Shopping at MUJI in Japan | Tax-Free Rules and the Changes from November 2026, Returns, Payment, Free Water Dispensers, the Ginza World Flagship Store's Sections, Store Hours in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Airports, Large-Portion Curry, Baumkuchen, and Chocolate-Coated Strawberries

Overview

MUJI (無印良品) is a chain of stores run by the Japanese company Ryohin Keikaku that sells clothing, household goods, cosmetics, food, and more. This article is a guide to shopping at MUJI stores in Japan. It is based on MUJI's official website and FAQ (checked on October 18, 2026) and on photos taken at MUJI by the operator of this site.

• On MUJI's official website, 226 stores are listed as stores where you can buy tax-free (checked on October 18, 2026). They include stores in Ginza, Shinjuku, Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka, and stores at Narita Airport, New Chitose Airport, and Naha Airport.
• According to MUJI's FAQ, you can buy tax-free when the total of the items you buy at one store on the same day is at least ¥5,000 (tax excluded) and no more than ¥500,000 (tax excluded).
• Returns for personal reasons are accepted within 30 days of purchase, at the store where you bought the item. Cosmetics, food, and drinks cannot be returned even if they are unopened.
• At stores with a water dispenser, you can fill your own bottle with water for free, even if you do not buy anything. The official website lists 605 stores as having a water dispenser (checked on October 18, 2026).
• Items bought at MUJI stores in Japan cannot be returned or exchanged at MUJI stores outside Japan.
• The food sections carry items such as large-portion retort curry, baumkuchen (“不揃いバウム”, irregular baum), and sweets made of freeze-dried strawberries coated with chocolate. At the store we photographed, there was a notice for a free gift box for curry, and a notice for a free gift box for baum.

The photo, taken by the operator, shows the entrance of a MUJI store inside a shopping center. Above the entrance was a sign reading “無印良品” (MUJI). Near the entrance, slippers, toilet paper, and skincare products were on display.

Conditions

Who can buy tax-free

According to the MUJI FAQ entry on tax exemption in Japan, you can buy tax-free if either one of the following applies to you.

• A person of foreign nationality who does not live in Japan and for whom fewer than 6 months have passed since the day they entered Japan. Most people who come to Japan for sightseeing fall into this group.
• A person of Japanese nationality who can show, with a certificate of residence (zairyu shomei) or an official copy of the supplementary sheet of the family register (koseki no fuhyo), that they have lived outside Japan continuously for 2 years or more. The original document is required; a photo on a smartphone or a photocopy cannot be used.

Amounts you can buy tax-free

According to MUJI's FAQ, you can buy tax-free when the total of the items you buy at one store on the same day is at least ¥5,000 (tax excluded) and no more than ¥500,000 (tax excluded). Purchases made at a different store or on a different day cannot be added together. Only items for your own use can be bought tax-free. Items for resale cannot be bought tax-free.

Procedure in the store

1. Line up at a register that handles tax-free purchases. At the Ginza store, the tax-free registers are on 4F.
2. Show the original of your passport when you pay. The tax-free procedure is done at this time of payment.

You can complete the tax-free procedure only on the day of purchase, during the store's tax-free service hours. At some stores, the tax-free service hours are different from the store's opening hours.

• When you buy tax-free, you cannot use MUJI app points or member benefits (MUJI FAQ).
• Items bought tax-free must be taken out of Japan when you leave.

Changes from November 1, 2026

Japan's tax-free system changed on November 1, 2026 (Japan Tourism Agency information).

• For purchases made on or before October 31, 2026, you paid the price without consumption tax in the store.
• For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, you pay the price including consumption tax in the store. When you leave Japan, your purchases are checked by customs at the airport or seaport, and after that, the consumption tax amount is refunded. To receive the refund, you must leave Japan within 90 days of the day of purchase and have the customs check at that time.

As of November 4, 2026, MUJI's FAQ and its tax-free information page for travelers still explain the system in effect through October and do not describe a procedure adapted to this change or how to receive the refund. For purchases made on or after November 1, check the procedure at the store when you buy. The procedure when leaving Japan is explained in Tax-Free Shopping in Japan | The Refund Method from November 2026 and What to Do When You Leave Japan.

Differences from the foreign-language information page

MUJI also has a foreign-language tax-free information page for travelers (Tax-free Services, in English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai). When we checked on October 18, 2026, this page showed old amount conditions that differ from the FAQ. This article gives the conditions in the FAQ. Check the amount conditions at the store when you pay.

Highlights

Sections of the store we photographed

The following shows the sections of the store photographed by the operator. The products on display and the look of the sections differ by store and season.

