JP Tax Refund

Tax-free sign, Okinawa · Photo: Naha Mama Pavilionz (CC0)

Before you fly to Japan: a checklist to tick off

Work down the list from a month before you fly to the day you leave. Your ticks stay in this browser, so you can come back to it, and each line links to the guide or the place to book.

By Mikako Yoshida ·

Your checklist

A month or more before

Two to four weeks before

The last week

  • Visit Japan Web guide
  • Suica and ICOCA
  • Getting yen
  • Entering Japan

Arrival day

  • Suica and ICOCA

Leaving Japan

  • Tax refund at the airport

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

New in 2026

Tax-free goods bought from 1 November 2026 are refunded after a customs check when you leave Japan: do it at the airport before you check in any bag. Visit Japan Web is free; sites that charge a fee for it are not official.

Useful before you fly

eSIM for Japan, installed before you leave home

Airalo Saily Yesim

JR Pass and Shinkansen tickets

Klook KKday

Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags

Klook Trip.com Welcome Pickups

Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight

Radical Storage

Hotels in Japan

Klook Trip.com

Coupons

Arrival gate, Narita Airport Terminal 2
Arrival gate, Narita Airport Terminal 2 · Photo: Chihaya Sta (CC BY 4.0)

Questions

How early should I book timed tickets?
As soon as your dates are fixed. Tickets for places such as SHIBUYA SKY, teamLab, Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disney Resort are sold by date or time slot, and popular slots sell out first.
Do I need cash in Japan?
Cards work in most chains, stations and department stores, but keep some cash. 7-Eleven ATMs take most foreign cards.
Where are my ticks saved?
In this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us, and clearing your browser data clears them.

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