Shopping checklist

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Before you pay

Read the label: AC100V means a Japan-only model. Make sure the voltage matches your country (100–240V works almost everywhere)
Check the plug type (A / C / SE / BF) and buy an adapter if you need one
Ask about the warranty: is there an international warranty? Get the warranty card stamped by the store
Check the manual and panel language (English / Chinese / Japanese only)
Bring your original passport; JP¥5,000 or more (excl. tax) at one store on one day qualifies for tax-free

Before you fly home

Keep the original box and wrap fragile parts (inner pots, shaver heads) separately
Items with lithium batteries (shavers, toothbrushes, hair irons) must go in your carry-on, not checked bags
Large items such as rice cookers can be checked in their box; mind your airline's size and weight limits
From November 1, 2026 the tax is refunded at departure: keep the goods with you and have them confirmed at customs when you leave
Add up what you bought: check your home country's duty-free allowance and declare anything over it
Keep receipts and tax-free records for customs checks and warranty claims

Rice Cooker notes

Check the label for your local voltage (e.g. 220V / 海外向け / 海外仕様). Models marked 100V only work in Japan and regions with similar voltage
Overseas models usually have an SE-type round-pin plug; you may need a plug adapter depending on your outlets
A 5.5 go unit weighs about 4–6 kg and can go in carry-on; for 10 go, check it in its original box
The inner pot is coated; wrap it in clothes in checked baggage to prevent dents
Some models include a warranty certificate for mainland China; otherwise you will need to find repair service yourself

Hair Dryer notes

Check the voltage on the body or box: AC100V models are for Japan only; models marked 100–240V (or 100–120V/200–240V) can be used in your country if the range covers your local voltage
For models with a manual voltage switch, confirm it's set to your local voltage before plugging in at home for the first time
Japanese dryers have a Type A flat two-pin plug; use a plug adapter if your outlets don't accept it
Hair dryers have no battery, so they can go in carry-on or checked baggage; checking is recommended if the original box is bulky
Products bought abroad usually aren't covered by your home-country warranty; keep the receipt and warranty card

Hair Iron notes

Corded models: check the voltage. 100–240V models work if the range covers your local voltage; AC100V domestic models can't be plugged into 200–240V
Cordless models: with a non-removable battery, they're allowed in neither carry-on nor checked baggage; with a removable battery, carry the battery with you and the body can be checked
Under Japanese rules, butane curling irons are limited to 1 per person with a safety cover, and spare gas cartridges are not allowed; some airlines may be stricter (no butane models currently on sale are listed on this site)
Let it cool completely before packing, ideally in a heat-resistant pouch
Japanese models have a Type A flat two-pin plug; use a plug adapter if your outlets don't accept it

Electric Bidet Seat notes

Buy only a model whose voltage range covers your local voltage. AC100V domestic models are for Japan, and high-wattage appliances are not suitable for a transformer
Panasonic's tourist-model bidet seats are officially for use in mainland China only (not Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan), with manuals in Simplified Chinese
Installation needs an outlet near the toilet (ideally 0.8 m or more above the floor), a water supply valve, and a tee fitting; hire a local plumber if needed
Make sure your toilet is a two-piece type with a suitable shape, length, and mounting-hole spacing; one-piece or unusually shaped toilets may not fit
Japanese supply hoses and fittings may not match local standards; you may need an adapter bought locally
The box is bulky, so check it in its original box. From November 1, 2026, you must show tax-free items to customs when leaving Japan, so complete that check before checking your bag

Electric Toothbrush notes

Check the voltage on the charger or manual and make sure it covers your local voltage: AC100–240V works in most countries; AC100–110V needs a step-down transformer in 200–240V regions
Japanese chargers have a Type A flat two-pin plug; use a plug adapter if your outlets don't accept it
USB models don't include a charger; any phone charger (5V) works
Built-in lithium battery: carry it on board rather than checking it
Check whether replacement heads are sold in your country; genuine heads are also common at Japanese drugstores

Shaver notes

Make sure the charger is labeled 100–240V (almost all mainstream Japanese models are) and covers your local voltage; the plug is Type A flat two-pin, so use an adapter if your outlets don't accept it
Shavers have a built-in lithium battery, so carrying them on is recommended; if checked, be sure to turn it off and lock the switch
The cleaning fluid for sets with a cleaning station is a liquid and subject to carry-on liquid limits; check it in or buy it at home
Check your country's duty-free allowance on entry; for travelers to mainland China, a single item over RMB 5,000 must be declared and is subject to duty
Check the replacement head model before buying, and whether it's sold in your country

Game Console notes

Check the Switch 2 box: "日本語・国内専用" means Japanese language and a Japanese Nintendo Account only. For other languages, buy the "多言語対応" edition
The Japanese PS5 / PS5 Pro power supply supports AC100V only, so it cannot be plugged straight into 220V. Nintendo Switch adapters are 100–240V; make sure the range covers your local voltage
Japanese plugs are Type A (two flat pins). Check whether your outlets accept Type A; if not, you need a plug adapter
Handhelds, controllers, and handheld PCs have built-in lithium batteries and must go in carry-on, not checked baggage; over 100Wh requires airline approval
High-value items may exceed your home country's duty-free allowance. For travelers to mainland China, items over CNY 5,000 each (e.g. PS5 Pro, high-end handheld PCs) may be taxed in full, subject to customs practice
Consoles bought in Japan are generally warrantied only in Japan; keep your receipt and warranty card

