Refund JapanThis page is written for English-speaking travellers going to Japan.
Tax-free and duty-free are not the same thing
Both phrases appear on shop windows in Japan. They refer to different taxes, in different places, with different timing.
Two different taxes, in two different places
English uses both phrases loosely, and shops in Japan put both words on their windows. They are not interchangeable, and mixing them up is the fastest way to end up expecting money that was never coming.
| Tax-free | Duty-free | |
|---|---|---|
| Which tax | Consumption tax, 10% | Customs duty and other border charges |
| Where you shop | Registered shops in town | The international zone of an airport, past passport control |
| When you benefit | From November 1, 2026, after customs confirms your purchase | At the till |
| Passport needed | Yes, at the till | Yes, with a boarding pass |
| Covered by this site | Yes | No |
Why it matters on November 1
Under the old system, tax-free shopping felt like duty-free shopping: the money came off at the counter either way. From November 1, 2026 they stop feeling the same. Duty-free purchases at the airport still come off at the till. Tax-free purchases in town do not — you pay in full and wait.
So if you have been treating them as one thing, this is the change that separates them.