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Hong Kong customs allowance after a trip to Japan

Hong Kong has no general value allowance for goods brought back from Japan, because it levies no customs tariff on most goods. Liquor, tobacco, cash and some foods have their own rules, set out here from official Hong Kong government pages as of 28 October 2026.

By Mikako Yoshida ·Published 28 October 2026

Hong Kong customs allowance after a trip to Japan
Haneda Airport Terminal 3 · Photo: MaedaAkihiko (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Concessions and limits for arriving passengers

ItemDuty-free amountConditions
General goods such as clothing, cosmetics and electronicsNo value limit; no customs tariff is leviedExcise duty applies only to liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol
Liquor above 30% alcohol, such as whisky1 litreAged 18 or above, for own use; Hong Kong Identity Card holders must have spent 24 hours or longer outside Hong Kong
Wine and other liquor of 30% alcohol or lessNo duty (rate 0%)The 1 litre concession covers only liquor above 30%
Tobacco19 cigarettes, or 1 cigar or 25 grams of cigars, or 25 grams of other manufactured tobaccoAged 18 or above, for own use
E-cigarettes and heat sticksNone; import is prohibitedApplies to all inbound travellers
Cash and bearer negotiable instrumentsDeclare if the total is more than HK$120,000Foreign currencies count at their equivalent value
RiceUp to 15 kg without a licenceFor own consumption or as gifts
Frozen or chilled meat and poultryUp to 15 kg without an import licenceAn official health certificate is still required
Arrivals Hall B, Hong Kong International Airport
Arrivals Hall B, Hong Kong International Airport · Photo: LN9267 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How the concessions work

Hong Kong is a free port and does not levy customs tariff on imports. Excise duty is charged only on liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol, so there is no overall value allowance for other goods bought in Japan.

The liquor and tobacco concessions apply per passenger aged 18 or above and cover goods for own use only. There are no duty-free concessions for dutiable goods carried for trade, business or commercial purposes.

Above the concession, duty on liquor of more than 30% alcohol in a bottle of 1 litre or less is 100% on the first HK$200 of value and 10% on the remainder. Cigarettes are charged HK$3,306 per 1,000 sticks.

Japan’s tax-free shopping removes only Japanese consumption tax. Hong Kong’s concessions are a separate system applied when you arrive.

Prohibited or restricted items

  • E-cigarettes, heat sticks and other alternative smoking products, including those for personal use
  • Smokeless tobacco products
  • Raw or not thoroughly cooked meat, poultry and game, such as wagyu, without a health certificate from the place of origin, in any packaging including vacuum packs
  • Eggs without a health certificate or written permission, unless fully cooked or an ingredient of compounded food
  • Plants, plant pests and soil without an AFCD licence; cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for consumption are exempt
  • Live mammals, birds and reptiles without an AFCD permit
  • Endangered species, alive or dead, and their parts or derivatives without a licence
  • Medicines beyond a reasonable quantity for your own use, which need a Department of Health licence
  • Rice above 15 kg

Arrival in Hong Kong

  1. Check your baggage

    Compare liquor and tobacco with the concessions and add up cash and bearer negotiable instruments before you reach the Customs hall.

  2. Red Channel

    Use the Red Channel if you carry dutiable goods above the concessions, prohibited or controlled items, or cash and instruments above HK$120,000.

  3. Cash declaration

    Pre-fill the e-form to generate a QR code for the officer, or complete the paper declaration form at the Red Channel.

  4. Green Channel

    Using the Green Channel counts as declaring that you carry nothing to declare. Officers may still examine your baggage.

Useful before you fly

eSIM for Japan, installed before you leave home

Airalo Saily Yesim

JR Pass and Shinkansen tickets

Klook KKday

Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags

Klook Trip.com Welcome Pickups

Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight

Radical Storage

Hotels in Japan

Klook Trip.com

Coupons

Heat sticks bought in Japan

Hong Kong has prohibited the import of alternative smoking products since 30 April 2022, so heat sticks and e-cigarettes bought in Japan cannot be brought in. Since 30 April 2026, possessing them in public places also carries a fixed penalty of HK$3,000.

Sake bottles at Hirome Market, Kochi
Sake bottles at Hirome Market, Kochi · Photo: NevinThompson (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay duty on Japanese whisky?
Passengers aged 18 or above may bring 1 litre of liquor above 30% alcohol duty-free. Declare anything more at the Red Channel; duty on a bottle of 1 litre or less is 100% on the first HK$200 of value and 10% on the remainder.
Is there duty on sake, shochu or wine?
Wine and other liquor with an alcoholic strength of 30% or less have a duty rate of 0%. Liquor above 30% falls under the 1 litre concession.
Can I bring wagyu beef back from Japan?
Raw meat in any packaging, including vacuum packs or frozen, must be accompanied by a health certificate from the place of origin or permission from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Offenders face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and 6 months’ imprisonment.
What if I do not declare excess cigarettes or liquor?
You may be prosecuted, or Customs may compound the offence. The compound penalty rose from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000 on 19 September 2025, and excess goods may be confiscated.
How much cash can I carry without declaring?
Up to HK$120,000 in total, with foreign currencies counted at their equivalent value. A first-time breach can be discharged by paying HK$2,000; other cases face a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and 2 years’ imprisonment.
Can I bring medicines bought at a Japanese drugstore?
Medicines in your accompanied baggage, in a reasonable quantity for your own use, may be exempted from the import licence. Larger quantities need a licence from the Department of Health.

Japan tax refund guides

Tax refund kiosks at Japanese airportsOur guide to the customs kiosk check at departure.How the Japanese refund is paidOur guide to the payment of the consumption tax refund.Common tax refund mistakesOur list of errors that can cost you the refund.

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Claiming your tax refund at the airportWhere to find the tax-free kiosk at Japanese airports, what green and red results mean, using Visit Japan Web, and what to do on connecting flights and cruises.What you can and cannot buy tax-free in JapanWhat qualifies for Japan’s tax refund from 1 November 2026: gold bullion and coins no, jewellery and iPhones yes, meals and hotels no, business use now allowed.Airport duty-free in Japan and how it differs from tax-free shoppingNarita, Haneda and Kansai duty-free shops are not part of the new refund system. What each removes, who can buy, pre-orders, arrival shops and allowances.

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