Japan tax refund, decoded for visitors
Get your yen back.
On November 1, 2026, Japan switches from tax-free checkout to a refund system: you pay the 10% tax at the store and get it back when you leave the country. Yenrescue turns the official rules into plain instructions — what to do at the store, at the airport, and when something goes wrong.
How this site works
- Conclusion first. Every guide starts with what to do, in three lines or less. Explanations come after.
- Official sources on every claim. Each guide links the National Tax Agency, Japan Tourism Agency, or Customs pages that back it.
- Japanese cards for staff. Each guide includes a "Show this in Japanese" card you can hand to store staff or airport officials — your situation and request, in their language, with the official rule linked.
Yenrescue is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Government of Japan.