Is the Apple Store Tax-Free in Japan? (iPhone, Mac, iPad — Nov 2026)

Short answer: reports say the Apple Store in Japan stopped tax-free sales to visitors in June 2022, and we found no sign it has restarted. If you want a refund of the 10% tax on an Apple product, buy it at a registered tax-free shop, not at Apple, and ask the staff first.

What we can and can't confirm

If you still want an Apple product tax-free

1. Find a tax-free shop that stocks it. Look for the tax-free sign at the door or ask. Don't assume every shop selling Apple products is a tax-free shop.
2. Ask about the exact model and the exact price before paying. You pay the tax-inclusive price and get the tax back after you leave.
3. Show your passport at the till. Keep the receipt and the goods together.
4. At the airport, do the customs step before you check your bags. You must have the items with you at the terminal. Our airport guide has the full order.
5. Keep it in the box if you can. The official pages only mention consumables, so we can't say whether opening a device is a problem. Read our guide to opening and using tax-free items.

Also: a single receipt counts as one unit for customs. If one item on it is missing at the check, the whole receipt can lose the refund (official). Don't split a laptop and a charger across bags.

Left out (not confirmed on an official page today): which chains stock Apple products as tax-free, price comparisons, whether Apple has restarted tax-free sales in any store, online orders, and how much phone or laptop use is allowed before customs. We won't state a number we haven't seen.

Quick answers

Can I get tax-free prices at the Apple Store in Japan?

Press reports say no. ITmedia and Mac OTAKARA reported on 21 June 2022 that Apple Store ended tax-free purchases for non-residents, and the Yomiuri reported in December 2022 that Apple Japan had suspended tax-free sales and apologised for the inconvenience. We found no announcement that it came back, but we could not find Apple's own page either, so ask at the store before you buy.

Can I claim the refund at the airport for something I bought at the Apple Store?

The government's own pages say the refund is paid back by the tax-free shop where you bought, after customs confirms at departure that you are taking the goods out. If the shop that sold it is not a tax-free shop, there is no refund to claim. We have no official statement about Apple specifically, so treat an Apple Store receipt as full price with the 10% tax included.

Will the new refund system from 1 November 2026 change this?

The new system only changes how tax-free shops handle refunds: you pay the tax-inclusive price and are refunded after customs checks your goods when you leave. It does not make a shop that has stopped tax-free sales start again. We found no announcement that Apple Stores returned to the tax-free scheme (not officially confirmed beyond that).

Where can I buy an iPhone or Mac tax-free then?

At a shop that is registered as a tax-free shop and that carries the model you want. Big electronics chains are the usual candidates, but we haven't checked which chain sells which Apple models under the scheme, so look for the tax-free sign and ask staff about the exact item before you pay. Prices are not guaranteed to match the Apple Store.

What do I need to buy at a tax-free shop?

Your passport and at least ¥5,000 (before tax) at the same shop on the same day. Keep the goods in your hand luggage or in a place you can take them out of before you check your bags, because customs confirmation needs you to have all the items with you and must be done within 90 days of purchase.

What if I open the box or switch the phone on?

The official pages only say that consumables (food, drink, cosmetics) that you use up in Japan are not eligible. We could not find an official line on opening or using a phone or laptop, so we don't state one. Read our guide on opening and using tax-free items, and ask the shop before you open it.

Can I order from the Apple website and claim tax-free?

We found no official statement about online orders under the tax-free scheme, so we can't say. The government pages describe buying goods at a tax-free shop and carrying them out yourself (not officially confirmed for online orders).

More: Tax-free electronics · Which shops and items qualify · Airport refund steps · Living in Japan? Who can't use tax-free