Yen & Zen · For travelers

Tax-free shopping in Japan

Check if your purchase clears the ¥5,000 minimum threshold for tax exemption and exactly how much you save. Only applies if you're visiting Japan on a temporary tourist visa.

Japan's tax-free rules

Japan's tax-free system lets tourists on a temporary visa buy goods exempt from the 10% consumption tax (消費税) at authorised shops. The core rules:

Minimum ¥5,000 pre-tax, at a single store on a single day.
General goods (electronics, clothing, watches, etc.): 10% rate, no upper cap.
Consumables (cosmetics, food, medicine): same ¥5,000 minimum and ¥500,000 daily max. Delivered in a sealed bag that cannot be opened until you leave Japan.
Physical passport required at the moment of purchase. A photo doesn't count.
Temporary visitor stamp in your passport (does not apply to residents).