Japan duty-free on arrival shops planned

With upcoming tax reforms, Japan duty-free on arrival stores could soon be opened.

A Narita International Airport Corporation official says arrival channels would be permitted as part of the update of tax regulations, says Narita International Airport Corporation retail official Hiroomi Eguchi.

He says details still need to be worked out with Customs and Immigration at the airport, and the management team is hopeful Narita will be first to open arrivals duty-free stores in Japan, which could happen “within months”.
Liquor, tobacco and cosmetics are likely to be key categories, with inbound Japanese the main target audience.

“It could appeal to returning Japanese who do not want to carry bottles of liquor around on their trip, and also be a convenient last-minute shopping option,” says the airport company.

The tax change is also seen as a big boost in particular for the newly privatised Kansai and Sendai International Airports.