Japan raises consumption tax – easily check prices when shopping while traveling in Japan
Japan’s consumption tax rate rose from 5% to 8% starting April 1, 2014. This not only led to a shopping boom among Japanese citizens, but also prompted tourists visiting Japan to snap up goods and souvenirs during this wave of “last 5% tax” deals. For example, for an item priced at 100 yen (Q?), the total would originally have been 105 yen, but with the tax hike it becomes 108 yen—equivalent to roughly a 1-yuan Taiwan increase. It may not seem like much, but the price difference becomes significant for higher-value items, which means your shopping budget for your trip to Japan will need to be adjusted accordingly.
When shopping, first familiarize yourself with what Japanese price tags mean. (Illustration / MOOK Scenic Spots Family)
When shopping in Japan, pay special attention to price labels. “Tax-included” means the displayed price already includes tax, while “tax-exclusive” means the price does not include tax. Be sure to check before you pay to avoid surprises when the 8% consumption tax is added. Major Japanese department stores and malls also offer tax refund services for tourists, usually requiring a minimum purchase amount (e.g., 10,000 yen) and presentation of a passport. Those looking to claim tax refunds as international visitors should not forget to bring their passports when shopping.
Japanese price tags differentiate between tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive. This is an example of a product with tax included. (Photo / Zhang Yingying)
After the consumption tax increased to 8%, prices rose across various aspects of daily life, including transportation, living expenses, and dining. For instance, drinks from vending machines were uniformly raised by 10 yen, convenience store beverages went up by around 1–2 yen each, and fares for subways and JR trains rose by an average of 10 yen, with stored-value card deductions increasing by about 1 yen per one-way trip. Clothing, accessories, and footwear also saw price hikes, and even the one-day single-park ticket for Tokyo Disneyland increased by 200 yen. Travelers on self-guided trips can expect to spend more on transportation. Don’t forget that the consumption tax in Japan has risen to 8% starting April 1.
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