In brief
Tokyo’s Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya has begun giving foreign shoppers multilingual handouts that explain Japan’s new tax‑free system, which requires consumers to pay tax at purchase and claim a refund at departure ports. The change, effective November 1, aims to stop abuses such as early resale. Store clerks, an American visitor, and a company official highlight the new procedure, while the chain expands its high‑end liquor section to attract a wider customer base.
Tokyo – Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya was busy early November handing out multilingual flyers to shoppers at the cashier to explain Japan’s new tax‑free shopping rules, after the government moved from an in‑store tax exemption to a refund system that applies to foreign visitors. The handouts tell tourists that they must now pay the consumption tax when buying an item and can only claim a refund at departure airports or seaports after they have finished customs inspections.
The overhaul, which entered into force on Nov. 1, is aimed at curbing the abuse of the prior system, such as reselling goods before leaving the country. Under the former rules, visitors could show a passport and receive a tax‑exclusive price at selected stores. The new guidelines eliminate the daily limit of 500,000 yen worth of tax‑free consumables per store, as well as the requirement that these items be sealed in transparent bags to prevent resale.
Various overseas shoppers arrive at the shop with a sense that the new procedure will take a little extra effort. An American man in Shibuya told a reporter that the “new system requires a little extra effort from travelers like me, though I would have no trouble navigating it.” He noted that the flyers will help him remember to collect the refund paperwork at the airport later.
The store’s bilingual staff also highlighted the new spending threshold set by the government: tourists must spend at least ¥5,000 excluding tax at a single shop in one day and present their passports to qualify for the refund. The guidelines also require that the refund be collected only after a customs inspection at a departure point.
In the same store, the Don Quijote official explained that the company will simplify the process. It takes time to explain the system (to customers) but once we get used to it, the burden will be reduced, the official said in a recent statement to Kyodo.
“It takes time to explain the system (to customers) but once we get used to it, the burden will be reduced,” a Don Quijote official said.
Don Quijote is also expanding its high‑end liquor section as part of a broader line‑up change intended to attract customers who bring in greater spend. The store’s multilingual flyers appear in several languages, including English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish, ensuring that non‑Japanese‑speaking customers can follow the new instructions.
Japan’s tax‑free program remains a major draw for foreign tourists, with spending by overseas visitors reaching a record 9.46 trillion yen ($59.7 billion) in 2025. The new system is seen as a way to preserve that tourism revenue while tightening controls on tax‑free abuse.
