Where to buy Japanese drugstore products in Tokyo
Japanese drugstores and discount stores sell skincare, sunscreen, over-the-counter medicine and snacks, and many central Tokyo branches offer tax-free service.
結論 Our pick
Try Don Quijote for 24-hour shopping, or Daikoku Drug for tax-free drugstore basics near big stations.
Tax-free from ¥5,000 per store
From 1 November 2026 you pay the full price, including 10% tax, and get the tax back once customs confirms at departure that the goods are leaving Japan (within 90 days). Anything you use or eat while in Japan does not qualify.
Source: donki.comBefore you buy
- Best for late nightsMEGA Don Quijote Shibuya, Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho and Don Quijote Akihabara list 24-hour opening, tax-free service and medical products.
- Best for drugstore basicsDaikoku Drug lists tax-free service at many central Tokyo branches, including Shinjuku, Ueno Ameyoko, Akihabara, Ginza and Shibuya.
- Watch outSnacks and skincare you open or use in Japan are not eligible for tax-free. Keep these items unused and take them out of Japan with you.
Where to buy in Tokyo
Checked 9 October 2026. Store links open the official site.
- 渋谷ShibuyaMEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Honten StoreNewHuge 24-hour discount store about five minutes from Shibuya Station, with medical products, cosmetics and snacks under one roof.Tax-freeDirections
- 新宿ShinjukuDon Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho StoreNewOpen 24 hours, about five minutes from Shinjuku Station, handy for late-night drugstore and snack runs.Tax-freeDirections
- 秋葉原AkihabaraDon Quijote Akihabara StoreNew24-hour store three minutes from Akihabara Station's Electric Town Exit, easy to combine with electronics shopping.Tax-freeDirections
- 新宿ShinjukuDaikoku Drug Shinjuku HigashiguchiNewDrugstore near Shinjuku Station, open until 23:50, with tax-free service listed on the official store page.Tax-freeDirections
- 上野UenoDaikoku Drug Ueno AmeyokoNewTax-free drugstore on the Ameyoko market street near JR Ueno Station, easy to add to a Ueno sightseeing day.Tax-freeDirections
- 東京Tokyo StationAinz & Tulpe Tokyo StationNewBeauty-focused drugstore in Tokyo Station Ichibangai, opening at 7:00 on weekdays, so you can stop in before a train.Ask about tax-freeDirections
Questions visitors ask
Can I get tax-free on snacks and skincare?
Yes, if you spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one store and take the items out of Japan. Anything you eat or use during your trip is not eligible. From 1 November 2026 the refund comes after customs confirms export.
What do I need to shop tax-free?
Bring your passport, not a copy. Don Quijote says only non-residents qualify, such as visitors with Temporary Visitor status, and that registering on Visit Japan Web in advance speeds up the process.
Can I take Japanese medicine home?
It depends on your country. Ingredients allowed in Japanese over-the-counter medicine may be restricted elsewhere, so check your home country's customs and health rules before buying, especially in large amounts.
Valid from 1 November 2026
Tax-free now works as a refund
You pay the 10% consumption tax in the store, then get it back after you leave Japan.
- Pay the full priceShow your passport at a tax-free store and keep the receipt.
- Customs check at departureAt the airport or seaport, within 90 days of purchase.
- Refund arrivesBy card, cash or bank transfer, depending on the store.
Minimum ¥5,000 before tax per store. Ask at checkout how that store pays refunds.