Tax refund

Tax refund in Japan

This changes on November 1, 2026. Until then you still buy at the tax-excluded price in the shop.

Japan is moving the refund to the airport. You will pay the tax when you buy, and get it back after customs has confirmed you are taking the goods out of the country.

How it goes

  1. 1 Buy with the tax included From November 1, 2026 the shop charges the full price. Same shop, same day, ¥5,000 or more before tax.
  2. 2 Keep the goods with you Customs checks one receipt at a time. If a single item on a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded.
  3. 3 Before you check your bags The terminals are in the departure lobby, before baggage drop. Once a bag is checked you cannot do this, and it cannot be pulled back for it.
  4. 4 Show your passport, within 90 days At the tax-free terminal. A green result ends it; a red result sends you to the customs inspection area.
  5. 5 The money comes from the shop The shop or the refund operator it appointed pays it back. How and when is the shop's to answer, so ask before you leave it.

At Kansai Airport

Kansai is one of the seven airports where you can do this on Visit Japan Web instead of the terminal, in the international departure lobby, inside the area with the dedicated Wi-Fi, up to the security checkpoint. The others are Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha.

Visit Japan Web · Getting to and from KIX

Worth knowing

  • Gold and platinum bullion, and anything consumption tax does not apply to, are out.
  • The special sealed packaging for consumables is abolished. Consume them in Japan, though, and there is no refund.
  • Flying domestic first? Do it at the last airport you leave Japan from.
  • Leave time. Customs has to finish before boarding closes, and missing the flight over this is not compensated.

Sources

What you may bring in, on the way here

Read 2026-09-24. Everything on this page is from that agency page; nothing is added and nothing is advice. The refund is paid by the shop, so the shop, not this page, is who to ask about your purchase.