Tools · Free tool

Tax-free shopping calculator: old rules and the refund system from 1 November 2026

Enter what you plan to spend at one shop and see whether it qualifies, how much tax comes back and what you must do at the airport.

Last checked October 8, 2026 · Sources

The rules until 31 October 2026

Show your passport (with the landing stamp or sticker — not a photocopy) and the shop sells to you with the consumption tax left off. The threshold is 5,000 yen before tax at one shop on one day. General goods — clothes, bags, electronics, crafts — have no upper limit and may be used in Japan. Consumables — food, drinks, cosmetics, medicines, tobacco — are capped at 500,000 yen, are sealed in a special bag that must stay closed until you leave, and must not be used in Japan. Shops in a licensed mall or department store can combine purchases to reach the threshold. Buying tax-free and then posting the goods home is no longer allowed.

What changes on 1 November 2026

Japan switches to a refund system. You pay the full price including tax, the shop records your passport and the refund method you choose, and the tax comes back after customs confirms at the airport that the goods are leaving with you. The 5,000 yen minimum stays, but the general/consumable split, the 500,000 yen cap and the sealed bags all disappear, so you can use or try what you bought. You must leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase date. Gold and platinum bullion and coins are excluded.

At the airport, go to the tax-free kiosk in the international departure lobby before check-in and security, scan your passport, and keep the goods to hand. A green result means you are done; a red one means an officer will look at the items. Confirmation is per receipt: if one item on a receipt has been eaten, used up, posted home or left in the hotel, that whole receipt loses its refund. For items worth 1,000,000 yen or more, the shop records details that identify the item so customs can check it. If you fly from a regional airport and connect through Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu or Fukuoka, do the confirmation at the airport where you leave Japan. How and when the money arrives — card, bank transfer, app or cash at an airport counter — depends on what the shop offers.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for tax-free shopping?

Short-term visitors with a temporary-visitor status (up to 90 days) who have been in Japan less than six months, plus Japanese nationals living abroad for two years or more with proof. Residents and people on work or student visas do not qualify.

Can I use the goods while I am still in Japan?

Until 31 October 2026: general goods yes, consumables no (they stay sealed). From 1 November 2026: yes for everything, but every item must still be with you at the airport — anything missing voids that receipt.

Does the 5,000 yen threshold include tax?

No. It is 5,000 yen before tax, at one shop on one day. Under the refund system you will see the tax-inclusive price at the till, so 5,500 yen (10% goods) or 5,400 yen (8% food) is the practical minimum.

Sources

Official and primary sources used for this page. Checked October 8, 2026.

To cite or link to this page: Tax-free shopping calculator: old rules and the refund system from 1 November 2026 — Japan Pocket Guide, https://japanpocketguide.com/tools/tax-free/