Those of you who have been to Japan in years previous may remember having to queue at tax counters and then at the airport tax counter. Whether or not one had money to get from the airport tax counter (as opposed to the store tax refund counter) the government officials still had to take the forms kept with or attached to your passport.
Japan changed its program again, effective April 1, 2023, but the main points are still that you can do tax free shipping as a tourist, most places require at least JP¥5000 pre-tax, and consumables are sealed.
Now that Japan has digitized its tax procedures, one does not have to visit the tax counter to have the physical receipts stapled to your passport removed. However, you still have to visit the airport’s tax-free counter.
At the Narita airport, you scan your passport after passing through security at a counter that has multiple signs telling you to stop here if you purchased anything tax free. (Yes, this means you do not have your checked luggage.) After scanning, the machine may tell you thank you or to see an agent.
I have heard that those asked to see agents tend to have made large purchases. Think a luxury watch or handbag amount. I have also heard that they may bring your checked luggage to you or simply let you go. All of that is what I read, because I was waved on by the computer and then by the human helper.
