Japan’s Tax-Free Shopping Rules Are Changing: Tax Refunds at the Airport Starting November 2026?

Updated October 23, 2026

Shopping in Japan from November 1, 2026? You will pay the tax-inclusive price at participating tax-free shops, then receive a refund after customs confirms that you are taking the goods out of Japan.

The most important departure-day rule: complete the tax-free procedure before checking in baggage containing your purchases. Customs confirmation and payment of your refund are separate steps.

What Changes on November 1?

The new rules apply to purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, regardless of when you arrive in Japan.

Through October 31:

• Receive the tax exemption at purchase.
• General goods and consumables are treated separately.
• Special packaging is required for consumables.

From November 1:

• Pay the tax-inclusive price, then receive a refund after departure customs confirmation.
• General goods and consumables fall under one category.
• Special packaging is no longer required, but consumables used in Japan do not qualify for a refund.

Sources: Japan Customs and National Tax Agency.

How Much Do You Need to Spend?

Eligible purchases must total at least ¥5,000 before tax at the same tax-free shop on the same day.

You must take the goods out of Japan in your personal baggage. Gold and platinum bullion and goods already exempt from consumption tax are excluded. (customs.go.jp)

Before paying, ask the shop to confirm your eligibility and explain its refund arrangements.

How to Get Your Refund: Step by Step

1. Complete the Store’s Tax-Free Purchase Procedure

Present your passport and any required eligibility documents. Pay the tax-inclusive price and follow the shop’s instructions.

Ask how and when the refund will be paid. The refund comes from the shop or its appointed service provider, so arrangements can differ. (mlit.go.jp)

2. Keep Your Purchases and Receipts Together

Pack so that you can present your tax-free goods if requested.

Every item on a purchase record matters. If even one item from a receipt is missing at departure, all goods on that receipt become ineligible for the refund. (japan.travel)

3. Complete Customs Confirmation Before Baggage Check-In

At your departure airport or seaport, use a tax-free procedure terminal and present your passport.

• Green result: No physical inspection is required; customs confirmation is complete.
• Red result: Take your purchases to the designated customs inspection area.

Complete any required inspection before handing over baggage containing the goods. (japan.travel)

4. Receive the Refund Through the Shop’s Process

Customs confirms that the goods are leaving Japan. The retailer or its refund provider handles payment.

Do not assume that completing the airport procedure means you will immediately receive cash. Confirm payment details with the shop when purchasing. (mlit.go.jp)

Can You Eat the Snacks or Use the Cosmetics?

Consumables eaten or used in Japan do not qualify for a refund. Removing the special packaging requirement does not remove the requirement to export the goods.

Buy items for use during your stay separately from purchases intended for a tax refund. This helps keep your refund purchases intact and easy to identify. (customs.go.jp, japan.travel)

What Is the 90-Day Deadline?

You must complete departure customs confirmation within 90 days of purchase.

The National Tax Agency counts from the day after purchase. Its example: goods purchased on November 1 must receive customs confirmation by January 30 of the following year. (nta.go.jp)

Can You Use Visit Japan Web?

Japan Customs lists Visit Japan Web as an alternative to the airport kiosk at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, Fukuoka, New Chitose, and Naha.

You must use the designated departure-lobby area and dedicated Wi-Fi network. Prepare Visit Japan Web beforehand; use the kiosk if you cannot complete the online procedure. (customs.go.jp)

What If You Have a Domestic Connection?

Complete the procedure at the airport where your international flight leaves Japan.

If your purchases will be checked through from a domestic airport, ask your airline in advance how to keep them available for customs confirmation at your international departure airport. (mlit.go.jp, japan.travel)

Before Leaving for the Airport

• Keep your passport, receipts, and purchases accessible.
• Check the location of the tax-free procedure area.
• Allow time for a possible inspection.
• Complete confirmation before checking baggage containing your purchases.
• Keep the shop’s refund instructions until payment arrives.

Official Guidance

• Japan Customs: Tax Exemption and Refund Program
• Japan Tourism Agency: New Tax-Free Shopping System
• JNTO: Guide to the New System

Information checked on October 23, 2026. Confirm airport procedures and refund arrangements before traveling.

