Japan’s new tax-refund system takes effect on November 1. Travellers buying eligible goods will pay the tax-inclusive price, then apply to recover the 10% consumption tax at an airport or port before checking in. The refund will not be available unless the required customs checks are completed.
At the time of purchase, travellers must show their passports and keep their receipts. Within 90 days, they must scan their passport at a self-service refund machine. A green result means customs has confirmed the refund; a red result requires them to take the goods and receipts to a designated customs area for manual inspection.
At seven high-traffic airports, including Narita, Haneda and Kansai, travellers can also use Visit Japan Web over dedicated terminal Wi-Fi. A green result on the online process likewise indicates customs confirmation. Those choosing a yen cash refund must then collect the money from a separate refund machine, which may involve another queue.
The Japan Tourism Agency says travellers who do not complete a required inspection, including because they are short of time, cannot receive the refund. It also says Japan and the airline will not compensate travellers who miss their departure because of the tax-refund procedure and inspection.
Hong Kong tour operators have no single plan for allowing extra airport time. WWPKG’s managing director said the company would not change its itinerary; tours usually reach the airport two to three hours before departure. He advised travellers to weigh their purchases against their departure time, as queues could leave them unable to finish the process.
A second operator’s chairperson said the actual operation of the new system remained unclear and that the company might bring some groups to the airport about an hour earlier, depending on how much they had bought. A third operator said its usual arrival time of about two and a half to three hours before departure should leave enough time.