New Tax Free system in Japan: how to get a refund after purchase

What changed since 1 November

Previously, when a foreign visitor bought something in Japan, they showed their passport and got the price without the 10 % consumption tax right away. Now the system works differently: you pay the full amount at the shop, and the tax is refunded only after customs verifies that the item has left Japan.

How the refund looks in practice

Take this example: an item costs ¥11,000 including tax. You’ll pay the whole sum in the store, and after you board your flight you’ll get back roughly ¥1,000 – that’s the tax you paid.

Minimum amount and conditions

• To claim Tax Free, you must spend at least ¥5,000 (tax excluded) in a single store on the same day. Purchases made on different days don’t add up.
• Your passport is still required at the shop – you show it when you buy, just like before.
• Keep the receipt and the product, and take the goods out of Japan within 90 days of purchase.

What happens at the airport (or seaport)

Before you check your luggage, head to the Tax Free terminal and scan your passport. A green light means you’re done – you can hand over your bags. A red light means you need to show the items to a customs officer.

Where you can do the check

In seven major airports, including Narita, Haneda and Kansai, you can complete the procedure through the online service Visit Japan Web. If your itinerary includes a domestic flight before the international leg, the check is done at the last Japanese airport before you leave the country.

When you won’t get a refund

• If you hand over a suitcase with purchases before the terminal confirms export and the light stays red, the tax won’t be returned.
• If you start using the product in Japan – eat, drink or otherwise consume it – the receipt is considered invalid for a refund.

How the money gets back to you

The refund is processed by the shop or its operator. You can choose a bank card, QR‑payment or cash. Timing ranges from a few days to a few weeks, and fees may shave a little off the 10 % you expected. So ask the store up front which method they’ll use.

Simplifications in the new rules

• The daily cap of ¥500,000 on consumable goods (cosmetics, alcohol, etc.) has been removed.
• You no longer have to keep the item in sealed packaging until departure – that requirement is gone.
• Haneda now has 22 terminals and a dedicated baggage‑screening zone to speed things up.

Who can’t use Tax Free

Japanese residents, including foreign students and workers, are not eligible for a tax refund. All purchases made up to and including 31 October are processed under the old scheme.

Practical tips

• Allow extra time at the airport, especially if your purchases are in checked luggage.
• Keep receipts and packed goods until customs gives the green light.
• Before you buy, confirm how the tax will be returned so you avoid unpleasant surprises.
• If you have a layover, remember the check happens at the last Japanese airport before the international flight.

These changes aim to stop tourists from selling duty‑free items inside the country and to make the refund process more transparent. With the right approach, Tax Free remains a handy way to save on shopping in Japan.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.