How to Read Japanese Price Tags
Updated 2026-07-09
That big red number isn't always what you pay. Japanese tags mix 税込 (tax-included) and 税抜 / 本体価格 (pre-tax), and the tax rate itself changes by product. Here's the 2-minute version.
Get Ikura Cart — free on the App StoreThe three words to know
税込 (zeikomi) = tax included — this is what you actually pay. 税抜 (zeinuki) and 本体価格 (hontai kakaku) = the price before tax. Many tags show the pre-tax number big and the 税込 small in parentheses.
"+税" means 'add tax'
If a tag shows a price followed by +税 (or 税別 / 外税), that number is pre-tax — you'll pay more at the register. Example: 本体価格 228円 +税 on a food item ≈ ¥246 at checkout (228 × 1.08).
8% or 10%? It depends on the product
Food & drink are taxed 8%; almost everything else (cosmetics, medicine, electronics, household goods) is 10%. So the same ¥1,000 pre-tax is ¥1,080 for a snack but ¥1,100 for shampoo.
When both prices are printed
If a tag shows both 税抜 and 税込, the ratio tells you the rate: 税込 ÷ 税抜 ≈ 1.08 (food) or 1.10 (standard). It also tells you the duty-free base you'll need for tax-free shopping.
Let the app do the math
Ikura Cart scans any Japanese price tag and instantly shows the real 税込 price, the pre-tax base, the category, and an estimated tax-free saving — in your language, no yen math required.
FAQ
What does 税込 mean?
税込 (zeikomi) means the price already includes consumption tax — it's the amount you pay at the register.
Is 本体価格 the final price?
No. 本体価格 (and 税抜) is the price before tax. You'll pay that plus 8% (food) or 10% (other goods).
Why do tags show two prices?
Stores often print the pre-tax price large and the tax-included price small. Since 2021 the tax-included price must be shown, but the pre-tax number is often bigger.
Is food really cheaper on tax?
Yes — food and non-alcoholic drinks use Japan's reduced 8% rate; most other goods are 10%.