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Last checked: October 27, 2026 (based on the announcement dated October 5, 2026 by Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation, hereafter "PPIH", the group that operates Don Quijote). Service details and the conditions for the fee waiver may change or end without notice. Official release: PPIH news release (PDF, in Japanese)

Under the refund method, you buy goods at the tax-included price, have customs verify at departure that you are taking them out of Japan, and then receive a refund of the consumption tax amount. It replaces the current system of tax-free pricing at the register on November 1, 2026.

Under the new system, you register information such as your passport details, purchase records and the card or account that will receive your refund, following the method each store explains. Because that method can differ by store and by refund service, the more stores you shop at — drugstores, souvenir shops, electronics retailers, variety stores — the more paperwork you take on.

Working out "where do I apply for the refund on this item?", "which store did I register my refund details with?" and "have I already applied for this receipt?" at every store takes more time than you would expect. Under the new system, where you shop matters more than ever.

Shopping in Japan is still a great deal under the new system. Keeping your shopping to as few stores as possible makes it easier to keep track of refund registrations and receipts, and lighter work at tax-free checkout. That leaves more of your trip for sightseeing, food and activities. Which brings us back to Don Quijote, where you can buy what you want in one place.

Cosmetics, medicine, snacks, classic souvenirs, electronics, everyday essentials and character goods — what travelers want to buy is available in one store. If your suitcase ends up packed to bursting every trip, keeping your shopping to one store also keeps the refund paperwork together.

Many stores open late into the night or stay open 24 hours, so you can shop after sightseeing or a meal without watching the clock. Opening hours vary by store, so please check before you visit.

Keeping your shopping in one place means less checking of where you registered your refund details, fewer applications to confirm, and fewer receipts to keep and organize. That is reassuring if the extra paperwork under the new system concerns you.

From November 1, 2026, PPIH Group stores charge no fee for refund applications under the new system (except when you take your refund in cash at the airport). Under the new system, how much of your refund you actually receive matters as much as where you shop. You can apply for your consumption tax refund without worrying about a fee.

PPIH expects the move to the refund method to shorten the time tax-free procedures take, which should mean shorter waits at the register. It also plans to put the time saved into strengthening multilingual shopping support. Both are initiatives announced by PPIH for the future.

According to PPIH, travelers from abroad favor its stores for the range of goods available in one stop, the late opening hours, and store displays that are fun to browse.

Refunding the consumption tax means a tax-free store has to manage and verify purchase records, process refunds and handle other work, all of which costs money. That is why a fee is commonly charged on refund applications, and why customers are sometimes asked to cover it. PPIH Group has not passed that cost on to customers in its tax-free service so far, and says it will keep that policy under the new refund method.

*This section covers the national tax-free rules in general and is not part of the PPIH announcement. For the latest details, please check announcements from the National Tax Agency and the Japan Tourism Agency.

Ahead of the switch to the new system, Don Quijote has launched its own campaign for travelers visiting Japan. Visit Japan Web lets you register the information needed for tax-free purchases as well as for immigration and customs declaration, so preparing in advance makes the new procedure go more smoothly.

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).

Completing your registration before arriving in Japan, or at any point during your trip, also helps cut the time your procedure takes at the airport.
*The campaign period varies by store. Please check with each store about availability from November 1.

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

*The content of this article is current as of October 27, 2026. Further official details regarding the tax-free system, and each company's response, may be announced in the future. We will add the latest information as it becomes available.