Japan tax-free shopping from November 1, 2026: how the new refund system works

For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, Japan switches to a refund system: you pay the consumption tax in the store, and it is refunded after customs confirms at departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.

What changes

In the store you pay the full, tax-inclusive price (show your passport as before).
The tax is refunded only after customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan.
Cosmetics, food and medicine no longer need special sealed packaging, and the ¥500,000 limit for consumables is removed.
Anything you use or consume in Japan before departure is not eligible for a refund.

Step by step

At the store: tell the staff you want tax-free, show your passport and pay the tax-inclusive price. You must spend at least ¥5,000 (before tax) in one store on one day. Ask how the refund will be paid to you.
Until you leave: keep the goods and receipts, and carry the goods with you — they must leave Japan with you.
At the departure airport, before checking in your bags: scan your passport at the tax-free procedure terminal (at major airports you can also use Visit Japan Web). Green result: done. Red result: show the goods at the customs counter.
Refund: once customs has confirmed the export, the store refunds the tax. You must leave Japan within 90 days of purchase.

Bought before November 1, 2026?

Purchases made up to October 31, 2026 follow the old rules: the tax is exempted at the store's tax-free counter.

What about CouponJP coupons?

Nothing changes: the coupon discount is applied at checkout as before. Tax-free is a separate procedure, so you still get both.

Open CouponJP

Based on information from the Japan Tourism Agency and JNTO as of October 2026. Rules and procedures may change — check the official information before your trip. Japan Tourism Agency · JNTO

Discounts and conditions are set by each store and may change. The coupon in CouponJP is always the current version.

Last updated: 2026-10-06