departure lobby, before you check in baggage. These are kiosks or electronic terminals.
Scan your passport. The screen shows a result.
Green result: no inspection is needed and the procedure is complete.
Red result: take your purchases to the customs inspection area, where an officer confirms the goods are being exported.
Then check in your luggage as usual.

JNTO also says that at major airports (it lists Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha) you may be able to start the process online through Visit Japan Web in the departure lobby. Do the procedure at the last airport or seaport you leave Japan from.

Airports may differ in how their terminals and inspection areas are laid out. The Kansai Airport duty-free site notes that flows, inspection locations and methods may vary by airport, so check the airport's own signs and announcements.

What happens to consumables, cosmetics and food?

Snacks, cosmetics, medicine and similar items no longer need tamper-proof sealed bags. What has not changed is the idea that these goods must leave Japan unused. JNTO says that if you have eaten or used tax-free items in Japan you should tell a customs officer instead of pretending otherwise, and those items will not qualify.

Practical consequences:

Do not open or use tax-free snacks, skincare or drinks before you fly.
Keep them where you can reach them, because you may have to show them at inspection.
If you plan to eat your food purchases on the train or in the hotel, buy those items in a separate transaction and skip the tax-free claim for them.

Very high-value items (1,000,000 yen or more before tax per item) come with extra record-keeping details, according to one guide. Check with the shop if you are buying jewelry or watches.

The "all items on the receipt" rule and luggage timing

JNTO warns that if even one item from a receipt is missing at the terminal, none of the items on that receipt are eligible. This is the biggest new trap for shoppers.

Do not pack tax-free items in your checked bag before the terminal. The terminal step comes before baggage check-in, and you must have all the items with you.
Do not gift or ship one item from a multi-item receipt. Split purchases into separate receipts at the register if you expect to give something away or use it early.
Keep your passport handy. You need it at the shop (staff scan it and register the sale) and again at the terminal.
Add time. Arrive at the airport earlier than usual on 1 November and after, in case queues form at the terminals or customs inspection.

How and when do I get the money?

This is the least settled part. The Tourism Agency page says the refund is paid by each tax-free shop or by a refund service provider the shop uses, and tells visitors to contact the shop for details. The Kansai Airport duty-free site lists possible methods such as credit card refunds (roughly 1 to 2 weeks), bank transfers (roughly 2 to 4 weeks) and cash at designated counters, but describes some details as unconfirmed.

Two things are not standardized, as of September 2026:

Refund fees. Unseen Japan reports that the tax law sets no rules on who pays a refund operator's commission and that no cap exists. In practice, the amount you receive may be lower than the 10% you paid. Ask the shop what you will actually get back.
Payout method and timing. Whether you receive cash, a card credit or a bank transfer, and how long it takes, depends on the shop's provider.

Before buying something expensive, ask two questions: "How will the refund be paid?" and "Is there a handling fee?" If you are not comfortable asking at the counter, a short phone call to the store in advance can help.

What does this mean for planning a shopping trip?

Budget for cash flow. You now pay 10% more up front, and the refund arrives later. For big purchases, that is a real amount.
Save receipts and keep them with the goods. Your passport scan is linked to the sale record, but keep the paper or digital receipt as backup.
Think about when you buy. The 90-day limit rarely matters on a short trip, but the all-items rule does: the longer you carry a purchase, the more chances to lose, use or give away something from the receipt.
Leave luggage space. Parcels shipped home are no longer exempt, so bags need to hold everything you buy.
Plan around your final airport. JNTO says to complete the procedure at the last airport or seaport you leave Japan from.
Beware of fake sites. Japan Customs has warned about fake websites imitating Visit Japan Web and charging fees. Visit Japan Web is free, according to Customs.

For other trip costs that changed this year, see our roundup of new Japan tourist fees in 2026. For a broader list of things to arrange before you land, use our Japan trip phone call checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy tax-free at the register before 1 November?

Yes. Until 31 October 2026 the current system applies, and eligible shops take the tax off at the register when you show your passport. From 1 November the refund method applies to purchases.

What happens if I forget the terminal and go straight to check-in?

The refund depends on customs confirming that the goods are being exported. If you check the goods in before the terminal step, you may be unable to complete it. Ask an airport staff member immediately, but do not count on getting an exception.

Will I get the full 10% back?

Not necessarily. The consumption tax is refunded through the shop or a refund provider, and fees are not capped by law according to reporting. Ask about handling fees before buying.

Do consumables need sealed bags?

No. The special packaging requirement is removed. Items still cannot be used or consumed in Japan to qualify.

Can I ship my purchases home instead of carrying them?

Not for tax-free goods. Exemptions for goods sent as international parcels ended on 1 April 2025, so the goods must leave with you.

Let Moshimo make the call

Some tax-free questions need a phone call to the shop: whether it will take part in the refund system, how it pays refunds, whether there is a handling fee, or whether it can hold an item until you finish your route. With Moshimo you type your question in your own language, review the request, and Moshimo calls the shop in Japanese and reports the outcome in the app. Answers depend on what the shop says, and Moshimo cannot guarantee any refund. Confirm tax details with official sources. Get Moshimo

Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-29.