Shopping tax refunds just got easier ! Okayama creates Japan’s first “tax-free shopping street”

▲ Okayama Omachi Shopping Street becomes Japan’s first tax-free shopping street. (Photo / fromOmachi Shopping Street fan page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Japanese shopping streets bring together local shopping, dining, and other daily amenities, with numerous stores lining the streets — they offer travelers another way to experience the area’s culture and go shopping. Located in Okayama Prefecture, Okayama City has pioneered Japan’s very first “tax-free shopping street,” allowing visitors to process their tax refunds at a unified tax-free counter after shopping.

In the past, when shopping on shopping streets, travelers had to spend a minimum amount at a single tax-free store to enjoy the tax exemption benefit, requiring them to fill out a tax-free form for each purchase. Starting in May this year, “Omachi Shopping Street” and “Romantic-dori Shopping Street” in Okayama City, both with a history of 400 years, have implemented new regulations:Travelers can now enjoy tax-free benefits as long as their combined purchases at designated stores in the two shopping streets exceed the minimum required amount for either consumables or general goods,and can process their tax refund at the tax-free counters located on the 5th floor or B1 of Okayama Tenmaya.

Following Okayama Prefecture’s lead, starting June 1, “Asahikawa Heiwa-dori Shopping Street” in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, has also become a tax-free shopping street. Travelers who spend a combined minimum amount at 11 designated shops can process their tax refund at Seibu Asahikawa Department Store. The Hokkaido Transport Bureau also stated that services such as increased WiFi and multilingual signage will be added to attract more visitors to shop.

※ Minimum Amount Required for Tax-Free Benefits in Japan
Consumables: must exceed ¥50,001, up to ¥500,000
General Goods: must exceed ¥10,001