Duty-free and tax-free compared
| Airport duty-free shops | Tax-free shops in town | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | After departure immigration. Some airports also have arrival shops before customs. | Shops with a tax-free sign all over Japan, including shops in the departure lobby |
| Taxes removed | Consumption tax; on alcohol and tobacco also liquor or tobacco tax and customs duty | Consumption tax only |
| How you pay | The price is already without tax | From 1 November 2026: the full price, then a refund after the customs check |
| Customs kiosk | Not needed | Needed, before you check in your bags |
| Who can buy | Anyone leaving Japan on an international flight, Japanese residents included | Visitors and some Japanese citizens living abroad |
| Minimum spend | None | ¥5,000 before tax in one store on one day |
The new refund system does not change airport duty-free
Duty-free shops past immigration are bonded shops: their goods have not been taxed, so the price you pay is already tax-free. Chubu Centrair Airport says no tax-free procedure is needed there. You show no receipt at a kiosk and register no refund method.
The refund system applies to tax-free shops in town and to tax-free shops in the departure lobby, before security. Goods from those shops need the customs check at the kiosk before you check in.
Your last day, in order
Kiosk check for tax-free goods from town
In the departure lobby, scan your passport at the customs kiosk with all tax-free goods with you. Do this before you check in any bag.
Check in, security and immigration
Once you pass departure immigration you cannot go back to the lobby or the kiosk.
Shop duty-free or collect a pre-order
Pay at the duty-free price, or collect what you ordered online at the pick-up counter.
Keep duty-free liquids sealed
Liquids over 100 ml come in a sealed security bag (STEB). Keep it sealed if you change planes, and check that your connecting country accepts it.
For your departure day
- Getting to Narita Airport: airport trains, buses and luggage delivery: Skyliner · Klook · KKday
- Getting to Haneda Airport: airport trains, buses and luggage delivery: Tokyo Monorail · Klook · KKday
- Getting to Kansai Airport: airport trains, buses and luggage delivery: HARUKA · Klook · KKday
- Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight: Radical Storage
- Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags: Klook · Trip.com · Welcome Pickups
Duty-free at the main airports
| Airport | Shops | Pre-order |
|---|---|---|
| Narita | Fa-So-La DUTY FREE in every terminal | Online, about 5% off, collected after departure immigration |
| Haneda Terminal 3 | TIAT DUTY FREE on 3F | Online at least 24 hours before departure, about 5% off; the pick-up counter on 3F is open 24 hours |
| Kansai | KIX DUTY FREE | Online until shortly before departure; not from Terminal 2 |
| Chubu Centrair | Duty-free shops after departure immigration, and an arrival shop by the baggage claim | — |
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Arrival duty-free shops
Narita, Kansai and Chubu have arrival duty-free shops between the arrival gates and customs, selling imported alcohol and tobacco to passengers coming off international flights. What you buy there counts towards your customs allowance, and anything over it is taxed.
What you can bring into Japan without duty
| Item | Allowance per adult (20 or over) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 3 bottles of 760 ml |
| Cigarettes | 200 (heated tobacco, cigars and other tobacco have their own limits) |
| Perfume | 2 oz, about 56 ml (eau de toilette and eau de cologne do not count) |
| Other goods | ¥200,000 in total at the overseas price; a single item over ¥200,000 is taxed in full |
Duty-free shops in town
Lotte Duty Free in Ginza sells duty-free to people leaving Japan: you buy in the store with your passport and flight details and collect the goods at Narita or Haneda after departure immigration.
Okinawa has its own duty-free shops for people flying from Okinawa to the rest of Japan, such as T Galleria in Naha. They remove customs duty but not consumption tax, up to ¥200,000 per person, and the scheme runs until March 2027.