Gotemba, Rinku, Kobe-Sanda, Sano, Shisui and the other Premium Outlets are run by Mitsubishi Estate・Simon. Mitsui Outlet Parks such as Kisarazu are run by Mitsui Fudosan Retail Management. From 1 November 2026 you pay the full price including tax and get it back after the customs check when you leave Japan. Checked against both operators’ websites on 28 October 2026.
By Mikako Yoshida ·Published 28 October 2026
What is known (as of 28 October 2026)
| Topic | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tax-free at Premium Outlets | Each tax-free shop handles it at its own till. Show your passport when you pay. Tax-free shops are marked TAX FREE in each centre’s store list. | Premium Outlets services pages and store lists |
| Tax-free at Mitsui Outlet Park | Each shop handles it. Sapporo Kitahiroshima, Makuhari, Kisarazu, Jazz Dream Nagashima and Osaka Kadoma also have a TOURIST INFORMATION & Tax-free Counter, used with the PIE VAT app for some shops. | Mitsui Outlet Park English pages |
| Minimum spend | ¥5,000 before tax at the same shop on the same day | Japan Tourism Agency |
| Refund method from 1 November | Not announced by either operator | Operators’ websites, checked 28 October 2026 |
| Refund fee | Not announced | Operators’ websites, checked 28 October 2026 |
| Visitor coupons | An e-coupon at Fukaya-Hanazono, coupon books for registered group tours, and airline and card offers | Premium Outlets news pages |
The services pages still show the old rules
The tax-free section on every Premium Outlets services page still lists the rules that end on 31 October 2026: a ¥500,000 cap on consumables, special packing and export within 30 days. For purchases from 1 November 2026 there is no consumables cap and no special packing, and you have 90 days to leave Japan and complete the customs check.
One shop, one receipt
At Premium Outlets each shop makes its own tax-free sale. The ¥5,000 minimum is counted per shop per day, so ¥3,000 at one shop and ¥3,000 at another do not qualify. Each shop gives you its own receipt, and the airport kiosk checks each receipt on its own.
At the five Mitsui Outlet Parks with a tax-free counter, Mitsui says some shops let you complete the procedure at the counter with the PIE VAT app, and the Kisarazu page adds that some shops do not take part. Mitsui Outlet Park Okazaki and Marine Pia Kobe say they have no tax-free counter, so you deal with each shop.
Centres visitors use most
| Centre | Shops | From the operator’s pages |
|---|---|---|
| Gotemba Premium Outlets (Shizuoka) | 290 | Flagship centre with a view of Mt. Fuji; free shuttle bus from JR Gotemba Station |
| Rinku Premium Outlets (Osaka) | 250 | Across the water from Kansai Airport; the Sky Shuttle bus from Terminal 1 takes about 15 minutes and costs ¥300 for adults |
| Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets (Hyogo) | 210 | Part of the JCB cashback offer below |
| Sano Premium Outlets (Tochigi) | 180 | Near Nikko |
| Shisui Premium Outlets (Chiba) | 220 | Closest outlet to Narita Airport; flight information board in the food court |
| Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu (Chiba) | — | Direct highway buses from Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shinagawa stations; tax-free counter |
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Visitor coupons and offers
- Fukaya-Hanazono: an e-coupon for overseas visitors. Scan the QR code displayed at the centre with location services on; the Information Center can help.
- Group tours: if the tour organiser registers the visit in advance, the group gets free coupon books, sent ahead to an address in Japan or collected at the centre.
- STARLUX Airlines passengers from Taiwan: a gift at the Information Center of any of the 10 centres when you show a paper or electronic boarding pass within 10 days of your flight, 1 July to 30 November 2026, while stocks last.
- Greater Bay Airlines passengers from Hong Kong: a tote bag at the Information Center of any of the 10 centres when you show your boarding pass, 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, one per person.
- Shinsegae Simon app members from Korea: a clear file and the centre’s coupon sheet at the Information Centers of Gotemba, Rinku and Tosu, 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, one per person.
- Eligible JCB cards issued in Indonesia, Vietnam or the Philippines: 10% cashback on ¥50,000 or more per campaign period at Gotemba, Kobe-Sanda, Rinku, Shisui and Tosu, up to ¥5,000 per period.
International delivery
Some shops at Gotemba and Rinku ship purchases to your home abroad, paid by credit card. Rinku’s services page says items you send are not eligible for tax-free shopping. The Japan Tourism Agency says overseas shipping of tax-free goods depends on the shop, so ask before you pay.
Before you leave the outlet
- Pay at each shop with your passport and keep every receipt.
- Spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one shop on one day; totals across shops do not count.
- Register the refund method each shop explains. Neither operator has announced one method for the whole centre.
- Food, drink and cosmetics bought tax-free lose the refund if you consume them in Japan.
- Keep everything from one receipt together, and use the airport kiosk before you check in bags.
Questions
Is there one tax-free counter for all of Gotemba Premium Outlets?
Can I add up purchases from different shops to reach ¥5,000?
How will outlet refunds be paid after 1 November 2026?
How long do I have to get the refund?
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