Tax-free shoping in Japan

Tax-free shopping procedures differ in different countries. Japanese system may be different from your country. Here is a complete guide of Tax-free shopping in Japan.

1. You will need your passport when you do tax-free shopping.
2. Look for Tax-free shop stickers. If you don’t see it, ask the shop if they are.
3. There are 2 categories: Consumerable and General Items.
4. You will need to purchase more than 5000 yen in each categories in one shop in a single day. For department stores, they can combine.

1. You will need your passport when you do tax-free shopping.
   • Tax-free procedures are done in each stores, not in the airport. So when you do tax-free shopping, present the original passport (not a copy of the passport) at the store. Tax-free procedures must be done on the spot on the day of purchase and you cannot bring your passport next day to do the procedure.
2. Look for Tax-free shop stickers in the shop, ask the shop if they are tax-free shop.
   • If the shop is a tax-free shop, you will often find the sticker near the entrance or near the cashier. Most department stores, major drug stores and major discount stores are tax free shops. They will refund money at the cashier. In case of department stores, you will need to go to tax free counters. In that case, you need to bring your passport, your purchased items, receipts and the credit card you used to buy those items. Some of the smaller shops may not be tax-free shops, so if you don’t see the sticker, it is better to ask before you make payments.
3. There are 2 categories: Consumerable and General Items.
   • Consumerable items: things you can consume such as food, drinks, cosmetics and medicine. As a rule, you are to take them to use it outside of Japan and they will put those items in plastic bag and seal. No tax-free at restaurants.
   • General items: things other than above such as clothes, shoes, stationeries, kitchen items, toys and so on.
4. You will need to purchase more than 5000 yen (before tax) in each category in one shop in a single day for tax refund. For department stores, they can combine and if the total is more than 5000 yen (before tax) in each category, they will refund the tax. You will need to bring your passport, your purchased items, receipts and the credit card you used to buy those items. .

For more information, visit JNTO site:Japan’s Tax Exemption | Travel Japan | JNTO