#Shopping
5 guides about shopping in Japan, newest first.
▶ Video
Japan's new tax-free system from 1 November 2026
You now pay the 10% consumption tax at the till and claim it back after customs confirms, at the airport, that the goods are leaving Japan. Here is exactly what to do at each step.
Akihabara in one day: a route for first-timers
A morning-to-night plan through Tokyo's electronics and anime district, with what each kind of shop sells, café rules and how to save on tax.
Buying Pokémon cards in Japan without getting burned
Sealed boxes, single cards and release-day lotteries. How shops price cards, how to spot resealed product, and how to get your cards home flat.
Japanese drugstore shopping: skincare, sunscreen and what to skip
How to read Japanese sunscreen ratings, what visitors buy most, where prices differ, and how the new tax-free rules change your haul.
Buying Gundam model kits in Japan: grades, stores and packing
What HG, RG, MG and PG mean, where to find kits in Tokyo (including a new Shibuya megastore opening in November 2026), and how to get bulky boxes home.