Shopping complete money guide — tax-free, depachika, outlet 2026
Shopping complete money guide. Japanese shopping perk for tourists: 8% tax-free on ¥5,000+ purchases. Department stores, electronics retailers, drugstores, outlet malls — each has different tax-free rules and cash/card acceptance. Daily shopping budget ¥10,000-50,000, omiyage-focused ¥20,000-40,000 for family-friendly. Tax-free workflow, card strategy, outlet access on 1 page.
TL;DR — shopping playbook
- Tax-free: present passport on ¥5,000+ purchase → 8% discount
- Items: food / drinks / cosmetics / clothes / electronics / general goods split into "consumables" and "general goods"
- Department stores: Ginza / Shinjuku / Shibuya / Umeda flagships = tax-free 100%
- Electronics: Yodobashi / Bic Camera / Yamada = tax-free 100%
- Drugstores: Matsukiyo / Cocokara Fine = many tax-free shops
- Outlets: Gotemba / Karuizawa / Mitsui / Mitsubishi
- Recommended cards: Wise / Revolut
1. Japan's tax-free system
Tax-free 2 categories
General goods: electronics / clothes / general / bags / watches / jewelry → from ¥5,000+ Consumables: food / drinks / cosmetics / meds / stationery → from ¥5,000+ up to ¥500,000
Tax-free procedure
- ¥5,000+ purchase with passport presentation
- At tax-free counter: paperwork (5-15 min)
- 8% consumption tax refund (card cashback or cash refund)
- Consumables packed in sealed bag, unopened until departure
2026 system changes
- Electronic push: paper tax-free forms migrating to PDF / app
- Major chains do instant refund same-day
- Small shops handle at customs at departure in some patterns
→ #88 Tax-free shopping guide / #108 2026 tax-free changes
2. Department store shopping
Major depachika and character
| Department store | Location | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Isetan Shinjuku | Shinjuku | Japan's largest depachika |
| Mitsukoshi Ginza | Ginza | Legacy crystallization |
| GINZA SIX | Ginza | New luxury mall |
| Matsuzakaya Ueno | Ueno | Kansai-style lineup |
| Takashimaya Nihombashi | Nihombashi | Legacy, internationally famed |
| Tokyu Shibuya | Shibuya Hikarie | Youth, trendy |
| Hankyu Umeda | Umeda | Kansai's largest, depachika-developed |
| Daimaru Shinsaibashi | Shinsaibashi | Osaka shopping core |
Department store tax-free
- ¥5,000+ receipt combinable (same day, same store)
- Tax-free counter handles in batch
- Depachika food is tax-free (consumable category)
→ #161 Depachika money guide / #147 Ginza money pillar
3. Electronics retailers
Major chains and character
| Electronics retailer | Character | Tax-free |
|---|---|---|
| Yodobashi Camera | Akiba / Shinjuku / Umeda | Instant refund, English support |
| Bic Camera | Ikebukuro / Shinjuku / Shibuya | Instant refund, English support |
| Yamada Denki LABI | Ikebukuro / Shimbashi | Instant refund |
| Joshin | Osaka / Nagoya | Strong in Kansai |
| Edion | Osaka / Nagoya | Chubu/Kansai |
Electronics strategy
- Mobile / cameras / beauty appliances: some items pricier overseas
- Coupon + tax-free + points = up to 15-20% off
- International warranty / multilingual increasing
→ #149 Akihabara money pillar / #109 Electronics shopping