Japan tax-free shopping from Nov 1, 2026: what changes for your budget
Short answer: from November 1, 2026, tourists in Japan pay the full price at the till, including the 10% consumption tax. You get that 10% back only after Japan Customs confirms, when you leave, that the goods are going out of the country. That has to happen within 90 days of purchase. Your shopping still ends up tax-free, but you need to carry the extra 10% until the refund lands.
Last verified: October 6, 2026. Rules can still be clarified before launch, so check the Japan Tourism Agency before you travel.
What changes on November 1
| Until October 31, 2026 | From November 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price you pay at the till | Tax removed, you pay ¥50,000 | Full price, you pay ¥55,000 |
| When you get the 10% | Immediately | After customs confirms your departure |
| Minimum spend | ¥5,000 before tax, per shop, per day | Same |
| Consumables (food, cosmetics, drinks) | Separate category, sealed bag, ¥500,000 cap | No separate category, no sealed bag, no cap |
| Time limit | Depended on visa status and goods | Customs confirmation within 90 days of purchase |
| What you need at the shop | Passport | Passport |
The purchase date decides which system applies. There is no transition period where both run side by side.
How the refund works, step by step
- At the shop. Show your passport and pay the full price, tax included. Spend at least ¥5,000 before tax at that shop on that day. Ask how the refund will be paid: card, bank transfer, app, or cash at the airport. Different shops use different refund companies.
- During your trip. Keep the goods unused. If you eat it, drink it or use it in Japan, the refund is gone.
- At the airport, before check-in. Scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk. Customs may ask to see the goods, so keep them accessible until this step is done. Do it before you check your bags.
- After you leave. The shop or its refund company pays you back by the method you chose. How long that takes depends on the method and the provider.
What it means for your budget
The tax still comes back, but it now costs you three things.
1. You carry an extra 10% on every tax-free purchase. A shopping-heavy trip can tie up real money:
| Tax-free shopping on the trip | Old system, paid at the till | New system, paid at the till | Waiting for refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¥30,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥33,000 | ¥3,000 |
| ¥100,000 | ¥100,000 | ¥110,000 | ¥10,000 |
| ¥300,000 | ¥300,000 | ¥330,000 | ¥30,000 |
If you are near your card limit, or paying cash, plan for the higher amount.
2. A card refund is a new foreign transaction. If the refund goes back to your card, it is converted at that day's exchange rate, not the rate on the day you paid. If the yen moves, you get back slightly more or less in your own currency. Some cards also keep the foreign transaction fee they charged on the purchase. Check your card's terms, or pick a yen-friendly card for the trip.
3. The refund may not be the full 10%. The law leaves the refund method to the shop and its provider. Ask at the till whether anything is deducted, especially for cash refunds at the airport.
Things that no longer work
- Mailing purchases home. Goods you send abroad yourself by post are not tax-free. They have to leave with you.
- Using it before you fly. Snacks, skincare and sake bought tax-free must leave Japan unused.
- Checking it in first. If customs asks to see something that is already in the hold, you cannot show it.
- Waiting too long. Customs confirmation has to happen within 90 days of the purchase. That mostly matters for long stays.
How to track it in Dayfare
Log each tax-free purchase at the full price you actually paid, tax included, in yen. Dayfare converts it to your home currency at that day's rate, so your trip total and today's budget show what really left your account.
Add a note like "tax refund pending ¥5,000" to the expense. When the refund lands, open the expense and lower the amount to what you actually ended up paying. Your trip total then reflects the real net cost, including any exchange-rate difference on the refund.
Quick checklist
- Passport with you every time you shop
- At least ¥5,000 before tax per shop, per day
- Ask how the refund is paid before you pay
- Budget an extra 10% on shopping until refunds arrive
- Keep tax-free goods unused and in your carry-on
- Tax-free kiosk at the airport before check-in
- Leave within 90 days of purchase
Sources
- Japan Tourism Agency, tax-free shopping
- National Tax Agency, export goods retail system (Japanese)
- GLTJP: Japan's tax-free shopping reform explained
- Japan Travel: Tax-free shopping in Japan, 2026 changes
Frequently asked questions
When does Japan's new tax-free system start?
November 1, 2026. The purchase date decides which system applies. Anything bought on or before October 31, 2026 uses the old system, where the tax is removed at the till. There is no overlap period.
Do I still get the 10% back as a tourist?
Yes, if you are a temporary visitor, spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one shop on one day, and take the goods out of Japan within 90 days. You pay the tax first and get it back after customs confirms your departure.
How do I get the refund?
It depends on the shop and the refund company it uses. Options include a refund to your credit card, a bank transfer, an app transfer, or cash at the airport or seaport. Ask at the till which method applies before you pay.
Can I put tax-free purchases in my checked bag?
Do the customs step first. Scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk before you check in, because customs may ask to see the goods. Once they are in the hold, you cannot show them.
Are food and cosmetics still tax-free?
Yes, and the old split between general goods and consumables goes away, along with the ¥500,000 cap and sealed bags for consumables. But anything you eat, drink or use in Japan loses the refund.
Can I mail my purchases home instead of carrying them?
Not tax-free. Goods you send abroad yourself by international post do not qualify. They have to leave with you, through customs.
Prices and rules last verified: . Published .