8% vs 10% consumption tax in Japan in 2026: which applies to your purchase
⚡ 30-Second Answer: Japan consumption tax = 10% (standard) / 8% (reduced rate for food takeout etc). Prices show "tax-inclusive" or "tax-exclusive" — check the receipt. Tourists get tax-free on ¥5,001+ purchases (passport, 1.55% service fee deducted = net 8.45% refund). Dine-in 10% vs takeout 8% distinction (konbini, fast food etc).
Quick Reference
Value
Standard rate
10%
Reduced rate
8% (food takeout etc)
Tax-free threshold
¥5,001+
Net refund
8.45% (after fee)
Dine-in vs takeout
10% vs 8%
Last verified
June 2026
📖2 min read
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Contents📖 ~2 min read
Japan has a two-tier consumption tax system since 2019: 10%
applies to general goods (clothing, electronics, services), and
8% applies to food, drinks, and certain newspapers when intended
for off-premises consumption. Tax-free shopping for foreign
tourists applies the same way to both rates: 8% off consumables
or 10% off general goods.
TL;DR
10% tax: general goods, services, hotel rates,
restaurants (dine-in).
8% tax: food/drink for takeaway, newspapers (subscription).
Tax-free for tourists: 8–10% off purchases over ¥5,000
at certified retailers.
Restaurant dine-in vs takeaway: 10% vs 8% — yes, this
matters.
What's the 10% rate applied to?
Most physical goods (electronics, clothing, accessories,
books, toys)
Hotel accommodations
Restaurants (dine-in)
Beauty services
Most professional services
What's the 8% rate applied to?
Food and drinks for takeaway (not dine-in)
Newspapers with delivery contracts (over twice-weekly)
Some food delivery (varies by service)
What's the dine-in vs takeaway distinction?
Same restaurant, different rates:
Eat at the table (dine-in): 10% tax
Take it to go (takeaway): 8% tax
For konbini purchases of bento or onigiri:
Eat in the konbini eating area (rare): 10%
Take to your hotel/elsewhere: 8%
For Starbucks:
Coffee for here (dine-in): 10%
Coffee to go (takeaway): 8%
The price you see often shows the 8% takeaway price; ask if
unsure.
How does this interact with tax-free shopping?
For foreign tourists with ¥5,000+ purchases at certified
retailers:
Category
Tax rate
Tax-free saved
General goods
10%
10% off
Consumables (food, drink)
8%
8% off
The discount is 8% or 10% depending on category. → article #88.
What this means for your trip
✅ At restaurants, dine-in adds 10% tax; takeaway is 8%.
✅ At konbini, takeaway = 8%; eating in = 10% (rare).
✅ Tax-free saves 8–10% depending on what you bought.
✅ Hotel rates include 10% tax; the displayed rate is
pre-tax.
⚠️ Don't be confused by dine-in vs takeaway price
differences at the same restaurant.