Japan's Tax-Free Shopping System Is Changing
From November 1, 2026
Japan's consumption tax exemption system is changing from the current "tax-free at purchase" method to a "refund method" (refund after purchase). The new system applies to items purchased in store on or after November 1, 2026, and it changes both the procedure when you shop at Kamekichi and the amount of tax refunded. This page explains the changes in simple terms.
Key Changes
Until now, you paid the "tax-excluded price," with consumption tax deducted on the spot at the time of purchase. Under the new system, you first pay the "tax-included price," and the amount equivalent to the consumption tax is refunded after customs confirms, as you depart Japan, that you are taking the items out of the country.
| Before | From Nov. 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| At purchase | Purchase tax-free (or refund at the counter) |
Purchase with tax included (register your refund details, e.g. credit card) |
| At departure | Customs check after security screening (restricted area) |
Customs check before security screening (public area) *Within 90 days of purchase |
| Refund | ― | Refunded after the customs check |
The location of the departure check will change from "after security screening (restricted area)" to "before security screening (public area)." Please allow plenty of time for the procedure when you depart.
Payment Example
Here is a comparison for an item priced at 1,000,000 yen (excluding tax).
In other words, the amount you pay in store will temporarily be higher, but the amount equivalent to the consumption tax will be refunded later, after the departure check. We recommend planning your travel budget based on tax-included prices rather than counting on the refund.
Fees are deducted from this consumption tax amount depending on the refund method and the refund company, so the refund will not necessarily be 10%. The refund amount also varies from store to store.
Kamekichi's Refund Methods and Amount
At Kamekichi, we entrust refund processing to J-TAX FREE, a major approved transmission operator in Japan, which allows us to refund you at the high rate below, based on the consumption tax amount.
Please note that refund rates differ depending on the operator and the refund method!
- Under the refund method, the percentage actually refunded to customers (after fees are deducted) differs depending on the refund operator each tax-free shop uses and on the refund method.
- Through our partnership with a major operator, Kamekichi offers a refund rate that is high by industry standards.
Refunds require a customs check at departure. If the check cannot be completed, no refund will be issued.
The refund rate shown does not guarantee a refund after the customs check; it is the expected refund when all conditions are met.
Need help with your refund application after shopping with us?
(English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese)
In store, we will introduce you to the “Support Desk for Visitors to Japan”, which you can contact at any time, so you can shop with peace of mind.
(Operated by J&J Tax Free Co., Ltd.)How It Works
Important Points
- Purchases totaling less than 5,000 yen (excluding tax) are not eligible. (Gold bullion and gold coins are also not eligible.)
- Visitors who entered Japan on a cruise passenger, crew, or emergency landing permit will now need their passport and passport number in addition to the landing permit.
- Japanese nationals who have lived outside Japan for 2 years or more (temporary returnees) previously needed their passport and a supporting document (a copy of the family register attachment or a certificate of residence). A "My Number Card for those who have moved overseas" (including the smartphone My Number Card; limited to cards that show the overseas move and are within their validity period) will now also be accepted as a supporting document. In addition, eligibility will be determined by the period "from the scheduled date of moving overseas (date of settling overseas) to the date of last entry into Japan," rather than by the date the document was issued.
- No refund will be issued unless you complete the procedure.
- Be sure to declare your items to customs at your port of departure (the last airport or seaport from which you leave Japan) within 90 days of the purchase date.
- The purchaser must personally carry the items out of Japan (within the quantity that can be carried).
- Please be prepared to present your tax-free items at customs' request.
- The customs check cannot be done after you have checked in your baggage at the departure airport or seaport. Before checking in your baggage (allowing plenty of time so that you are in time for boarding procedures), you must complete the check at a tax-free procedure terminal (kiosk terminal or electronic terminal) in the departure lobby. If the inspection is stopped partway for reasons on the purchaser's side, such as not making it in time for boarding procedures, the customs check will not be considered completed. Please note that if you are unable to depart because you did not allow enough time for the tax-free procedure, neither the airline nor customs will provide compensation.
- In addition to the brand name, model name, reference number, color, shape, features, etc. of each item, stores are required to submit the serial number as part of the purchase record, especially for items priced at 1,000,000 yen or more (excluding tax). Customs may ask to check the serial number and may also ask you to present the warranty card, appraisal certificate, or other certificates. In general, please depart with everything that came with the item at purchase, such as the box and accessories, "all together."
★If items that have passed the customs check end up not being exported, the consumption tax will be collected, and penalties will also apply if there is no legitimate reason. Please be very careful.
FAQ
Q. Under the new system, what is the minimum purchase amount for tax exemption?
Your total purchases at the same store in a single day must be 5,000 yen or more (excluding tax). This means that at Kamekichi, "almost all" of our items are eligible.
Q. Under the new system, are watches and accessories eligible?
Yes, they are. To prevent illegal resale, gold and platinum bullion (ingots, etc.) and gold and platinum coins are not eligible, but accessories crafted as jewelry remain eligible for tax exemption.
Q. When will my refund be processed?
After shopping, access "J-TaxRefund" and register the required information. Refund processing will then begin once customs has checked, at your departure, that you are taking the items out of Japan. Please note, however, that the time it takes for the refund to actually reach you varies depending on the refund method.
Q. Can I receive my refund in cash?
Yes. You can receive it at the cash refund counter in the airport's departure area (after passport control).
*Cash refunds incur an additional fee on top of the standard fee.
*The maximum cash refund amount is 1,000,000 yen. We appreciate your understanding.
Q. What happens if the check cannot be completed at departure?
No refund will be issued. We appreciate your understanding.