【Frequently Asked Questions for Travelers (Refund Method)】
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Please ensure that all purchased goods can be presented to customs at the airport or seaport when departing Japan.
* The My Number Card includes its digital alternative (the smartphone‑based My Number credential) and must indicate that the holder has moved abroad.
* To receive the refund, you must undergo the customs inspection at the time of departure within 90 days from the date of purchase.
* If you are transferring from a domestic flight to an international flight, you must complete the procedures at the airport from which you depart Japan.
* For details about Visit Japan Web, please refer to the relevant information.
* You do not need to complete the procedures when temporarily departing Japan during the cruise.
・Frequently Asked Questions
When Purchasing
Q：Are there any limits on the quantity of items that can be purchased at tax‑free shops?
A：The quantity of goods you may purchase is limited to items that you can personally carry and take out of Japan upon departure.Please ensure that all purchased goods can be presented to customs at the airport or seaport when departing Japan.
Q：Since special packaging for consumables has been abolished, may I use consumables within Japan?
A：Although special packaging for consumables will be abolished, if consumables such as food, beverages, or cosmetics are consumed in Japan, you will not be eligible for the customs inspection (tax refund). If all or part of the consumables have been consumed, do not complete the tax‑free procedures at the terminal; instead, report the consumption to a customs officer at the counter.Q：I am a Japanese national and have been living abroad for more than two years. Have there been any changes to the verification documents required for the tax-free procedures?
A：To verify that you have continuously lived outside Japan for two years or more, in addition to the currently accepted documents (Residency Certificate or a copy of Family Register Attachment (Koseki no Fuhyō)), the Individual Number Card (My Number Card) may also be accepted. In addition, these verification documents no longer require the holder’s registered domicile (honseki) to be shown.* The My Number Card includes its digital alternative (the smartphone‑based My Number credential) and must indicate that the holder has moved abroad.
Q：Is it possible to ship tax-free goods overseas?
A：The handling of overseas shipping differs depending on the tax‑free shop. Please inquire directly with the shop regarding whether overseas shipping is available. Please note that the separate shipment method, under which purchasers shipped their own tax‑free goods as mail or parcels, was abolished on March 31, 2025.When Departing
Q：When should I complete the customs inspection procedures?
A：You must complete the customs inspection before checking in your baggage. Please arrive early at the airport or seaport and complete the procedures in advance.* To receive the refund, you must undergo the customs inspection at the time of departure within 90 days from the date of purchase.
* If you are transferring from a domestic flight to an international flight, you must complete the procedures at the airport from which you depart Japan.
Q：Where are the tax-free procedure terminals (kiosk terminals or electronic terminals) located at airports or seaports?
A： Tax‑free procedure terminals (kiosk terminals or electronic terminals) are installed in the international departure lobby before baggage check‑in.Q：How long does the tax-free procedure take at airports or seaports?
A：The process using the tax‑free procedure terminal takes only a few seconds from passport scanning to the display of the result. However, if a customs inspection is required, you must present your tax‑free goods to a customs officer. Please arrive early and complete the procedures with sufficient time before departure.Q：Before completing the tax-free procedures at the terminal, I checked in my suitcase containing my tax-free goods as checked baggage. If I receive a Red Result (inspection required) at the terminal afterward, can I retrieve the checked baggage to proceed with the tax-free procedures?
A：Checked baggage cannot be retrieved once it has been checked in. To complete the tax‑free procedures, you must use the tax‑free procedure terminal before checking in your baggage with the airline.Q：Besides using the tax-free procedure terminals (kiosk terminals or electronic terminals), are there any other methods for completing the tax-free procedures at airports or seaports?
A：At major airports with many travelers (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose, and Naha), in addition to the tax‑free procedure terminals, you may complete the process online via Visit Japan Web within the designated wireless LAN in the international departure lobby, up to the security checkpoint.* For details about Visit Japan Web, please refer to the relevant information.
Q：I consumed part of the tax-free goods I purchased. Can I undergo the customs inspection with only the items I have not consumed?
A： Customs inspections are conducted per each purchase transaction (such as a receipt). If you are not in possession of even one item included in a single purchase transaction (such as a receipt), none of the tax‑free goods associated with that receipt will be eligible for customs inspection (tax refund). If consumables have been partly or fully consumed, do not complete the procedures at the terminal; instead, report the consumption to a customs officer at the counter.Q：I purchased an item priced at 1 million yen or more. Are any documents required for the customs inspection?
A：If you purchase an item priced at 1 million yen or more (excluding consumption tax), customs officials may ask you to present certificates of authenticity or warranties along with the item. Preparing these documents in advance will help the inspection proceed smoothly.Q：What happens if I do not take out of Japan the goods that have passed the customs inspection? Are there penalties?
A：If you fail to take out of Japan the goods that have passed the customs inspection, consumption tax equivalent to the exempted amount shall be collected and you will be subject to penalties.Q：How do I complete the tax-free procedures for a cruise ship that departs from and returns to a port outside Japan?
A：For cruise ships that depart from and return to a port outside Japan, the tax‑free procedures must be completed at the final port in Japan using the electronic terminal before checking in your baggage.Q：After taking a cruise ship that departs from Japan, calls at overseas ports, and returns to Japan, how do I complete the tax-free procedures when departing Japan from a domestic airport (so-called fly & cruise)?
A：For itineraries where you take a cruise that departs from Japan, calls at overseas ports, and returns to Japan, the tax‑free procedures for your entire stay must be completed at the domestic airport from which you depart Japan, before baggage check‑in.* You do not need to complete the procedures when temporarily departing Japan during the cruise.
About Refunds
Q：Where can I learn how to register my refund method?
A： Information on registering the refund method will be provided at the tax‑free shop when you purchase tax‑free goods. Please contact the shop or the refund service provider for details.Q：When will the amount equivalent to consumption tax be refunded?
A：The refund will be generally processed after the tax‑free sale is confirmed through the customs inspection at the airport or seaport. For details, please contact the tax‑free shop.Q：Is it possible to receive the refund in cash?
A：Possible refund methods include bank transfers, credit card transfers, app‑based refunds, or cash refunds at the port of departure after customs confirmation. Refund methods vary by shop, so please inquire with the tax‑free shop for details.・Frequently Asked Questions
