# Japan Studies Stablecoin Refunds for Foreign Tourists Ahead of Tax Shift

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/36846
Published: 2026-10-21T16:45:25.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-21T16:45:25.000Z
Section: Regulation

> From Nov. 1, 2026, eligible shoppers will pay consumption tax upfront and receive a refund after customs confirms they are taking their goods out of Japan.

Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tatsunori Ibayashi said the government will study stablecoins as a way to refund consumption tax to foreign visitors under a coming tax-free shopping overhaul.

Ibayashi raised the payment option in remarks to a House of Representatives committee. Stablecoin use remains under study, while the change to Japan’s refund system is scheduled for purchases made on or after Nov. 1, 2026.

Under the new system, eligible visitors will pay a price that includes consumption tax when they shop. To receive a refund, they must complete a customs check as they leave Japan within 90 days of purchase. The check confirms that they are taking the goods out of the country.

The tax-free shop, or a refund provider it appoints, will return the tax after customs confirmation. Currently, eligible shoppers generally receive the tax exemption when they buy the goods. Ibayashi’s stablecoin study concerns how refunds might be paid under the new system, which begins with purchases made on Nov. 1.