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Japan is one of the world’s best shopping destinations, and it’s not just because the yen is currently cheap.
Japan offers tourists a tax-free shopping system AND major retailers have additional discounts for foreigners.
For example. Bic Camera, one of the best electronics chains in Japan, currently offers foreigners 7% off certain electronics, like the Insta360 Luna Ultra I just purchased at Bic Camera Yurakucho. That means you can stack the tax free 10% + an extra 7%. Let’s dive in and talk about discounted and tax-free shopping in Japan–as well as the best way to get cash back even if you’re shopping back home.
I recently bought camera gear at Bic Camera Yurakucho in Tokyo, which sent me down this rabbit hole. If you’re buying electronics, cameras, cosmetics, Japanese souvenirs—or just planning to do a lot of shopping in Japan—it is worth knowing about these discounts before you walk into a store.
First, here’s my experience, then the best offers a places like Bic Camera, then where you can get (sometimes substantial) cashback on purchases back home in the US, including $50 off if you’re a new Rakuten user.
Important: offers change frequently. The discounts below were checked in September 2026, so always check the current coupon before buying.
My Experience at Bic Camera Tax Free + 7%: Buying the Insta360 Luna Ultra
I bought my Insta360 Luna Ultra at Bic Camera Yurakucho during a slightly chaotic few days in Tokyo. I wasn’t completely sure I was going to buy it when I walked in—I mainly wanted to see it in person, compare the price, and figure out whether the tourist discount actually made it worthwhile.
The staff member helping me was Chinese, so somehow I ended up standing in a giant electronics store in Tokyo, speaking my intermediate-ish Mandarin while we worked through the Luna Ultra, accessories and the tax-free discount. It was one of those slightly surreal travel moments that I love.
The price ended up being good enough that I bought it.
A few days later, I was staying at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay and having another completely indecisive moment: should I actually go to Tokyo Disneyland or not? I hadn’t really planned the trip around Disney, and part of me thought I might just stay at the hotel and do something else.
But I was literally staying next door.
Eventually I decided it would be ridiculous to be that close and not go, bought a ticket, and took the brand-new Luna Ultra with me.
That turned out to be an amazing first real test for it. I used it walking around the park, filming rides, capturing the crowds and shooting after dark. Instead of spending the whole day thinking about camera settings or whether I was getting the shot, I could just keep moving and film what was happening around me.
By the end of the day, I was extremely glad I’d bought it.
That’s also why I’m enthusiastic about the Bic Camera tourist deal. This wasn’t something I researched online and added to a list of discounts. I actually walked into Bic Camera in Tokyo unsure whether I was going to buy the Luna Ultra, used the tourist discount, bought it, and then a few days later was filming Tokyo Disneyland with it.
Most importantly, for you, dear reader, is that it was SUPER EASY. I just showed my passport, showed the coupon (the staff member knew all about the 10% + 7% deal) and it was super fast. From Nov 1, 2026 Japan is moving to a new tax free system, but it will still be worth doing, even if you have to have the goods checked at the airport.
Bic Camera: tax free + up to 7% extra off
Bic Camera is one of Japan’s giant electronics chains, and for tourists the prices can get especially interesting. So you start out with the 10% off as a foreigner.
With the current tourist coupon, eligible tax-free purchases can receive an additional discount of:
Up to 7% off cameras, electronics, appliances, watches, toys and similar products
Up to 5% off cosmetics, medicine, food and everyday goods
3% off eligible Japanese sake
So that’s 10% tax free, plus extra percentages in the Categories above.
The coupon currently applies to qualifying tax-free purchases of at least ¥5,000 and is scheduled to run through October 31, 2026.
See Bic Camera’s current tourist shopping offer
You generally show the coupon on your phone at checkout along with the documents required for tax-free shopping.
The big catch: not everything gets another 7% off
This is where you need to pay attention. Current exclusions include Apple products, some imported watches, Grand Seiko, game consoles and software, Meta Quest, DJI products, some Panasonic and Fujifilm products, outlet goods and second-hand merchandise. The exclusion list can also change.
So don’t walk into Bic Camera assuming that every iPhone, camera or drone automatically gets another 7% knocked off.
There are some interesting exceptions, though. Insta360 isn’t currently listed among the major exclusions, which can make cameras like the Luna Ultra and other Insta360 models particularly attractive if they qualify at checkout.
