Tax Free Shopping
in Japan
01
Go Shopping and Get Your Refund in Store
Go shopping and while paying, remember to ask for your VAT refund. Here's what you need to know to shop Tax Free.
Country VAT rates
How much you need to spend minimum
Who is eligible?
Foreign nationals:
- Those under the ‘Temporary Visitor,’ ‘Diplomat,’ or ‘Official’ visa types
- Those residing with permission for landing at a port of call, permission for shore landing for cruise ship passengers, permission for transit landing, permission for crew landing, permission for emergency landing, or permission for landing due to distress
- Members of the United States Armed Forces and related personnel (with a SOFA stamp)
Japanese nationals:
- A non-resident who has continuously maintained an address or residence outside Japan for two years or more
Tax Free Goods
Refunds are paid on items that are exported in the shoppers personal luggage.
Consumable items (e.g. foods, cosmetics, etc) must be unused when departing Japan.
Non Refundable goods:
- Gold coins and platinum coins
- Gold and platinum bullion
- Products that are exempt from consumption tax (land, securities, etc.)
- Gold coins and platinum coins
- Gold and platinum bullion
- Products that are exempt from consumption tax (land, securities, etc.)
Important Information to shop Tax Free in Japan
Purchases at the same store on the same day must total at least 5,000 yen (excluding tax).
Items to be presented:
- Passport. Copies will not be accepted.
- Landing permit document and copy of passport (cruise ship passengers).
- Certificate of Residence, a copy of the Family Register Supplement, or My Number Card (Japanese citizens living abroad).
Find a Store
Search to find your nearest Store
02
Get Customs Validation
Find the nearest Customs Office or self-validation Kiosk. Get your purchases validated by Customs before leaving the country.
Time limit for validating your form
There is no tax free form, but travellers must validate their purchase within 90 days from the date of purchase at an airport/ seaport.
Validity of stamped Form
Tax-free validation is completed by Customs once the traveller scans their passport at a kiosk and the validation is confirmed at the point of departure.
Important information to validate your Purchases in Japan
To allow for a potential inspection of purchased goods, travellers must receive Customs validation prior to checking in their luggage.
At the airport of departure from Japan, present your passport at a customs kiosk. You must be able to present all tax-free goods upon request by Customs. If even one item is missing from a tax-free purchase, none of the goods in that transaction will be eligible for a refund.
If a consumable item (such as food or cosmetics) is used before departure, you will not be eligible for a refund.
Tax-free goods that have been validated by Customs must be exported without delay.
Items to be presented:
- Passport
Find a Customs office
Search to find your nearest Customs office
03
Receive Your Refund
Visit any Global Blue Refund Office or Kiosk in Japan. Present your passport and credit card to get your refund. For an automatic refund, check the payment details selected in store or saved on your Global Blue App and MCC.
How travellers get their refund
Refunds are paid via a designated cashless payment method or cash. For an automatic refund, check the payment details selected in store or saved on your Global Blue App and MCC.
Get your refund through the following:
In cashless payment:
Add your payment details via the MCC (Global Blue email or QR code provided at store) or provide your cashless payment details at our counter/kiosk.
In cash:
Visit a downtown Refund Point or a cash refund counter/kiosk at the airport. Please note that cash refunds may not be available at all airports.
Find a Refund office
Search to find your nearest Refund office
Still in doubt about the above steps? Check out our general guide.
See How the New Tax-Free Shopping Process Works
Watch this official video from the Japan Tourism Agency for a visual, step-by-step guide to Japan’s new tax-free shopping process.
Global Blue Addresses
Printed Tax Free Forms validated by Customs and original receipt must be sent to:
Standard and registered mail
Global Blue P.O. Box 363, 810 00 Bratislava,
Slovakia, Europe
For courier
Global Blue, Mlynske nivy 55 (the Mill), 821 09 Bratislava,
Slovakia, Europe