When is Japan's tax-free system changing?

Starting November 1, 2026, the current at-register exemption will change to a “refund method,” where you pay the tax-included price and receive your refund after leaving Japan.

How does the refund method work?

After buying items at the tax-included price, your purchases are verified by customs when you leave Japan. Once verified, the equivalent consumption tax is refunded to your registered account, such as a credit card.

Does Don Quijote charge a refund fee?

According to PPIH, from November 1, 2026, PPIH Group stores across Japan do not charge a fee for refund applications.

Is the refund free if I take it in cash at the airport?

No. According to PPIH, a fee set by the refund operator applies only when you receive your refund in cash at the airport.

Can the conditions for the free refund change?

Yes. Service details and conditions may change or end without notice. Please check with the store before you pay.

Where do I complete the departure procedure?

Under the new system, you must have your purchases verified by customs in the general area before security screening, within 90 days of the purchase date. Complete this before you check your baggage.

Can I open and use tax-free purchases under the new system?

From November 1, 2026, special packaging is no longer required, but you must be able to show the goods when customs verifies them. If you cannot, the transaction may not qualify for a refund.

How can I get Don Quijote's limited-edition bag?

Show the Visit Japan Web screen on your smartphone during tax-free checkout at a participating store to receive an exclusive Don Quijote-designed bag, while supplies last.

Is the campaign available at all Don Quijote stores?

No, it's limited to 38 participating stores. Please check the list in this article for the full list of locations.

Could the details of this campaign change?

Yes. Participating stores, the campaign period, and stock levels may change or end without notice, so please check with individual stores for the latest information.

Don Quijote Tax-Free & Refunds from November 2026: Refund Fee, Visit Japan Web & Coupon

Written by: LIVE JAPAN Coupon & Deals Team

Last updated: 9 October 2026

From Nov 1, 2026, Japan's tax-free is pay first, refund later. Don Quijote refund fee, free bag and coupon explained.

Don Quijote Tax-Free & Special Discount Coupons (Up to 7% OFF)

LIVE JAPAN offers a great coupon for foreign tourists, giving you up to 7% OFF your shopping at Don Quijote. Tap the banner below to open the coupon page and present it at the register.

Save the Don Quijote discount coupon to your phone now!

Key Points (as of October 9, 2026)

From November 1, 2026, you pay first and get a refund later: pay the tax-included price, and the consumption tax is refunded after customs verifies at departure that you are taking the goods out of Japan.
Refund application fee: free at PPIH Group stores, except when you receive your refund in cash at the airport.
Customs verification must be completed within 90 days of purchase, before you check your baggage.
Refund methods and registration timing differ by store and refund service, so check before you pay.
Show your Visit Japan Web screen during tax-free checkout to get a limited-edition bag at participating stores (limited quantity, while supplies last).

Last checked: October 9, 2026 (based on the PPIH announcement). PPIH is Pan Pacific International Holdings, the group that operates Don Quijote. Service details and the conditions for the fee waiver may change or end without notice.

What's Changing: Before and After the Reform

Item	Until October 2026 (Current)	From November 2026 (New System)
At Purchase	Buy at the tax-free price (or get a refund at an in-store tax-free counter)	Pay the tax-included price (register refund details, e.g. a credit card※)
At Departure	Verified by customs after security screening (restricted area)	Verified by customs before security screening (general area) ※within 90 days of purchase
Refund	Completed in-store	Issued after customs verification
Refund Fee	No fee charged to customers at PPIH Group stores	Free at PPIH Group stores (a fee set by the refund operator applies when you take your refund in cash at the airport)

※How and when you register your refund details (e.g. a credit card) varies by store and refund service used.
※Information on the refund fee is based on the PPIH announcement (October 8, 2026). Service details and the conditions for the fee waiver may change or end without notice.

Tax-Free Shopping at Don Quijote from November 1

In the Store

Show your passport or other required ID so the store can confirm you are eligible.
Confirm how your refund will be issued. Methods vary by store and refund service.
Pay the price including consumption tax.
Keep all of the goods you bought.

At the Airport or Seaport

Before checking your baggage, scan your passport at the tax-free procedure terminal in the international departure area.
A green result means verification is complete. A red result means you go to the designated customs inspection area.
After verification, the store or refund operator issues your refund. Customs verification must be completed within 90 days of purchase.

See the complete tax-free guide

Tax-Free Rules: Minimum Purchase and Opening Items

Minimum purchase: at least 5,000 yen before tax at the same store on the same day.
From November 1, the distinction between general goods and consumables, the 500,000-yen cap on consumables and the special packaging requirement are removed.
Consumables such as food and cosmetics must still be unused and shown at departure. If you ate, used up, lost or discarded them and cannot show them, the transaction may not qualify for a refund.
Purchases made through October 31 follow the current rules: consumables must stay sealed in the designated packaging and cannot be opened.

Why Buying Everything in One Place Matters More Than Ever

Under the new system, travelers must register information such as passport details, purchase records, and refund account details in order to receive a refund. If you shop around at multiple stores — drugstores, souvenir shops, electronics retailers, and more — each store may have a different way of registering your refund details, and you'll also need to keep track of multiple receipts, which can make the process cumbersome.

That's why, under the new system, it's more important than ever to shop at a store where you can get everything in one place — cosmetics, medicine, snacks, electronics, and everyday essentials all under one roof.

