Japan's New Tax-Free Refund Rules from Nov 1, 2026: Pay First, Refund Later — Airport Steps and Refund Apps Explained

From November 1, 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping has been completely overhauled.

Before, you showed your passport at the store and the 10% consumption tax was taken off at the register. The new system works like this:

1. Pay the tax-inclusive price at the store first;
2. At the airport on departure, customs confirms that you actually took the goods out of Japan;
3. Once confirmed, the store (or the refund service provider it works with) refunds the tax to you.

There is no transition period: all tax-free goods sold on or after November 1 follow the new system.

This article first explains the new system and the airport procedure, then goes through the common refund service providers, and finally covers: when you've bought too much and your luggage has grown, how to make your last day easier.

1. Key Changes: How It Differs From Before

Item	Old system (until 2026/10/31)	New system (from 2026/11/1)
Checkout	Show passport, pay the tax-free price directly	Pay the tax-inclusive price first
When you get the tax back	At checkout	After customs confirms at departure, refunded by the store or refund service provider
Consumables (drugstore items, food)	Must be sealed in a bag and not opened inside Japan	Sealed bags no longer required
Minimum amount	General goods and consumables counted separately	Total of ¥5,000 or more (before tax) at the same store on the same day
Departure confirmation	—	Leave Japan within 90 days of purchase, and show your passport at the airport's tax-free procedure kiosk

Who pays the refund? Not customs. Customs only confirms that the goods were taken out, and the money is paid by the store or the refund service provider it works with. So if there is a problem, contact the store, not customs.

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2. Airport Procedure: Always "Verify First, Then Check In Bags"

Arrive at airport → Tax-free procedure (kiosk or Visit Japan Web) → Check in bags at airline counter → Security and departure

• The tax-free procedure kiosks are in the international departure hall, before the check-in counters. Just show your passport.
• At major airports such as Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, you can also complete it online with Visit Japan Web (VJW) in a designated area of the departure hall, with no need to queue at a kiosk.
• If the result is GREEN: the procedure is complete and you can go check in your bags.
• If the result is RED: take your goods to the inspection area designated by customs so the officer can see the items in person.

Because you may be selected to show your goods, your tax-free items must be with you. They can't already be checked in, and they can't still be on the way.

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3. The Most Common Pitfalls

• Checking in bags before thinking of the refund: once bags are checked in, you can't do the procedure, and the airline will not retrieve your luggage for you.
• Running out of time and not finishing: if it isn't completed before boarding, it doesn't count, and neither customs nor the airline compensates you. Kiosks get queues at peak times, so arrive at the airport a bit earlier than usual.
• One receipt is one unit: if even one item on a receipt is missing (given away, lost), the whole receipt is not eligible for a refund. Buying separately and checking out separately is actually safer.
• Already eaten or used: don't force the procedure. Go to the counter and explain it to the officer.
• Domestic flight connecting to an international flight, or flying to a cruise ship: do it at the last airport or port from which you leave Japan.

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4. Do You Need a Refund App? Common Refund Service Providers

The conclusion first: the government does not require travelers to install an app. Which refund service provider is used and how refunds are paid is up to the store. At checkout the staff will tell you how to register your refund method (it may be scanning a QR code, filling in a web page, or using an app).

If shopping is a big part of your trip, getting to know these providers before you leave helps you avoid fumbling on the spot:

Provider	Background
J-TaxRefund (J&J Tax Free)	Run by J&J Business Creation, founded by JTB and JCB. It already handled electronic tax-free procedures for a large number of Japanese stores, and launched the J-TaxRefund refund service for the new system
Smart Detax (Smart Technologies & Resources)	A tax refund service for the new system, launched in partnership with SB Payment Service
PIE VAT (Pie Systems)	A digital tax refund platform with an app for travelers
Global Blue	A large global tax refund operator, commonly seen at department stores and international luxury brands

Each provider's fees, available refund methods and partner stores change with the store and over time. Follow the store's explanation at checkout.

Don Quijote (PPIH Group) has announced that from 11/1, all its stores nationwide will charge no refund handling fee for new-system tax refunds (see store notices for detailed conditions).

Tip: if the store gives you an app, link your passport and refund method on the spot rather than leaving it until the airport.

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5. How to Choose a Refund Method

Under the new system, refund methods are provided by the store or provider. Common ones include refund to credit card, in-app account, bank transfer and cash, and which ones you can choose depends on the store.

If you have a choice, prefer a refund to your credit card:

• No need to queue at a cash counter at the airport. The system refunds after customs confirmation, so you won't miss your flight.
• You won't end up with a pile of yen at the last minute: converting back to your home currency after you get home costs you another round of exchange-rate loss.
• With the refund account linked in advance, a refund is less likely to be missed or sent to the wrong place.

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6. Bought Too Much? Send Your Luggage Straight to the Airport

The new system makes the last day more about getting the order right: you, your luggage and your tax-free goods all need to meet in front of the check-in counter.

The last day usually goes like this: you check out in the morning, your suitcase is already stuffed with drugstore items, snacks and electronics and barely closes, and you still want to shop for half a day.

LUGGAGENT can deliver your luggage from your hotel straight to the airport:

1. In the morning, hand your luggage to us at the hotel front desk;
2. Spend the last half day hands-free;
3. At the airport, collect your luggage first, do the tax-free procedure in the departure hall (your tax-free items are all with you, so you can show them if you get RED), then go check in.

• Airport delivery between 15:00–21:00 has no surcharge; after 21:00 is optional but costs extra.
• Hotel and airport orders must be booked by 11:00 one day before the service date at the latest.

Reminder: leave time at the airport to collect your luggage first, then do the tax-free procedure. Don't book too late.

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7. FAQ

Q: I bought things at the end of October but leave Japan in November. Which system applies? A: It depends on the purchase date. Only tax-free goods sold on or after 11/1 follow the new system. Goods bought tax-free under the old system on or before 10/31 are handled under the old rules.

Q: Do I have to download a refund app? A: Not necessarily. The refund method is decided by the store, so just register as the staff explain at checkout.

Q: Where are the airport's tax-free procedure kiosks? A: In the international departure hall, before the check-in counters. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also use Visit Japan Web to complete it online in a designated area.

Q: Can I put tax-free goods in my checked luggage? A: You can pack them in your suitcase, but you must finish the tax-free procedure before checking it in. Your luggage has to be with you during the procedure so that you can show the goods if you get RED.

Q: How long until the refund arrives? A: It depends on the store and the refund service provider. Check the explanation given at checkout.

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Sources (verified 2026-10-21)

• Japan Tourism Agency: What is the Refund Method?
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Tax-free system explanation (PDF)
• Hokkaido Shimbun: PPIH Group waives refund handling fee for new-system tax refunds from 11/1
• NEC press release (2016): J&J Business Creation (JTB × JCB)
• paymentnavi: Smart Technologies & Resources / SBPS new-system tax refund service

Cover image: Departure lobby of Narita Airport Terminal 1 (South Wing), Tokyo. 名無し野電車区 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0