Money, IC cards and tax-free shopping
How to pay and how to get the tax back. The tax-free rules come from the official page of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), read on 2026-10-04.
Tax-free shopping from 1 November 2026
- For purchases on or after 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping uses the refund method: you pay the consumption tax at the shop, and you get it back after a customs check at the airport or seaport.
- You have 90 days from the purchase date to show your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal.
- A purchase of 5,000 yen or more (tax excluded) for each store on each day is eligible. The official page gives no upper limit for consumables, so check it before you shop.
- Visit Japan Web also covers tax-free shopping. Keep your passport with you when you shop.
IC cards
- An IC card, for example Suica or ICOCA, pays for trains and many shops. Read the official page of the card before you buy.
Cash and cards
- Carry some cash for small shops. Cards work in many places but not in all. These are typical values: check each place.