About Don Quijote's Exclusive “Visit Japan Web” Gift Campaign

Don Quijote's Exclusive “Visit Japan Web” Gift Campaign

Ahead of the switch to the new system, Don Quijote has launched its own campaign for travelers visiting Japan.

Campaign Overview

Simply show your Visit Japan Web screen during tax-free checkout, and you'll receive a limited-edition original shopping bag featuring Don Quijote's mascot, Donpen (available at select stores, while supplies last).

Eligibility: Travelers who present the Visit Japan Web screen at tax-free checkout
Gift: An original shopping bag in an exclusive Don Quijote design
Terms: Available at participating stores while supplies last
Participating stores: Limited to select locations (see the full list below)

3 Benefits of Using Visit Japan Web

1.Faster tax-free checkout: Your pre-registered information lets you breeze through the process in-store
2.Smoother airport procedures: At major airports including Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha, complete the process online via the dedicated Wi-Fi area in the international departure lobby, instead of lining up at tax-free kiosks
3.Get a free limited-edition bag: Present Visit Japan Web at participating Don Quijote stores to claim your gift

Completing your registration before arriving in Japan, or at any point during your trip, can significantly cut your wait time at the airport.
※The campaign period varies by store. Please check with each store about availability from November 1.

Latest Updates (Update History)

October 9, 2026: Added refund fee information based on the PPIH announcement
(Details such as the app and new banners will be added as soon as they are announced)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. When is Japan's tax-free system changing?: A. Starting November 1, 2026, the current at-register exemption will change to a “refund method,” where you pay the tax-included price and receive your refund after leaving Japan.

Q2. How does the refund method work?: A. After buying items at the tax-included price, your purchases are verified by customs when you leave Japan. Once verified, the equivalent consumption tax is refunded to your registered account, such as a credit card.

Q3. Does Don Quijote charge a refund fee?: A. According to PPIH, from November 1, 2026, PPIH Group stores across Japan do not charge a fee for refund applications.

Q4. Is the refund free if I take it in cash at the airport?: A. No. According to PPIH, a fee set by the refund operator applies only when you receive your refund in cash at the airport.

Q5. Can the conditions for the free refund change?: A. Yes. Service details and conditions may change or end without notice. Please check with the store before you pay.

Q6. Where do I complete the departure procedure?: A. Under the new system, you must have your purchases verified by customs in the general area before security screening, within 90 days of the purchase date. Complete this before you check your baggage.

Q7. Can I open and use tax-free purchases under the new system?: A. From November 1, 2026, special packaging is no longer required, but you must be able to show the goods when customs verifies them. If you cannot, the transaction may not qualify for a refund.

Q8. How can I get Don Quijote's limited-edition bag?: A. Show the Visit Japan Web screen on your smartphone during tax-free checkout at a participating store to receive an exclusive Don Quijote-designed bag, while supplies last.

Q9. Is the campaign available at all Don Quijote stores?: A. No, it's limited to 38 participating stores. Please check the list in this article for the full list of locations.

Q10. Could the details of this campaign change?: A. Yes. Participating stores, the campaign period, and stock levels may change or end without notice, so please check with individual stores for the latest information.

List of 38 Participating Stores

The following Don Quijote stores are currently participating in the campaign.
※The number and list of participating stores reflect information as of August 2026 and may be added to or changed without notice.

No.	Store Name	No.	Store Name
1	Don Quijote Ueno Store	20	Don Quijote Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Store
2	Don Quijote Takamatsu Marugame-machi Store	21	Don Quijote Shijodori Store
3	Don Quijote Shinjuku Tonanguchi Bekkan Store	22	Don Quijote Kumamoto Shimotori Store
4	Don Quijote Fukuoka Tenjin Honten Store	23	Don Quijote Okachimachi Store
5	Don Quijote Dotonbori Store	24	Don Quijote Ginza Honkan Store
6	Don Quijote Dotonbori Midosuji Store	25	Don Quijote Tenjin Nishidori Store
7	Don Quijote Sendai-Eki Nishiguchi Honten Store	26	Don Quijote Shinjuku Tonanguchi Store
8	Don Quijote Naha Tsubogawa Store	27	Don Quijote Kokusaidori Kumoji Store
9	Don Quijote Matsuyama Okaido Store	28	MEGA Don Quijote Sapporo Tanukikoji Honten Store
10	Don Quijote Ikebukuro-Eki Nishiguchi Store	29	MEGA Donki Tanuki Koji Bekkan Store
11	Don Quijote Umeda Honten Store	30	Don Quijote Akihabara Store
12	Don Quijote Sakae Honten Store	31	Don Quijote Kokusaidori Store
13	Don Quijote Kyoto Karasuma Shichijo Store	32	Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho Store
14	MEGA Don Quijote Shinsekai Store	33	Don Quijote Shinjuku Store
15	MEGA Don Quijote Narita Store	34	Don Quijote Roppongi Store
16	MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Honten Store	35	Don Quijote Ikebukuro Higashiguchi Ekimae Store
17	MEGA Don Quijote Nago Store	36	Don Quijote Kyoto Avanti Store
18	Don Quijote Asakusa Store	37	Don Quijote Namba Sennichimae Store
19	Don Quijote Asakusa EKIMISE Store	38	Don Quijote Nakasu Store

※Stock levels and campaign duration vary by store. We recommend checking with each store before visiting.

※The content of this article is current as of October 9, 2026. Further official details regarding the tax exemption system, and each company's response, may be announced in the future. We will add the latest information as it becomes available.

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*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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