Cash refund providers and services in Japan
From November 1, 2026, Japan’s tax-free shopping system will change to a refund system.
Foreign visitors and other eligible travelers purchase goods at tax-free shops at tax-inclusive prices. After customs checks at an airport or port when leaving Japan, they can receive a refund equivalent to consumption tax by completing the required procedures.
Refund methods include credit cards, electronic payments, bank transfers and cash. Available methods depend on the shop and refund operator.
Cash refund services will be available at selected airports in Japan.
As of October 2026, two major airport cash refund providers have been announced: Cash Japan and Glory (Self Tax Refund).
Cash Japan
Cash Japan offers a service for receiving consumption tax refunds on tax-free purchases in Japanese yen cash at major international airports in Japan.
Supported airports: Narita, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Fukuoka and Kobe
| Airport | Location | Number of cash refund terminals | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Chitose CTS | International terminal, 3F | Not announced | Not announced |
| Narita NRT · T1 | South and North Wings, 3F | Not announced | Not announced |
| Narita NRT · T2 | 3F | Not announced | Not announced |
| Narita NRT · T3 | 3F | Not announced | Not announced |
| Chubu NGO · T1 | After departure immigration, near the inspection area | 5 | Not announced |
| Chubu NGO · T2 | Immediately after departure immigration | Not announced | Not announced |
| Kansai KIX · T1 | 3F, after departure immigration | 16 | Not announced |
| Kansai KIX · T2 | 1F, after departure immigration | 5 | Not announced |
| Kobe UKB · T2 | 1F, after departure immigration | 2 | Not announced |
| Fukuoka FUK | International terminal, 3F | Not announced | Not announced |
Service fees
10% of the refund amount instructed by the tax refund operator. A maximum and minimum fee per tax-free transaction may apply in some cases.
After deduction of the base service fee, the total refund is rounded up or down in units of JPY 50. The final service fee reflects this rounding adjustment.
| Last two digits of the refund after deduction of the service fee | Rounding |
|---|---|
| 01 JPY–24 JPY | Round down to JPY 00 |
| 25 JPY–49 JPY | Round up to JPY 50 |
| 51 JPY–74 JPY | Round down to JPY 50 |
| 75 JPY–99 JPY | Round up to JPY 100 |
Example refund calculation
For a purchase of JPY 10,000 before tax:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price (before tax) | 10,000 JPY |
| Purchase price (including tax) | 11,000 JPY |
| Consumption tax | 1,000 JPY |
| System fee (2%) | 20 JPY |
| Refund specified by the operator (consumption tax less fees) | 980 JPY |
| Cash Japan fee (10% of the specified refund) | 98 JPY |
| Cash received (difference) | 882 JPY |
Self Tax Refund (Glory)
Self Tax Refund is an airport-based self-service consumption tax refund service jointly developed by Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. and Glory Ltd.According to the service description, after customs confirmation, travelers scan their passport at a dedicated terminal, check eligible purchase information and receive cash in Japanese yen.
Supported airports: Haneda, Narita and Naha
| Airport | Location | Number of cash refund terminals | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narita NRT · T1 | International terminal, 3F | Not announced | 06:00–24:00 |
| Narita NRT · T2 | South and North Wings, 3F | Not announced | 06:00–24:00 |
| Haneda HND · T2 | 3F | Not announced | 06:45–01:30 the following day |
| Haneda HND · T3 | 3F | Not announced | 24 hours |
| Naha OKA | After departure immigration, near the inspection area | Not announced | 06:00–21:00 |
Glory generally charges 1.1% of the purchase price before tax (fee includes tax), or a fee agreed with the partner refund operator. Additional fees may apply. Cash refunds are rounded down to the nearest JPY 100.
Example refund calculation
For a purchase of JPY 10,000 before tax:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price (before tax) | 10,000 JPY |
| Purchase price (including tax) | 11,000 JPY |
| Consumption tax | 1,000 JPY |
| System fee (2%) | 20 JPY |
| Refund specified by the operator (consumption tax less fees) | 980 JPY |
| Self Tax Refund (1.1% of the purchase price before tax) | 110 JPY |
| Cash received (difference) | 870 JPY |
Under the standard fee calculation, Self Tax Refund charges 1.1% of the purchase price before tax, while Cash Japan charges 10% of the refund specified by the refund operator. With a 10% consumption tax rate and no refund operator fee, Cash Japan’s fee is equivalent to 1.0% of the price before tax, making Self Tax Refund’s fee higher. However, actual cash received depends on each provider’s rounding rules and applicable fee conditions.
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