Ugh, sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but it’s better to know about this than to be surprised by Japan’s changes to their “no sales tax for foreign visitors” policy that took effect on November 1, 2026.
How it was until now: If you were in Japan on a 90-day tourist visa and were buying stuff that totaled more than ¥5000, you could show your passport to the cashier at many stores and not be changed consumption tax (i.e. sales tax). Sales tax is a fairly eye-watering 8-10% (depending on what you’re buying), so if you’re a big shopper, it was well worth doing.
How it will be now: If you want to save that 8-10%, you’re going to have to pay it up front, then work to get it back.
• You show your passport at the register as before, but they will charge you sales tax on what you bought. You must save your receipts to show at the airport.
• You have to “apply” for a refund at the airport before you leave. There are designated electronic kiosks for filling out the application, or you can do it on the same VisitJapan website you used for customs when you entered the country.
• Once your refund is approved (which may require an inspection of the actual goods, to make sure they’re all unused and all accounted for) you can ask for the tax amount you already paid to be refunded by bank transfer or to a credit card. It may take a few weeks for this refund to show up.
• Hidden pitfall: All items listed on a tax-free receipt must be unused and accounted for, or the entire amount will be disallowed for refund (i.e. if you bought five tubes of high-end sunscreen to take home while picking up aspirin for your pounding headache, and you used the aspirin while in Japan, no refund for anything you bought with it.)
SoraNews24 has done a truly excellent job of explaining the ins and outs of this new system, so if you’d still like to shop tax-free while you’re in Japan, I highly encourage you to read their clear and concise explanation of what to do and how to do it. Their article includes:
• Step-by-step how to prepare for the airport refund gauntlet and what to keep in mind while shopping
• How to navigate the refund system when you get to the airport on your way home
• Maps of where the refund kiosks are at every airport.
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