That’s actually what made the deal useful for me.
One thing I wouldn’t buy there: memory cards
Oddly, the SD and microSD cards I saw were wildly overpriced compared with what I’d expect to pay elsewhere.
Fortunately, the Luna Ultra has about 47GB of built-in usable storage, so I was able to start filming without buying an overpriced card on the spot.
That sums up Bic Camera pretty well: some things can be excellent tourist deals, while others absolutely aren’t. Compare before you buy.
My Experience Buying Tax-Free at Bic Camera: Luna Ultra
I bought my camera gear at Bic Camera Yurakucho, and the whole experience was unexpectedly fun. The staff member helping me was Chinese, so I ended up speaking Mandarin with her while we worked through the tourist discount and camera options. It was one of those small travel moments I love—going to Tokyo to buy Japanese camera gear and somehow ending up negotiating the details in Chinese.
MATH TIME: “10% tax free + 7% off” doesn’t quite mean 17% off
This is worth explaining because the headline discount can sound slightly bigger than it really is. If something costs ¥110,000 including Japan’s 10% consumption tax, removing the tax brings it to ¥100,000. A further 7% discount takes it to ¥93,000.
So you’ve saved ¥17,000, or about 15.5% off the original tax-inclusive price, rather than literally 17%. That’s still a meaningful saving, especially on a ¥200,000 camera, laptop or other expensive piece of gear.
But is Bic Camera actually cheaper than buying at home?
Not necessarily. Japan isn’t automatically cheaper.
Exchange rates change, American retailers run sales, manufacturers price products differently by country, and warranty coverage can vary. The tourist discounts are what can change the calculation. And if you’re shopping with Rakuten back in the States, you might get more cashback by buying back home.
I would compare:
Japanese sticker price → tax-free price → tourist-coupon price → converted AUD/USD price → price at home.
That final number is what matters. I bought camera equipment at Bic Camera Yurakucho on my latest Tokyo trip, and that’s exactly the comparison I’d make before buying anything expensive there.
Bic Camera is also just fun to visit. A giant Japanese electronics store filled with cameras, headphones, watches, computers, appliances and inexplicable gadgets is practically an attraction in itself.
Don Quijote: tax free plus another 5–7% off
Don Quijote—or Donki—is another store where tourists should check the coupon before paying. The current offer gives eligible shoppers up to 5% extra off purchases over ¥10,000 and up to 7% off purchases over ¥30,000, on top of the applicable tax-free benefit.
Get the Don Quijote tourist coupon
One important difference from Bic Camera: don’t rely on a screenshot. Donki’s current system requires you to open the live coupon and show the barcode at checkout.
Donki sells almost everything—Japanese snacks, skincare, cosmetics, souvenirs, luggage, electronics and plenty more. If you’re already planning to spend ¥30,000, consolidating purchases may help you reach the higher discount tier.
Matsumoto Kiyoshi: up to another 7% off
Matsumoto Kiyoshi is particularly useful for skincare, cosmetics, toiletries and other drugstore products. Its current tourist coupon offers 3% off ¥10,000–29,999, 5% off ¥30,000–49,999, and 7% off purchases of ¥50,000 or more, with some exclusions.
See the current Matsumoto Kiyoshi tourist coupon
If you know you’re going to spend a significant amount there during your trip, buying everything together rather than across several branches could qualify you for a larger discount.
Department stores have tourist discounts too
The tourist-discount game isn’t limited to electronics and discount stores.
At Takashimaya, eligible tourists can currently get a Shopper’s Card offering 5% off qualifying purchases of at least ¥3,000 before tax, although some luxury goods, watches, jewelry and other categories are excluded.
See Takashimaya’s tourist shopping privileges
Isetan and Mitsukoshi offer a similar program. Eligible foreign visitors can currently access a 5% shopping coupon through the Mitsukoshi Isetan Japan app and present it at participating stores.
See the Mitsukoshi Isetan tourist shopping coupon
These offers are particularly useful for fashion, gifts and Japanese home products rather than electronics.
There are even more electronics-store tourist coupons
Bic Camera isn’t the only option. LIVE JAPAN’s tourist coupon directory also lists offers for stores including LAOX, Edion, Joshin and Yamada Denki LABI, with additional discounts on eligible purchases that can reach roughly 5–8% depending on the retailer and product.
