Japanese Phrases for Shopping and Tax-Free Purchases in 2026

Shopping in Japan is easy even with no Japanese, but a handful of phrases makes it smoother: asking for another size, trying something on, getting a gift wrapped, and asking about tax-free purchases. That last one matters more than usual this year, because Japan's tax-free system for visitors changes on November 1, 2026. The phrases below come from the Japan National Tourism Organization's (JNTO) official Tourist's Language Handbook, and the tax rules come from the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA).

How the phrases are built

Most store questions in the handbook end in one of two patterns, and recognizing them helps you adapt the examples:

• 〜はありますか [~ wa arimasu ka] "Do you have ~?" for anything you want the shop to have.
• 〜てもらえますか [~te moraemasu ka] "Could you ~ for me?" for anything you want staff to do.

Asking about an item

• これは日本製ですか。 [kore wa nihonsei desu ka] "Is this made in Japan?"
• ここで＿＿は売っていますか。 [koko de ＿＿ wa utte imasu ka] "Do you sell ＿＿ here?" The handbook's example items include 化粧品 [keshouhin] "cosmetics," 陶器 [touki] "pottery," and 電池 [denchi] "batteries."
• 英語の説明書はありますか。 [eigo no setsumeisho wa arimasu ka] "Do you have instructions in English?"
• これは海外でも使えますか。 [kore wa kaigai demo tsukaemasu ka] "Can I use this overseas?" This one is worth asking about electronics before you pay.

Sizes, colors, and trying things on

• これを試着できますか。 [kore o shichaku dekimasu ka] "Can I try this on?"
• もっと大きいのはありますか。 [motto ookii no wa arimasu ka] "Do you have a bigger one?" Swap in 小さい [chiisai] for "smaller."
• ほかの色のはありますか。 [hoka no iro no wa arimasu ka] "Do you have it in a different color?" Use デザイン [dezain] instead of 色 for "design."
• ＿＿色のが欲しいです。 [＿＿ iro no ga hoshii desu] "I want a ＿＿ one." The handbook's color list includes 黒 [kuro] "black," 白 [shiro] "white," 赤 [aka] "red," and 青 [ao] "blue."

At the register

• ギフト用にラッピングしてもらえますか。 [gifuto-you ni rappingu shite moraemasu ka] "Could you gift-wrap this?"
• これを海外に送ってもらえますか。 [kore o kaigai ni okutte moraemasu ka] "Could you send this overseas?"
• 取り替えてもらえますか。 [torikaete moraemasu ka] "Could you exchange this for me?"
• 全部でいくらですか。 [zenbu de ikura desu ka] "How much is it altogether?"

Asking for tax-free

• これは免税で買えますか。 [kore wa menzei de kaemasu ka] The handbook translates this as "Can I buy this duty-free?" In everyday use at a shop with a tax-free sign, it is how you ask whether an item qualifies.
• 免税できますか。 [menzei dekimasu ka] A shorter "Can I get tax-free?"
• パスポートを持っています。 [pasupooto o motte imasu] "I have my passport." You need it at the register under both the old and new systems.

What changes on November 1, 2026

According to the JTA, purchases made through October 31, 2026 work the familiar way: eligible visitors pay a tax-exclusive price at the register. For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, Japan switches to a refund method:

1. You pay the full tax-inclusive price at a tax-free shop, after showing your passport.
2. Before you leave Japan, customs confirms the goods are being taken out of the country.
3. The amount equal to the consumption tax is then refunded. The JTA says the refund comes from the shop or a refund service provider the shop uses, so ask the shop how your refund will be paid.

The JTA lists the conditions for the new system:

Rule	Detail
Minimum	5,000 yen or more, before tax, per store per day
Time limit	Customs procedure within 90 days of purchase
Quantity	Only what you can personally carry out of Japan
Excluded	Gold and platinum bullion, and items already exempt from consumption tax
Consumables	No more special sealed packaging, but food, drinks, or cosmetics used in Japan lose eligibility

The airport step you cannot skip

The procedure happens before you check your bags. The JTA says the tax-free terminals and customs inspection areas are in the international departure lobby, before baggage check-in, and that you must have all your tax-free goods with you when you scan your passport. Once a bag is checked, the airline cannot return it for this purpose.

After the scan, the terminal shows a green result, meaning no inspection is needed, or a red result, meaning you take the goods to the customs inspection area. JNTO adds that at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose, and Naha, you can also start online through Visit Japan Web in designated areas with dedicated Wi-Fi.

Three more points from the JTA:

• Each receipt stands alone. If one item from a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt qualifies.
• Used something already? Do not use the terminal. Report it to a customs officer at the counter instead.
• Connecting flight? Do the procedure at the airport where you actually leave Japan.

Leave extra time. The JTA warns that neither customs nor airlines compensate you if you miss a departure because the procedure took too long.

Key takeaways

• 〜はありますか asks whether a shop has something; 〜てもらえますか asks staff to do something for you.
• 試着できますか, もっと大きいのはありますか, and ほかの色のはありますか cover most clothing questions.
• これは免税で買えますか asks about tax-free; have your passport ready.
• From November 1, 2026, you pay tax at the register and get it refunded after a customs check.
• Do the tax-free procedure before checking bags, within 90 days, with every item from each receipt.