What you can and can't buy tax-free in Japan (rules from November 2026)

From November 1, 2026, the rules on what you can buy tax-free change a lot. In short: almost everything qualifies, but only as much as you can carry out of Japan yourself.

What qualifies

Anything not on the excluded list below qualifies, whatever you plan to use it for. The old condition that goods must be for everyday use is gone.
Consumables (food, cosmetics, medicine, etc.) and general goods (clothes, electronics, etc.) are no longer treated separately. The same rules apply to both.

What's excluded

Gold and platinum bullion
Gold and platinum coins
Goods not subject to consumption tax (e.g. postage stamps, revenue stamps, gift certificates)

Minimum spend

Your total at the same store on the same day must be at least ¥5,000 before tax. Food and other goods count together.
The minimum is judged on the pre-tax price. For example, an item costing ¥5,500 including 10% tax is ¥5,000 before tax, so it qualifies.
There's no upper limit. The old ¥500,000-per-day cap on consumables has been abolished.
Purchases at different stores can't be combined.

Only what you can carry out

You must have all your tax-free goods with you when you leave Japan. So you can only buy tax-free as much as you can take out yourself.
If it's more than you can carry, use the store's direct overseas shipping when you buy. Direct shipping is a different scheme (export tax exemption) and needs no customs check at departure.
Goods you send abroad yourself by international mail or courier after buying them are not refunded.

Packaging

Consumables no longer need to be sealed in special bags.
However, if you separate items from their boxes or bags, or throw away boxes showing model numbers, customs may not be able to identify what you bought. Keep everything as it was when you bought it until you leave.

Items of ¥1 million or more

For any single item priced at ¥1 million or more before tax, the store records detailed information such as the brand, model number, features and, for watches, the serial number.
At departure you may be asked to show a certificate of appraisal or warranty. Carry it with the item.

Watch out

Pay separately for anything you'll eat or use in Japan. If even one item from a purchase is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded.
Reselling tax-free goods in Japan is prohibited.

Related guides

Official sources

Based on official information as of October 25, 2026

Back to the calculator