Browse LIVE JAPAN’s current tourist shopping coupons
If you’re buying an expensive camera or other piece of electronics, it’s worth checking more than one store. Don’t assume Bic Camera has the lowest final price just because you have a coupon—compare the product price first, then apply the available discounts.
Japan’s tax-free shopping system changes on November 1, 2026
Japan’s tax-free shopping system is also changing soon.
Through October 31, 2026, eligible visitors can generally receive the tax exemption when purchasing the item. Starting November 1, 2026, Japan moves to a refund system: travelers initially pay the tax-inclusive price, then receive the consumption-tax refund after Customs confirms that the eligible goods are leaving Japan.
Retailer coupons are separate from the government tax-free system, but the way the two work together may change. If you’re traveling after November 1, check the latest rules rather than relying on information from an earlier trip.
I’ll update this article as retailers publish their new procedures.
How I get cashback savings–and a one-time $50 bonus–even back in the U.S.
Tax-free shopping and tourist discounts in Japan are great, but you don’t have to be traveling to get a good deal. Cashback shopping sites in the U.S., like Rakuten, give you a percentage of your purchase back and often have substantial sign-up bonuses. Rakuten’s is currently $50.
For example, if Nike is offering 10% cashback through Rakuten and you spend $100, you’d get $10 back. The percentages change constantly—they can get especially high around Black Friday, while other times they might be just 1–2%. But I use Rakuten for a pretty simple reason: if I was going to buy something anyway, I might as well get some money back.
New users can currently get a $50 sign-up bonus through my personal referral link after meeting the qualifying purchase requirements. You can also enter referral code ALEX3954 when signing up.
Get the $50 Rakuten sign-up bonus
This isn’t sponsored by Rakuten—I actually use the service myself. Rakuten has even linked to Take Risks Be Happy in one of its own Refer-a-Friend articles, which was a pretty nice surprise.
See Rakuten’s article mentioning Take Risks Be Happy
One potentially confusing point in a Japan article: Rakuten in Japan is a much larger company with shopping, travel, financial services and plenty more. Rakuten’s U.S. service is primarily a cashback shopping platform. So if you’re American and want cashback on purchases you’re already making in the U.S., it’s worth checking.
I may receive a referral bonus if you sign up through my link and make a qualifying purchase.
Read my full Rakuten review and referral guide
As always, cashback rates and sign-up offers can change, so check the current offer before making a purchase just for the promotion.
Don’t forget, Japan has limited edition items:
I loved this Hello Kitty Insta360 Go ultra, but I couldn’t justify buying it!
More from our Tokyo trip
If you’re heading to Japan, I’ve also been working through a ridiculous number of Tokyo hotels.
For a relatively affordable Marriott that is actually enjoyable to spend time in, I liked the Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho. The rooms are considerably bigger than the tiny Four Points Flex rooms, there’s a proper breakfast, a surprisingly good gym, laundry facilities and a big lounge downstairs.
Read my Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho review
If all you want is somewhere inexpensive, clean and practical to sleep, the Four Points Flex Tokyo Higashi Kanda is much more basic—but can also be dramatically cheaper.
Read my Four Points Flex Tokyo Higashi Kanda review
I also compared the two directly:
Moxy Kinshicho vs. Four Points Flex: which budget Tokyo Marriott is better?
If you’re visiting Tokyo Disney—or just want a huge room and full resort facilities—the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay can be an unexpectedly good value compared with central Tokyo hotels.
Read my Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay review
And at the other end of the spectrum, MESM Tokyo, Autograph Collection is one of the genuinely beautiful luxury hotels I’ve stayed at in Tokyo, complete with pianos in the rooms and views over Tokyo Bay.
Bottom line: don’t pay the first price you see in Japan
Japan has a funny shopping ecosystem.
The sticker price isn’t necessarily the price you’ll pay. The tax-inclusive price isn’t necessarily the price you’ll pay. And even the tax-free price isn’t necessarily the lowest price available.
Before making a big purchase, check three things:
Is it eligible for tax-free shopping? Is there a tourist coupon? And is the final converted price actually cheaper than buying it at home?
Sometimes the answer will be no.
But when the tax exemption and tourist discount stack on an already-good Japanese price, the savings can be substantial.
And given that checking the coupon takes about thirty seconds, there isn’t much reason not to look.
Last checked: September 26, 2026. Tourist discounts, exchange rates and tax-free-shopping rules can change. Check the current retailer terms before purchasing.
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