Japan Tax-Free Shopping: The 2026 Tourist Guide

Updated 2026-08-24

Reviewed 2026-08-24

Tax-free shopping in Japan is straightforward once you know which total matters and what to bring. This guide focuses on the rules travelers need at the register today.

Who can shop tax-free

Eligible short-term foreign visitors generally entered Japan within the past six months. Bring your original passport; at stores displaying support for the Visit Japan Web tax-free code, eligible visitors can present the live code instead. Passport photos, copies and QR screenshots are not accepted substitutes.

The ¥5,000 minimum

You need to spend at least ¥5,000 (tax-excluded) per store, per day. That threshold is based on the pre-tax (税抜) price, not the tax-included total. It is easy to misjudge when tags show both numbers.

General goods vs. consumables

Through 31 October 2026 goods fall into two classes. General goods (electronics, clothing, bags) have no upper limit. Consumables (food, cosmetics, medicine) are tax-free from ¥5,000 up to ¥500,000 and must stay in sealed packaging until you leave Japan. Do not open them during your trip.

Check for a handling fee before paying

Tax-free procedures differ by retailer. Some stores apply the exemption at their own register, while department stores or shared refund counters may deduct a service fee. Check the amount displayed by that location instead of assuming the full tax amount will disappear.

Know your real price before you pay

Japanese tags mix 税抜 (pre-tax) and 税込 (tax-included), while food and general goods can use different rates. Ikura Cart scans the tag and keeps a running pre-tax and checkout estimate so you can compare it with the ¥5,000 threshold.