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Shopping Guide
Understand the tax exemption program, shop smartly and enjoy your shopping experience in Japan.
POINT The 8% consumption tax will be POINT When you purchase merchandise, you
refunded. can pay the tax-exempt price.
1 2
The 8% consumption tax is refunded as long as The tax refund procedure cannot be carried out afterward at an airport or
you are shopping at a tax-free store and file similar location. To carry out the procedure, you must show your actual
your tax exemption application on the same day. passport, not a copy of the visa page. Cruise ship tourists need to show
their cruise ship tourist permit.
* For those on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP), be sure to bring your passport to be used
together with your Registered User Card.
POINT Purchases that total 5,000 yen POINT The program only applies to
or more qualify for a tax refund. foreign visitors!
3 4
The terms and conditions of tax refunds depend Only foreign visitors staying in Japan for less than six months can use this
on the type of product. Check the diagram below program.
for details.
* Non-residing Japanese nationals may be eligible to apply for tax exemption.
Cosmetics
Jewelry / crafts
*
Liquor / beverages
+
Conditions
• Special packaging required.
• Cannot be used in Japan.
• Must be taken out of Japan within 30 days after purchase.
* Whether or not general items and consumable items can be combined for a tax refund depends on the store. If you hope to receive a refund for combined purchases,
please check if the store offers it.
Payments for items that are clearly for consumption within the country such as meals at restaurants are not eligible for tax exemption. Purchases made for busi-
ness or sales purposes are also not eligible for tax exemption.
What should I do?
Tax-free stores
will have this sign.
Livestock products such as meat, marine products, and agricultural products such as vegetables and fruits must undergo an ex-
port inspection at the animal quarantine office and plant protection station when being taken out of Japan. They will be confis-
Caution About quarantine cated when you exit the country if they have not undergone export inspections in Japan. There are some countries and regions
that forbid the import of food products by law, so please make sure to confirm the regulations of your home country or your next
destination.
Answers to commonly asked questions about tax exemption
If I don’
t get a stamp in my passport I understand that liquids cannot be Is it true that purchases made at shop-
Q because I use the automatic gates Q brought onto the airplane, so how Q ping malls and shopping streets can be
when entering Japan, am I still eligible for can I apply for tax exemption for cosmet- consolidated for tax exemption purposes?
tax exemption? ics and so on?
There is a "consolidated tax exemption"
You must have an entry stamp to be Liquids that exceed the allowance for A program whereby purchases can be con-
A eligible for tax exemption. When using A bringing in your carry-on luggage must solidated for tax exemption purposes in shop-
the automatic gates, make sure to get an entry be checked. We therefore advise you to submit ping areas where travelers need to pay sepa-
stamp from a nearby immigration officer. your tax exemption declaration to a customs of- rately at each store. Please check the location
ficer or the airline check-in counter staff before of the consolidated tax exemption counter in
you check your suitcase. advance and whether the store is covered by
the program.
I left my passport at my hotel. Can I Can I get both the liquor tax and You often see“duty free”at airports
Q apply for tax exemption tomorrow? Q consumption tax refunded at a sake Q and other locations. What is the
brewery? difference between Tax-free and Duty-free?