What to buy at Don Quijote (Donki) in Japan, and how does tax-free work there? Are there refund fees from November 2026?

Updated 2026-10-248 sources

Before you go: tax-free and refunds

• Threshold: 5,000 yen or more excluding tax at one store on the same day. Show your original passport (no copies or photos); the name on your card or payment method must match your passport.
• Same day, same store only: receipts from different stores or days can't be combined, and you can't buy on someone else's behalf.
• From November 1 it's a refund system: you pay the tax-included price, then within 90 days of purchase you get customs confirmation at the airport before checking bags, and the refund is paid by the method you registered. The full process is in Japan's new tax-free rules. As of October 24, Don Quijote's own tax-free page still describes the old procedure (tax-free at checkout, sealed bags for consumables), so from November follow the in-store instructions.
• Fees: PPIH says refund applications will be free from November 1, except cash collected at the airport (a fee set by the refund operator).
• Returns: Don Quijote says defective items can be returned within 90 days, and change-of-mind returns within 30 days and before you leave Japan, at the store of purchase with all items, receipts and the card you paid with.
• Register on Visit Japan Web in advance; Don Quijote says it speeds up the tax-free process.

What to buy: the official best-seller lists

In Don Quijote's official "Doncos Hit Award 2026AW" (sales in the first half of 2026), the top five in the "Inbound Hit" (popular with overseas visitors) category were:

1. Keana Nadeshiko Rice Pack (Ishizawa Lab)
2. Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (Ishizawa Lab)
3. Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence (Kao)
4. Fino Premium Touch hair mask (Fine Today)
5. Anessa Perfect UV Skincare Milk (Shiseido)

Don Quijote's official "Must-Buy Items" flyer for visitors (medicine edition, September 7 to October 31, 2026) includes Sante Beauteye, Sante FX NEO, V Rohto Premium, Chocola BB, Seirogan, DHC supplements and Kyusoku Jikan cooling sheets. The flyer also warns that some products can't be taken out of Japan and that medicine can only be sold while a pharmacist or registered seller is on duty.

How to choose: see Japanese eye drops guide, How to choose OTC medicine in Japan, Japanese cosmetics guide and Japanese snacks guide.

Check what you can take home

• Codeine and ephedrine-type ingredients common in cold medicine are specifically restricted in Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Korea and elsewhere; see Bringing Japanese cold medicine home.
• Food and meat-containing snacks are treated differently by each country; see Bringing Japanese food souvenirs home.
• Sunscreen sprays and lotions are subject to liquid and aerosol limits on flights; see Cosmetics on flights.

Stores and coupon

• Opening hours vary: many large stores are open 24 hours, others close late at night or in the evening, so check the official store search. Our store map includes Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ginza, and the full list is on the store map.
• Visitor coupon: 5% off from 10,000 yen and 7% off from 30,000 yen excluding tax (standard coupon), shown at checkout from the official page; alcohol, tobacco, game consoles, gift cards and single items over 100,000 yen are among the exclusions. Whether the coupon changes once the refund system starts in November is up to the official coupon terms.
• Accepted payment methods vary by store, and some stores accept overseas payment apps; check the store page and in-store signs.