Donki / Drugstore / Tax-Free Basics

How tax-free works, what’s changing in November 2026, and what not to put in your suitcase.

Tax-free works at the register through Oct 2026. Nov 1, 2026 it shifts to refund-at-departure. Check what you can and can’t bring home before you shop.

Current tax-free rules

Through Oct 31, 2026, the system works at the register:

Spend ¥5,000+ pre-tax at a tax-free participating store, same day, same store.
Present your passport at checkout (or via Visit Japan Web at participating retailers).
Consumables (food, cosmetics, supplements, medications) get sealed in a tax-free bag. Don’t open before leaving Japan.
Unconsumables (electronics, apparel, watches) don’t get sealed but still must leave Japan with you.
Cap on consumables: ¥500,000 per day, per traveler. Practical for most trips; relevant if you’re stocking up.

The Nov 1, 2026 change

Starting Nov 1, 2026, Japan shifts to a refund-at-departure system. You pay full tax at the register, then claim the refund at the airport before departure. No mixed transition period — the date is the date.

The Nov 1 reform also simplifies the rules: the ¥500,000 daily consumables cap is abolished, the sealed-packaging requirement is gone, and the general-vs-consumable distinction goes away. The refund must be claimed at the airport within 90 days of purchase.

Tax-free shopping the week of Oct 25 works the old way. Tax-free shopping the week of Nov 8 works the new way. If you’re traveling across that boundary, expect register confusion in early November.

The exact refund process at each airport is still being rolled out. Verify the procedure for your departure airport close to your travel date.

Medications and supplements

Japan’s medication import rules are stricter than most travelers expect. The official source is the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

A few hard cases worth knowing before you fly:

Adderall and amphetamines — cannot be imported into Japan, even with a prescription from your home country, even for personal use. There’s no permission process that grants exception.
Pseudoephedrine (in some US cold meds like Sudafed) and Vyvanse / lisdexamfetamine — classified as stimulant raw materials. Importing requires permission (Yakkan Shoumei) obtained in advance.
Standard prescription meds — most are fine in personal-use quantities (typically up to one month’s supply). Bring the original packaging and the prescription. If the quantity is larger or the drug is controlled, a Yakkan Shoumei is required.

If you’re on a daily medication and unsure: check MHLW’s medication import guidance before you fly. This isn’t a “probably fine” situation for controlled substances — Japanese customs do enforce.

For OTC purchases in Japan (Loxonin, Eve, Pabron, etc.): check whether the active ingredient is legal to bring back to your home country before stocking up. Some Japanese OTC active ingredients are prescription-only in the US, EU, or Australia.

Donki specifics

Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ) is the dense, fluorescent, “wait, they sell that?” discount chain.

Current tax-free practice at Donki:

¥5,000 pre-tax minimum applies.
Passport at checkout, no exceptions.
Larger stores have dedicated tax-free counters; smaller ones process at the regular register.
The majica app and store coupons stack with tax-free in most cases. Specific promo stacks change — check day-of signage rather than relying on a guide.

Late-night Donki (most locations open until 1–3 AM) is a feature, not a bug — fewer crowds, faster checkout.

Watch the cap

The ¥500,000 consumables daily cap is per-traveler, per-store. Shopping with a partner means each person can hit the cap separately at the same store.

If you’re stocking up at volume (electronics, branded goods), Japanese customs may flag the quantity on departure — tax-free is for personal use, not commercial import.

Note: this ¥500,000 cap is part of the pre-Nov 2026 system only. After Nov 1, 2026, the cap is removed.