Cash, card or IC card in Japan
You are not sure what to carry, and you do not want to be stuck at a till.
Food, etiquette and daily basics
How tax-free shopping works in Japan
You plan to shop in Japan and want the tax-free price without a headache at the till.
Carry your original passport, ask at the till whether the shop offers tax-free, and keep any sealed items sealed until you leave Japan. Check the current rules before a large purchase, since the process can change.
This guide shows the routine and where to double-check.
What is tax-free shopping?
Tax-free shopping is a system where visitors from abroad can shop without paying consumption tax on eligible items, or get it refunded, under rules set by Japan. Our tax-free shopping glossary entry gives the plain definition.
The details, such as minimum amounts and the exact process, can change. We therefore tell you how to check them at the time, not a number that may be out of date.
What do you need?
Bring your original passport. Shops record your details at the till, and a photocopy or a phone photo may not be accepted.
Keep your passport somewhere safe and easy to reach. Our packing light guide has ideas for a small day bag with a secure pocket.
What is the routine at the till?
Follow these steps:
- Tell the shop you want tax-free before you pay.
- Ask what the final price will be and what the shop needs from you.
- Show your passport when asked.
- Keep the receipt and any tax-free paperwork with your passport.
- Ask whether items must stay sealed until you leave Japan.
Some shops use a separate counter for tax-free, so allow a little extra time in busy stores.
Which items need extra care?
Ask the shop about food, drinks and cosmetics, since rules for these items can require them to stay sealed until you leave Japan. Do not open them in your hotel room.
Gifts from food halls are a common example. Pack them in the bag that suits the flight and keep the paperwork with your passport.
How do you pack for the flight home?
Plan space before you shop. Our packing light guide shows how to leave room, and a spare foldable bag helps.
For electronics, keep the box and receipts together and check your airline’s baggage allowance. Add the spend to your ringgit budget so the total is clear.
What about payment?
Ask whether the shop takes cards or only cash before you commit. Our cash, card and IC card guide explains the options. For electronics areas, see Akihabara for families.
If you plan to shop for gifts or electronics, send us your list and how long you stay. We reply with a plan for where to shop and how to pack for the flight home.
Keep planning
Packing light for a multi-city Japan trip
You are moving between cities, and every extra kilo has to be carried up a station staircase.
Akihabara for families who are not anime fans
Someone in your group wants Akihabara, and someone else would rather skip it.
Depachika food halls for an easy dinner
After a long day on your feet, you want a good dinner that asks nothing more of you.
Build a Japan trip budget in ringgit
You want a number in ringgit, and every website gives you a different one.
Tax-free shopping
A way to avoid consumption tax on shopping, if you meet the shop's conditions.
Questions travellers ask
Do I need my passport to shop tax-free?
Yes. Carry your original passport, because shops record your details at the till. A photocopy or a photo on your phone may not be accepted. Keep it somewhere safe but easy to reach, and tell the shop you want tax-free before you pay.
Should I ask about tax-free before I pay?
Yes. Ask at the till whether the shop offers tax-free and what it needs from you. Some shops use a separate counter, and the process may differ by shop. Ask what the final price will be so there are no surprises.
Can I open what I buy before I leave Japan?
Ask the shop. Rules for items such as food, drinks and cosmetics can require them to stay sealed until you leave Japan. Pack them in the bag you will check or carry, and keep the receipts and any tax-free paperwork with your passport.
Are the tax-free rules the same this year?
They can change. Japan has been updating how tax-free shopping works, so check current rules with the shop and official pages before you buy anything large. We do not quote minimum purchase amounts here, since they should be confirmed at the time you shop.
Ready to shape your Japan trip?
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you hope to see. We will reply with ideas and a tailored quote.