Cosmetics & Skincare notes

Lotions, emulsions, creams and sunscreens count as liquids: on international flights, carry-on containers must be ≤100ml each, ≤1L total, in one resealable clear bag per person. Bottles over 100ml must be checked even if not full
Sprays (including sunscreen and setting sprays): Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism limits them to ≤0.5L (0.5kg) per container and ≤2L (2kg) total per person, with caps on the nozzles; this also applies to checked baggage
For checked baggage, put bottles in sealed bags and tighten caps to prevent leaks from pressure changes; wrap fragile glass bottles in clothing
Cosmetics bought on or before October 31, 2026 are "consumables" and are sealed in a special tax-free bag that must not be opened before leaving Japan. From November 1, 2026, the refund system removes the special packaging, but all items on the same receipt must stay with you, and anything used up in Japan can't be refunded
Refunds (new rules) require at least 5,000 yen (excluding tax) at the same store on the same day. When departing, complete customs confirmation at the airport's tax-free kiosk first, then check your bags
Arriving home: check your country's duty-free allowance and declare goods over it; large quantities of the same item may be judged as exceeding personal use
Names and formula generations may differ between the Japanese version and versions sold in your country; check the Japanese name and volume on the package, and use within the shelf life after opening

Vacuum Bottles & Mugs notes

Vacuum bottles, food jars and insulated lunch jars aren't electrical and have no batteries, so they can go in carry-on or checked baggage
Empty the bottle before security: liquids in carry-on on international flights are limited to 100mL per container, and you'll be asked to pour out a bottle that still has water in it
In checked baggage, tuck the bottle inside shoes or between clothes to avoid dents; if buying several as gifts, keeping the original packaging looks nicer and protects better
For tax-free items bought from November 1, 2026, complete confirmation at the airport's tax-free kiosk before checking your bags; once checked, you can't take them out
If your total purchases abroad (including vacuum bottles and everything else) exceed your home country's duty-free allowance, declare them at customs

OTC Medicines & Health Goods notes

Customs rules on medicines differ by country; check yours before buying (for travelers to mainland China: the principle is "personal use, reasonable quantity"). Keep the original package and insert (添付文書) instead of repacking pills into a pill box
Cold and cough medicines containing ephedrine-type (dl-methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, etc.) or codeine-type (dihydrocodeine) ingredients may be held by customs if you bring too much; buy only a personal-use quantity
Eye drops, oral liquids and other liquids in carry-on: on international flights, ≤100mL per container in a 1L resealable clear bag; check anything larger
Medicines count toward your home country's duty-free allowance for personal goods; declare if you exceed it
Use medicines according to the package insert or a doctor's instructions; this site does not provide medical advice. Prescription drugs and drugs containing narcotic or psychotropic ingredients are outside the scope of this category

Outdoor Gear notes

Gas canisters (OD backpacking and CB cassette canisters): banned from both carry-on and checked bags; use them up or leave them in Japan. Make sure stoves have no residual fuel before checking them
Knives and multi-tools (no matter how small): checked bags only, not allowed in carry-on
Trekking poles: generally checked only, not carry-on; collapse them and pack in a checked case, or protect the tips with a cardboard tube
Power banks and lanterns with lithium batteries that can work as power banks: carry-on only, not checked; up to 100Wh each without airline approval. Since April 2026, Japan limits each passenger to 2, and you can't charge a power bank or use it to charge devices in the cabin
On arrival home: check your country's duty-free allowance; high-value gear like down jackets and sleeping bags counts toward your total

Souvenir Sweets notes

Prepackaged sweets like cookies, chocolate and potato sticks can go in carry-on or checked bags in reasonable personal-use amounts
Foods containing meat (including cooked meat and meat floss) are prohibited for travelers to mainland China, and many other countries restrict them. Refrigerated sweets based mainly on dairy or eggs, like cheesecake or fresh-cream cakes, fall under broadly worded rules there, so it's best not to bring them
For refrigerated items like Royce' Nama Chocolate: ask for ice packs and an insulated bag, keep them in your carry-on if possible and refrigerate them as soon as you get home. Follow the manufacturer's expiration date, which is much shorter than for shelf-stable sweets
Check the date on the package: 賞味期限 (best before) or 消費期限 (use by). Don't buy short-life sweets too early in your trip
Mind your country's duty-free allowance: souvenirs count toward your total overseas purchases, including those meant as gifts

Matcha & Japanese Tea notes

Prepackaged matcha powder and tea leaves count as ordinary food and can go in carry-on or checked bags in reasonable personal-use amounts; fresh tea plant branches, leaves and seeds are not allowed (rules for travelers to mainland China; check your country's rules)
Matcha latte mixes contain dairy ingredients such as skim milk powder; they are processed foods, not the raw/fresh milk products that mainland China prohibits
Powder and leaves are not liquids and can go in carry-on bags; bottled tea drinks over 100mL should be checked
Matcha is sensitive to heat, humidity and odors: store it somewhere cool and dark, reseal after opening and finish it soon. If you keep it in the fridge, let the tin come back to room temperature before opening to avoid condensation
Mind your country's duty-free allowance: tea counts toward your total overseas purchases

Snacks & Sweets notes

Prepackaged snacks without meat (chocolate, cookies, candy, rice crackers) can go in carry-on or checked bags in reasonable personal-use amounts
Beef jerky, meat floss and snacks with bacon/ham are meat products (raw or cooked) and are prohibited for travelers to mainland China; many other countries restrict them too. Snacks with only "meat flavor" seasoning and no meat in the ingredients don't count, but those with meat extract (エキス) are a gray area
Eggs and butter baked into cookies are ingredients of processed food, and this site doesn't mark them as prohibited; puddings, cheese and other egg- or dairy-based sweets that need refrigeration are best left behind. Customs officers have the final say
Chocolate melts in heat: in summer it can soften in checked bags or a hot car, so consider an insulated bag
Mind your country's duty-free allowance: snacks count toward your total overseas purchases

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