Okinawa Typhoon Travel Update: Flights, Airport Closures and Ferries, October 23–25, 2026

Updated October 23, 2026 | All dates and times are Japan Standard Time (JST).

Traveling to Miyako or Ishigaki this weekend? Typhoon Champi is disrupting flights and ferry services in Okinawa’s southwestern islands. Before leaving for the airport or ferry terminal, confirm that both your service and the terminal are operating.

For travelers with island-hopping plans, checking the flight alone is not enough. A canceled ferry can also prevent you from reaching your hotel—or returning to the airport.

Which Parts of Okinawa Are Affected?

Miyako and Ishigaki are separate island destinations within Okinawa Prefecture. Their transport conditions should be checked separately from those on Okinawa’s main island, where Naha is located.

Local newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo reports that the terminal buildings at Miyako, Ishigaki, and Shimojishima airports are closed throughout October 23. (ryukyushimpo.jp)

Check the airport named on your booking carefully, particularly if you are traveling to the Miyako area.

Is Ishigaki Airport Open?

Ishigaki Airport has officially confirmed that its domestic and international terminal buildings are closed all day on October 23.

Its current notice gives noon on October 24 as the planned reopening time, but says this may change depending on the typhoon and flight schedules. (ishigaki-airport.co.jp)

A planned terminal reopening does not guarantee that your flight will operate. Check both the airport’s official announcement and your airline’s flight status before traveling there.

How Can You Check Your Flight?

Use your airline’s official website to search by flight number and departure date. Check again before leaving your accommodation.

• ANA — Flight status and booking management.
• JAL domestic flight information — Operational notices and flight searches.

If your booking includes a connection through Naha, Tokyo, or another airport, check every flight separately.

Avoid treating an earlier cancellation total as a complete picture of current operations. Your own flight status is the information that matters for your next step.

Are Ferries From Ishigaki Operating?

Anei Kanko has announced that all of its routes and sailings are canceled on October 23 and 24. Its October 25 schedule remains undecided, with further cancellations possible. This announcement applies to Anei Kanko’s services; check other operators separately. (aneikankou.co.jp)

Check the official Anei Kanko service-status page before heading to the port. The page is in Japanese, so browser translation may be helpful.

If your accommodation requires a ferry journey, contact the property before traveling. Ask what arrangements are available if you cannot reach the island or return as planned.

Can You Change Your Flight or Get a Refund?

ANA’s published typhoon policy allows eligible bookings to be changed or refunded without handling fees, even if the flight has not yet been canceled.

The notice covers:

• Naha: Flights from October 22 through October 24.
• Miyako and Ishigaki: Flights from noon on October 21 through October 24.

Check the exact conditions against your booking. The notice does not include codeshare flights operated by other airlines. (ana.co.jp)

If you booked through a travel agency or booking website, contact that provider about the procedure. Check hotel, car rental, ferry, and activity bookings separately; an airline waiver does not establish the refund terms for other reservations.

What Should You Do If You Are Already There?

Contact your accommodation first if your departure is canceled. Ask about extending your stay and any local instructions you should follow.

Keep your phone charged, save booking details, and follow official weather warnings. Avoid beaches, exposed coastal viewpoints, snorkeling, diving, and boat excursions during hazardous conditions.

Do not travel to a closed airport or ferry terminal simply to wait for services to resume. Confirm reopening and your reservation first.

Should You Postpone Your Trip?

Consider postponing if your arrival falls during a confirmed closure or your itinerary depends on a canceled ferry.

If you are traveling later in the weekend, wait for updated operating information before assuming that services will have returned to normal. Confirm your flight, onward transport, and accommodation access together.

For trips limited to Naha or Okinawa’s main island, check your own route and local conditions rather than applying an Ishigaki or Miyako closure notice to the entire prefecture.

Before Leaving for the Airport or Port

• Confirm your individual flight or sailing.
• Check whether the terminal is open.
• Confirm that you can reach your accommodation.
• Review change and refund options.
• Keep an alternative accommodation plan if your return is delayed.

Official Updates

• Ishigaki Airport — Terminal announcements.
• ANA — Flight status and reservation management.
• ANA special ticket handling — Eligible routes and travel dates.
• JAL — Domestic flight updates.
• Anei Kanko — Ferry operating status.