Free water dispenser

The store we photographed had a water dispenser with “水” (Water) written in large letters. The notice said, in Japanese and English, “マイボトルでご利用ください” and “Please use your own bottle”, and showed how to use it in the following three steps.

1. Choose room-temperature water or cold water.
2. Choose the amount to dispense at one time.
3. Press the water button.

According to MUJI's FAQ, the water from the dispensers is tap water passed through a filter that removes chlorine. You can use it with your own bottle or flask, even if it is not a MUJI bottle. You can use it even if you do not buy anything. Because the chlorine has been removed, the water does not keep, and MUJI advises drinking it as soon as possible. The dispensers may be stopped without notice.

Skincare

At the store we photographed, toners and milky lotions for sensitive skin were lined up in bottles from large to small. Tester bottles marked “TESTER” and cotton pads for trying the products were also provided.

• According to MUJI's FAQ, MUJI's facial cosmetics (skincare products, makeup products, sunscreen, and so on) are not dangerous goods under the Civil Aeronautics Act. However, there are separate rules on the amount of liquids you can take into an airplane cabin.
• Cosmetics cannot be returned for personal reasons, even if they are unopened. Before buying, check the product with the tester bottle.

Curry and retort food

At the store we photographed, pouches of retort food to heat and eat, such as curry and pasta sauce, were lined up on the shelves.

The curry section had a board listing the curries. The curries were arranged in order of spiciness, shown by the number of chili pepper pictures, and the board said “現地の味そのまま、44種類。” (44 kinds, with the authentic local taste). Some curries on the list had a “お取り寄せ” (order from another store) mark. Below the list, it said “店頭にない商品はお取り寄せできます” (Items not in the store can be ordered).

Above the list was a notice reading “カレー専用 無料ギフトボックス” (Free gift box for curry only). The notice said “カレーを6個または9個お選びください” (Please choose 6 or 9 curries), “レジにお持ちください” (Please bring them to the register), and “スタッフがセットしてお渡しします” (Our staff will pack them and hand them to you). This notice was at the store we photographed, at the time we took the photo.

At the store we photographed, there was a notice reading “無印良品の大盛りカレー” (MUJI's large-portion curry). On MUJI's online store, there are the following 4 kinds of large-portion curry, each ¥390 (tax included) per pouch (checked on October 18, 2026).

Next to this notice, too, there was a notice for the “カレー専用 無料ギフトボックス” (Free gift box for curry only).

Near this notice, many pouches of curry and soup were lined up on wooden shelves.

Baumkuchen

MUJI sells baumkuchen (called “バウム” (baum) in MUJI's product names) individually bagged, one piece per bag. At the store we photographed, baum in many flavors was lined up on glass shelves.

About the baum with “不揃い” (irregular) in the product name, the online store explains that it also makes use of pieces that used to be rejected for reasons such as uneven baking or a misshapen form, even though these have nothing to do with taste. This means that the bag may include pieces whose baked color or shape is not uniform.

The bags also had an English name under the Japanese name (in the photo, “Matcha Baumkuchen” and “Cultured Butter Baumkuchen”). On the online store, for example, “不揃い 抹茶バウム” (Irregular matcha baum) is ¥190 (tax included) (checked on October 18, 2026). The irregular baum sold on the online store comes in matcha, chocolate, cultured butter, black tea, sweet potato, lemon, banana, maple, and honey flavors. At the store we photographed, there were also baum named “たんぱく質がとれるバウム” (Baum with protein) and “食物繊維がとれるバウム” (Baum with dietary fiber).

In the sweets section of the store we photographed, there was a display showing the name of a region of Japan and the name of a flavor made with ingredients from that region (in the photo, “東日本 北海道” (Eastern Japan, Hokkaido) and “焼きとうもろこし風バターバウム” (Grilled-corn-flavored butter baumkuchen)). According to the online store's description, this baum has butter and corn powder kneaded into the batter and is topped with a soy-sauce-flavored jelly, inspired by grilled corn. This article has not checked whether MUJI stores outside Japan sell the same products.

Chocolate-coated fruit

At the store we photographed, there were sweets made of freeze-dried fruit, some coated with chocolate and some infused with chocolate. The bags also had English names (in the photo, “White Chocolate Infused Kiwifruit” and “Yogurt Chocolate Infused Strawberries”). On the left of the photo were a tag reading “バウム用 無料ギフトボックス” (Free gift box for baum) and a sample of a white box. As the name on the tag says, this is a notice for a box to put baum in.

The descriptions and prices on the online store are as follows (checked on October 18, 2026).

Food and drinks cannot be returned for personal reasons, even if they are unopened.

Stationery

At the store we photographed, stationery such as notebooks, pens, planners, and files was grouped together on one set of shelves.

