Guide To Tax-Free Shopping in Japan

Shopping in Japan comes with a 10% consumption tax (8% on most food and non-alcoholic drinks, though eating in at a restaurant counts as 10%), but as an international visitor you can skip it on many p

Shopping in Japan comes with a 10% consumption tax (8% on most food and non-alcoholic drinks, though eating in at a restaurant counts as 10%), but as an international visitor you can skip it on many purchases. Here’s how tax-free shopping works right now, and how it’s about to change in a big way. Big change on November 1, 2026: Japan is switching from tax-free tills to a refund method. From that date you pay the full price in store and claim the consumption tax back when you leave the country. Purchases made up to and including October 31, 2026 follow the current rules. This guide covers both. It isn’t just duty-free shops or large retail chains that offer tax-free shopping; even some small, independent shops take part. J

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