JJapan Trips

I consumed a tax free item in japan. How bad is it?

I bought some tax free matcha powder and matcha chocolate, opened the sealed bag in the dark, not seeing that it said not to, and ate the chocolate then and there. I wasn’t aware of the tax free laws. Will I be able to pay the tax at the airport when leaving or can I expect worse consequences?

by validestusername

50 comments

  3. And now you’ve admitted it publicly. We’re headed to your room now, wanted to give you a running start. See you soon…

  7. Big trouble! I think Carlos Ghosn had to escape from Japan for the same reason.

    Seriously though, do you think they are going to break that much of a sweat to collect a couple hundred yen?

  8. They don’t care, it’ll be fine I promise

    I had my own thing where I bought some items tax free at Yodobashi. They put everything into a large, unwieldy bag I would not be able to pack easily. I ended up opening the bag, and in some cases, even taking things out of their boxes so I could pack them loose and save space. Nobody even looked at me sideways at the airport.

  10. You’ll be fine. I got some tax free stuff that had to be checked in. I even opened tax free bag to pack more efficiently. And of course I went straight to my gate w/o submitting the receipts 😅 NOTHING happened

  18. lol the replies to this.

    rest easy OP. i opened every bag and consumed some items, didnt get checked for nothing.

  19. Honestly the worse thing is you pay consumption taxes which is basically what you would of paid as tax.

    We went through customs last week with all our stuff ready to show and they only scanned our Passports and that’s it. Didn’t ask to see the items or anything which is what they are meant to do. So you will be fine.

  21. Imagine how long something like TSA takes at the airport and then imagine how long it would take to go through the receipts of everything foreign tourists bought in japan and check if they’re open lol

  23. If they check it you have to pay the taxes but they will not check it I guess.

    Came home today from KIX and my Taxfree stuff was (or still is) in my drop off baggage Ive forgot to tell it at the check in counter lol

    So I proceed to the tax free counter put my passport on the scanner it turned green “arigatou” and my panic was gone nobody cared

  27. When my parents visited last summer they bought about 2man worth of clothes for my kids tax free.

    We only realized as we were packing that they had to declare it at the aiport. We both kinda shrugged it off. They flew out via Haneda and no one even asked them about it.

  28. On my first trip to Japan recently I was also worried about this because I bought some gin for a friend and wanted to split the package up between me and him for other things I bought. They didn’t check at all at any stage, like not even a mention, you’re fine.

  31. Oh shoot I didn’t even realize you couldn’t do that. I bought a sweater last year through tax free and I immediately wore it the next day. 

  32. We actually wondered how will they check this. They probably check randomly, like they pick one every 1000 or so tourists that come through customs since the inspection process may be very lengthy – cross checking your purchases vs. what you have may take a while if they have to be sure that you still have everything you bought tax free.

  33. I’m going in July (wish me luck 😅) and had no idea that the tax free items come in some sealed bag like that. So if I buy, idk, tax free candy or chips or something I can’t “technically” eat them until I’m back in my home country?

    Yeah the punishment isn’t ever enforced or severe or whatever but still, why have that rule in the first place?

  35. i heard they don’t even enforce it with electronics even. I don’t think you would have to worry about jail either unless you do something stupid like Johnny Somali… 🙂

  36. I ate or opened all of my tax free stuff on my first trip. I didn’t understand how it worked. Nothing happened.
    The last time I went they didn’t even put the tax free stuff in a closed bag.

  39. I was given a duty free bag to “bag” it myself. I asked the duty free agent what happens if I don’t. She said no one gives af

  40. There are a lot of jokes here but on a serious note the worst thing they’d do is charge you the 8% consumption tax at the airport. In reality no one will give a shit and you can go on your merry way.

  42. In all seriousness, I have never had them check once. You just pull the receipts out of your passport and deposit them in the bin on your way out of customs. (I travel to Japan on business 1-2 times per year. I’ve probably been there over 10 times over the past 7 years.)

  43. They absolutely do not care. I unbagged everything to put in my suitcases. I bought thousands of $s in tax free items, two suitcases worth. No one checked at the airport. You’ll be fine! Have fun ❤️

  45. Death by public hanging, there is no other way. You better run away to some unknown country, burn your passport and change your name.

  46. You are fine. I visited in 2023, bought a Dassai 23 at Tokyo station on the night we arrived. Chugged the whole bottle at hotel. No problem.

    ​

    Bought 2 more to bring back to US and share with friends. Worth it.

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