This article reflects information checked on October 23, 2026. Reopening times, flight schedules, and ferry operations may change. Confirm the latest details directly with your operator before traveling.

Paris Protests October 24–25, 2026: Louvre Closure and Weekend Travel Advice

Updated October 23, 2026 | All dates refer to local time in France.

Traveling to Paris this weekend? Check your sightseeing reservations and transport routes before heading out. Demonstrations are planned for Saturday, October 24, and the Louvre has confirmed that it will close for the day.

The impact on your trip will depend on where you are staying and what you have booked. Here is what to check before making changes.

What Is Happening in Paris on October 24?

Demonstrations are planned in Paris on Saturday, October 24. Local reporting says authorities have authorized a march between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. (leparisien.fr)

If your accommodation, restaurant reservation, or sightseeing route is near the demonstration, check local access arrangements before traveling there.

Keep your plans flexible, avoid protest gatherings, and follow instructions from local authorities.

Is the Louvre Closed This Weekend?

The Louvre has confirmed that it will be closed on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Its official notice says reservations for that date will be refunded automatically. (louvre.fr)

If you purchased a guided tour or tickets through another company, check with that provider about your booking. Its arrangements may differ from those for tickets purchased directly from the museum.

The announcement applies to Saturday. Check the Louvre’s official website separately before planning a Sunday visit.

What About Other Paris Attractions?

Check each attraction individually rather than assuming that all museums and monuments will follow the same schedule.

Before leaving your hotel, visit the attraction’s official website and review any messages about your reservation. Look for:

• Closure notices for your visit date.
• Changes to opening hours or visitor entrances.
• Instructions for ticket holders.
• Rescheduling and refund information.

For the Musée d’Orsay, check the museum’s official website. For guided tours, contact the operator to confirm the meeting point and whether the tour will run.

If an activity is canceled, confirm that your replacement is open before buying another ticket.

How Should You Check Métro and Bus Routes?

Check your full journey shortly before departure, including interchange stations and the route back to your accommodation.

The official RATP website provides journey planning and current service information for Paris public transport. (ratp.fr)

Keep an alternative route available. If a station entrance is closed or police restrict access to a street, avoid trying to cross the restricted area to follow your original directions.

Allow more flexibility between timed reservations so that a change of route does not disrupt the rest of your day.

Will the Protests Affect Your Flight?

Check your flight and your airport transfer separately.

For departures from Charles de Gaulle or Orly:

1. Confirm your flight status with your airline.
2. Check the train, bus, or road route to your terminal.
3. Allow extra time for possible delays or route changes.
4. Check again before leaving your accommodation.

A protest announcement alone does not tell you whether your particular flight or transfer is affected. Use information from your airline and transport operator to make that decision.

Should You Cancel Your Paris Trip?

Base your decision on your itinerary, current official advice, and the flexibility of your bookings.

If your main Saturday activity was the Louvre, that reservation will need to be removed from your plans. Travelers staying several days may have more room to rearrange activities.

Before canceling flights or accommodation, ask your provider what options are available under your booking terms. Do not assume that a museum closure or nearby demonstration automatically makes every booking refundable.

Also review your own government’s current travel advice for France.

A Practical Plan for October 24–25

Before each day’s activities:

• Confirm that your destination is open.
• Check the route there and back.
• Review official notices about local restrictions.
• Keep booking confirmations and provider contact details accessible.
• Ask your accommodation about access changes nearby.

Avoid demonstrations and leave the area if crowds build or conditions become tense. Follow local authorities’ instructions.

For Sunday, October 25, check fresh updates. Saturday’s closures and arrangements should not be treated as the confirmed schedule for the entire weekend.

Useful Links

• Louvre Museum — Official visitor notices and reservation information.
• Musée d’Orsay — Opening information and visitor updates.
• RATP — Public transport routes and service information.
• Paris Police Prefecture — Official restrictions and security announcements.
• Le Parisien: October 24 demonstration route — Local reporting on the authorized march.

Information checked on October 23, 2026. Demonstration arrangements, attraction openings, and transport services may change. Confirm the latest details with the relevant operator before traveling.