Japan Tax-Free Shopping 2026: How the New Refund System Works, With Kiosk Locations at 8 Airports
Since 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan no longer means tax-free at the till. You pay the full tax-inclusive price, and the store (or the refund company it uses) pays the consumption tax back only after customs confirms at departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.
This guide covers the official rules, the order of steps at the airport, the kiosk floors and cash refund points at the major airports, and the mistakes that cost people their refund.
Sources: National Tax Agency refund method guidance and Q&A, Japan Tourism Agency traveler pages and FAQ, Japan Customs kiosk location data, and the Narita and Haneda airport websites (checked 5 November 2026).
Old system vs new system
| Old system (bought by 31 Oct 2026) | New system (bought from 1 Nov 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| At the till | Tax-free price | Tax-inclusive price |
| When you get the tax back | Never paid it | After customs confirms at departure |
| What decides which rules apply | Purchase date | Purchase date, not departure date; no transition period |
| Minimum spend | General goods and consumables counted separately, 5,000 yen each | Combined: 5,000 yen before tax, same store, same day |
| Cap on consumables | 500,000 yen per store per day | Removed |
| Sealed bags for consumables | Required | Removed |
| Goods not taken out | Tax collected at departure | No refund |
Anything bought on or before 31 October still follows the old rules: you paid no tax, but customs still checks you at departure and the goods must leave Japan.
Who qualifies and what counts
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who | Foreign visitors on temporary visitor status (most tourists) and similar statuses; Japanese citizens who have lived abroad for 2 years or more, with proof |
| Minimum | 5,000 yen before tax at one store on one day |
| Excluded | Gold and platinum bullion and coins, tax-exempt goods, and services such as hotels, meals and transport |
| Quantity | Only what you can carry out of Japan yourself |
| Posting home | No refund for goods you post or ship separately (that option ended on 31 March 2025). Shipping arranged directly by the store falls under export rules, so ask the store |
| Used in Japan | Food, drinks and cosmetics opened or used in Japan do not qualify |
How much you get back, and the fees
You get back the consumption tax portion, which is not 10% of the price you paid:
| Rate | Applies to | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Most goods | Price × 10/110 | 11,000 yen paid → 1,000 yen back |
| 8% | Food and non-alcoholic drinks | Price × 8/108 | 5,400 yen paid → 400 yen back |
Fees: The government charges nothing. Most stores hand refunds to a refund company, and the Tourism Agency’s FAQ for stores says the law does not decide whether the traveler or the store pays that company’s fee, adding that in other countries the traveler usually pays. Expect to receive less than the table shows, and ask the store what it deducts.
Step by step
| Step | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Pay | Tax-free store | Pay the tax-inclusive price and show your original passport |
| 2 Register the refund | Store or phone | Follow the store’s QR code, website or app to choose cash, card, e-wallet or bank transfer (options vary by store) |
| 3 Customs check | Airport departure hall | Before bag drop, scan your passport at a kiosk or use Visit Japan Web |
| 4 Result | Same place | Green: done. Red: show every item on that receipt at the customs inspection area |
| 5 Get paid | Airport or later | Cash machines at the airport (only if your store’s refund company is connected), or a later refund to your card or account |
The 90-day deadline: count from the day after purchase to day 90. The official example: goods bought on 1 November must be confirmed by 30 January.
Visit Japan Web: Available at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha. Before security, connect to the customs Wi-Fi (SSID Customs_WiFi_For_TaxRefund, password jcustoms) and complete the check on your phone instead of queuing for a kiosk. It is limited to temporary visitor, diplomatic and official status; Japanese citizens cannot use it. Kansai customs recommends it because the kiosks can get crowded.
At the airport: customs check before bag drop
- Customs kiosks are landside, in the departure hall, and you must use them before checking any bags, because the goods have to be with you.
- Once a bag is checked you cannot go back and you cannot retrieve it. After security and passport control, even Visit Japan Web no longer works.
- A passport scan takes seconds, but a red result means queuing for an inspection, so arrive early. If you give up on an inspection to make your flight, it counts as not confirmed, and neither the airline nor customs will compensate you.
- Most cash refund machines are airside (Narita also has some landside). You can only use them after the customs check.
- If you connect from a domestic flight to an international one, do the check at your last airport in Japan.
Kiosk locations at major airports
Customs check (kiosk) floors, from Japan Customs’ location data:
| Airport | Terminal and floor | Visit Japan Web |
|---|---|---|
| Narita | T1 Central Building 4F, T2 Main Building 3F, T3 Main Building 2F (05:30–23:00) | Yes |
| Haneda | T2 international area 3F (8 kiosks, 06:00–26:00), T3 3F (13 kiosks, 24 hours) | Yes |
| Kansai | T1 4F, T2 1F | Yes |
| Chubu | T1 3F, T2 2F | Yes |
| Fukuoka | International terminal 3F | Yes |
| New Chitose | International terminal 3F | Yes |
| Naha | 3F international area | Yes |
| Kobe | T2 1F | No, kiosk only |
Cash refunds (yen only):
| Airport | Location | Area | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narita T1 | Central Building 4F | Landside, 06:00–24:00 | Self Tax Refund |
| Narita T1 | North Wing 3F, South Wing 3F | Airside, 24 hours | CASH JAPAN |
| Narita T2 | Main Building 3F | Landside, 06:00–24:00 | Self Tax Refund |
| Narita T2 | Main Building 3F, Satellite 3F | Airside, 24 hours | CASH JAPAN |
| Narita T3 | Main Building 3F | Airside, 24 hours | CASH JAPAN |
| Haneda T2 | International area 3F departure concourse (5 machines) | Airside, 06:45–25:30 | Self Tax Refund |
| Haneda T3 | 3F departure concourse (5 machines) | Airside, 24 hours | Self Tax Refund |
| Naha | 2F departure concourse | Airside, 06:00–21:00 | Self Tax Refund |
| Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose, Kobe | Follow airport signs (Kansai reported at T1 3F and T2 1F) | — | CASH JAPAN |
- A cash machine only works if your store’s refund company is connected to it. Self Tax Refund (Japan Airport Terminal and GLORY) and CASH JAPAN are separate systems, so ask at the till.
- Regional airports such as Sendai, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima are also on the customs map, mostly on 1F. Some airports and seaports have no permanent kiosk; ask customs on site. Full floor maps are on the Japan Customs kiosk location map.
How people lose their refund
| Situation | Result | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bags first | Cannot be fixed, no refund | Do the customs check as soon as you arrive |
| One item from a receipt is missing | The whole receipt is refused | Pay separately for things you will use in Japan |
| Opened or used consumables in Japan | That receipt is refused; skip the kiosk and tell a customs officer | Pay for gifts, cosmetics and personal items separately |
| Posted goods home | No refund | Carry them, or use the store’s direct shipping |
| Left after day 90 | No refund | Long-stay visitors, watch the purchase dates |
| Item of 1 million yen or more before tax | Customs may ask for an appraisal or warranty | Carry the papers for watches and jewelry |
| Gave up an inspection to catch a flight | Counts as not confirmed | Leave time for queues |
Accuracy: Based on official information checked on 5 November 2026. Refund methods, fees and cash machines vary by store and airport and may change, so follow your store’s instructions and the airport’s notices.
References: National Tax Agency refund method, Japan Tourism Agency traveler page, Japan Customs tax refund program, Narita Airport tax refund, Haneda Airport tax refund.
