Duty-free shops are stores that sell products to travelers free of taxes (consumption tax, liquor tax, import duties, etc). They can be found in airports and some shopping centers.
In Japan, duty-free shops are divided into two classes: shops that are exempt not just from consumption taxes, but also from customs taxes, tobacco taxes and liquor taxes, and shops that are exempt from consumption tax only.
Foreigners coming to Japan are considered as non-residents and are eligible for tax exemptions.
They are exempt from paying consumption tax on personal goods (such as general goods and consumable goods).
To qualify for the tax exemptions on general goods, you must purchase over 10,001 yen worth of products from the same store within one day, and they must be taken out of the country within 6 months from purchase date.
When the total amount of purchases exceeds 1 million yen, a photocopy of your passport will be taken as well.
To qualify for the tax exemptions on consumable goods, the shopper must per one day and at the same store purchase over 5,001 yen but less than 500,000 yen worth of goods, and the products must be taken out of the country unopened within 30 months from purchase date.
You must undergo the procedures for tax exemption at the duty-free shop where the purchase was made within the date of purchase.
Duty-free shops have "duty-free signs" commissioned by the Japan Tourism Agency at clearly marked and displayed at their shop fronts.
