Visiting Japan · Lesson 4

Shopping and tax-free

From convenience stores to department stores, a few phrases make shopping easy. This lesson covers prices, cards, bags, and how the new tax-free system works. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

14 shopping phrases

Each card shows the phrase, how to say it in English letters, and a short line using it. Tap "Show English" for the meaning and a note on when to say it, and tap the speaker to hear it.

G01

これはいくらですかKore wa ikura des ka?shop

すみません、これはいくらですか？
Sumimasen, kore wa ikura des ka?

how much is this? · Excuse me, how much is this?
Point at the item. Prices on tags often show the price with tax (税込ぜいこみ) and without tax (税抜ぜいぬき).
G02

カードは使つかえますかKādo wa tsukaemas ka?shop

このカードは使つかえますか？
Kono kādo wa tsukaemas ka?

do you take cards? · Can I use this card?
Hold up your card as you ask. Most shops take cards; small stalls may be cash only.
G03

現金げんきんで払はらいますGenkin de haraimas.shop

現金げんきんで払はらいます。
Genkin de haraimas.

I'll pay cash · I'll pay in cash.
Put the money in the small tray at the till rather than in the person's hand.
G04

袋ふくろはいりませんFukuro wa irimasen.shop

袋ふくろはいりません。
Fukuro wa irimasen.

I don't need a bag · I don't need a bag.
When the cashier asks about a bag. 大丈夫だいじょうぶです works too.
G05

袋ふくろをお願ねがいしますFukuro o onegai shimas.shop

袋ふくろを一ひとつお願ねがいします。
Fukuro o hitotsu onegai shimas.

a bag, please · One bag, please.
Bags usually cost a few yen.
G06

温あたためますかAtatamemas ka?shop

お弁当べんとう、温あたためますか？
Obentō, atatamemas ka?

shall I heat it up? (staff) · Shall I heat up your bento?
You'll hear it at a convenience store. Answer はい、お願ねがいします or 大丈夫だいじょうぶです.
G07

ポイントカードはお持もちですかPointo kādo wa omochi des ka?shop

ポイントカードはお持もちですか？
Pointo kādo wa omochi des ka?

do you have a points card? (staff) · Do you have a points card?
Staff ask this at many tills. Just say いいえ or 大丈夫だいじょうぶです.
G08

見みてるだけですMiteru dake des.shop

ありがとうございます、見みてるだけです。
Arigatō gozaimas, miteru dake des.

I'm just looking · Thank you, I'm just looking.
When staff offer to help and you're only browsing.
G09

試着しちゃくしてもいいですかShichaku shite mo ii des ka?shop

これ、試着しちゃくしてもいいですか？
Kore, shichaku shite mo ii des ka?

may I try this on? · May I try this on?
Hold up the clothes. Take your shoes off before stepping into the fitting room.
G10

〜はありますか… wa arimas ka?shop

もっと小ちいさいサイズはありますか？
Motto chiisai saizu wa arimas ka?

do you have …? · Do you have a smaller size?
Ask for a size, colour or item.
G11

これにしますKore ni shimas.shop

じゃあ、これにします。
Jā, kore ni shimas.

I'll take this one · OK, I'll take this one.
When you've decided. Also works when ordering food.
G12

プレゼント用ように包つつんでいただけますかPurezentoyō ni tsutsunde itadakemas ka?shop

すみません、プレゼント用ように包つつんでいただけますか？
Sumimasen, purezentoyō ni tsutsunde itadakemas ka?

could you gift-wrap it? · Excuse me, could you wrap it as a present?
Many shops, especially department stores, wrap beautifully, often for free.
G13

免税めんぜいの手続てつづきはできますかMenzei no tetsuzuki wa dekimas ka?tax-free

すみません、免税めんぜいの手続てつづきはできますか？
Sumimasen, menzei no tetsuzuki wa dekimas ka?

can I shop tax-free here? · Excuse me, can I do the tax-free process here?
Ask before you pay. Look for a Tax-Free sign at the till or door.
G14

パスポートですPasupōto des.tax-free

はい、パスポートです。
Hai, pasupōto des.

here's my passport · Here's my passport.
You need your passport itself, not a photo of it, for tax-free shopping.

Tax-free shopping, step by step

The system for purchases from 1 November 2026. Details vary by shop, so ask the shop how they refund.

Step	What to do	Say
1. At the shop	Ask for tax-free, show your passport and pay the full price, tax included.	パスポートです (Pasupōto des)
2. After paying	The goods are not sealed. Keep them with you, in your hand luggage, and keep the receipt.	レシートをお願ねがいします (Reshīto o onegai shimas)
3. Leaving Japan	Within 90 days of buying, confirm the goods at the customs tax-free kiosk at the departure airport or port. At major airports you can also do it online with Visit Japan Web.	—
4. The refund	The shop or its refund agent pays back the tax. How you get it varies, so ask when you buy.	返金へんきんはどうやって受うけ取とれますか？ (Henkin wa dō yatte uketoremas ka?)

Pay the full price. At a tax-free shop you now pay the price including tax and show your passport. The tax comes back later, once customs has confirmed the goods as you leave Japan.
Who qualifies. At least 5,000 yen before tax at one shop on one day. Food, drink and cosmetics that you use up in Japan don't qualify.
Keep the goods with you. They're no longer sealed in special bags. Pack them in your hand luggage, not your checked bags, so customs can see them.
Bags cost extra. Most shops charge a few yen for a plastic bag and will ask if you need one.

Two patterns to use today

〜はありますか

Ask for a size, a colour or something else.

他ほかの色いろはありますか？

Hoka no iro wa arimas ka?

Do you have other colours?

Mサイズはありますか？

Emu saizu wa arimas ka?

Do you have a medium?

これを〜ください

Point, then say how many: 一ひとつ, 二ふたつ, 三みっつ.

これを三みっつください。

Kore o mittsu kudasai.

Three of these, please.

これを一ひとつください。

Kore o hitotsu kudasai.

One of these, please.

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. How much is this?
2. Do you take cards?
3. I don't need a bag.
4. A bag, please.
5. I'm just looking.
6. May I try it on?
7. Do you have a bigger size?
8. I'll take this one.
9. Can I shop tax-free here?
10. Here's my passport.