There is an affordable tax refund policy available to travelers when shopping in Japan. Generally, purchases of eligible consumer goods, such as non-consumables, give you the opportunity to apply for a tax refund upon departure. There are two types of tax refunds: instant tax refunds and tax bill refunds. Instant tax refunds are obtained by presenting the passport and air ticket at the time of purchase, the merchant will issue a tax refund voucher and the tourist will receive a refund. Tax bill refunds, on the other hand, require that the tax refund voucher from the purchase be submitted to Customs along with the merchandise in question within 72 hours prior to departure from Japan, and that the relevant information be filled out to receive the refund amount, up to a total of 500,000 yen.

It is worth noting that the range of tax-refundable goods is limited; for example, food and lodging services are excluded from the tax refund. The amount of each tax refund order is limited to 50,000 yen, and the total tax refund amount is limited to 300,000 yen per day. In addition, to be eligible for a tax refund, the purchased goods must be departed from Japan within 90 days of purchase and re-entered within 3 months prior to departure from Japan. The process of applying for a tax refund includes: informing the merchant of the need for a tax refund at the time of purchase, and the merchant will provide a voucher for the refund; presenting the voucher and the merchandise at customs at the airport prior to departure, filling out a tax form, and obtaining a refund upon customs confirmation.

Overall, Japan's tax rebate policy provides financial convenience for tourists, but it is necessary to understand the tax rebate regulations for various types of goods in advance and to follow the relevant procedures in order to make full use of this preferential policy. A clear understanding of and adherence to the tax refund rules is key to taking advantage of the refund when shopping.