Shopping in Japan: what to buy, tax-free rules
From the snacks everyone takes home to knives, cosmetics and electronics: what is worth buying, where, how the tax-free system works and which items run into trouble at customs.
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Shopping
What to buy in Japan 2026: the shopping list
What to buy in Japan in 2026: snacks, skincare, clothes, knives, anime goods, electronics and crafts, where to find each, tax-free rules and what you can take home.
Shopping
Japanese souvenirs 2026: what to bring home
The best Japanese souvenirs for 2026: omiyage for coworkers, cheap gifts, traditional crafts, gifts for kids, and where to buy them in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Tools for this topic
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Budget calculator
Starts from what visitors from your country actually spent in 2025, then lets you change every line.
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Tax-free calculator
Does your purchase qualify, and how much comes back? Both the current rules and the November 2026 refund system.
Other sections
- Plan Money, trains, SIM cards, entry rules, luggage, hotels and the questions that come up before every trip to Japan — answered from official sources and dated.
- Food What to eat in Japan and how restaurants work: ordering, prices, allergies, regional dishes, convenience-store food and the manners that matter at the table.
- Culture Japanese etiquette, customs, festivals and traditions explained for visitors: what to do at a shrine, in an onsen, on a train and at the table.
- Things to do Ideas for what to do in Japan by interest: nature, hot springs, skiing, anime, temples, theme parks, day trips and seasonal experiences.