Travel goods

The travel goods section of the store we photographed had neck pillows, pouches for organizing luggage, and small refill containers.

Suitcases

The suitcase section of the store we photographed had a notice for the new model of suitcases. The notice read “新仕様のハードキャリーケース。選べる色が、そろいました。” (Hard carry cases with a new design. A wide range of colors to choose from.), showing that many colors are available. The same notice also said “店頭にない色はお取り寄せとなります” (Colors not in the store need to be ordered). Not every color was available at the store we photographed. On the shelf below, there were also suitcases of the previous model with a notice reading “旧商品のため、なくなり次第終了です” (Old model, available only while stock lasts).

According to MUJI's FAQ, suitcases of the 2026 spring/summer model and later have a lock that opens with a 3-digit combination. The combination at the time of purchase is “0-0-0”, and you can change it to any number you like.

Backpacks and bags

At the store we photographed, backpacks and shoulder bags in different colors were hanging next to the suitcase section.

Slippers and bedding

At the store we photographed, many slippers in different colors were hanging near the entrance.

In the bedding section, duvet covers and pillowcases were lined up on shelves by color and material. On the board above the shelves, material names were written, such as “綿フランネル” (cotton flannel) and “綿天竺” (cotton jersey).

Where to buy

Stores in places travelers often visit

All the stores in the following table are listed in the “免税” (tax-free) store list on MUJI's official website (checked on October 18, 2026). Opening hours and whether there is a water dispenser are based on the store list and each store's page on MUJI's official website (checked on October 18, 2026).

The floor numbers in the table are the same as the signs in the buildings (the ground floor is 1F, and the first basement floor is B1F). “MUJI to GO” is the name of MUJI stores that mainly sell products for travel.

• Opening hours may change depending on the building the store is in. Some stores have different opening hours during the New Year holidays.
• You can find other stores in the store list on MUJI's official website by selecting the “免税” (tax-free) or “給水器設置” (water dispenser installed) options.

The world flagship store in Ginza

On MUJI's store page, the Ginza store is described as the “world flagship store”. According to the special page for the Ginza store (checked on October 18, 2026), the sections on each floor are as follows.

• The tax-free registers are on 4F, and their service hours are 11:00–20:30 (store page). They end before the store closes (21:00).
• The special page for the Ginza store also introduces the hotel MUJI HOTEL GINZA. Breakfast at WA, the Japanese restaurant, is available only to people staying at the hotel.

Checkout and store

Are prices lower at stores in Japan?

MUJI does not publish price differences between countries. The price tags at the store we photographed showed prices in Japanese yen, including consumption tax. How you pay when you buy tax-free changed on November 1, 2026.

• For purchases made on or before October 31, 2026, you paid the price without consumption tax in the store.
• For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, you pay the price including consumption tax in the store. You receive a refund of the consumption tax amount after your purchases are checked by customs when you leave Japan.

To compare with MUJI prices in your own country, convert the yen price on the price tag at that day's exchange rate.

Payment

According to MUJI's FAQ, the accepted payment methods differ by store and are listed on each store's page. For example, the Ginza store's page lists credit cards, transit IC card e-money, PayPay, UnionPay cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and more. The list of payment methods on the Naha Airport store's page does not include Alipay or WeChat Pay (checked on October 18, 2026).

The FAQ does not say whether credit cards issued outside Japan can be used in stores. MUJI's online store in Japan does not accept credit cards issued outside Japan.

Bags and gift wrapping

• Paper bags are ¥10 (tax included) each. You can buy one only when you buy items.
• For large items or many items that do not fit in a paper bag, you can use a “share bag”. You buy a share bag with a deposit of ¥150, and when you no longer need it, bring it to a MUJI store to get the deposit back.
• When you buy frozen or chilled food, you can buy an insulated bag for ¥50 (tax included) each.
• In stores, you can use paper gift bags and wrapping paper for free. Cloth bags and gift boxes cost extra (FAQ).

Ordering items not in the store

According to MUJI's FAQ, items can be ordered from other stores. However, some items cannot be ordered, such as sale items and items sold only at a limited number of stores. The FAQ does not say how many days it takes for an item to arrive. Check at the store whether you can receive it while you are in Japan.

Shipping outside Japan

According to MUJI's FAQ, MUJI stores in Japan and the online store do not ship items outside Japan. Take the items you buy in Japan home yourself.

Electrical appliances

According to MUJI's FAQ, except for travel appliances, MUJI's electrical appliances are made for use in Japan. In countries with a different voltage, they cannot be used as they are. Breakdowns from use outside Japan are not covered by the warranty.

Food labels

According to MUJI's FAQ, foods that can cause allergies are shown in Japanese in the ingredients section of food packaging. The foods shown include shrimp, crab, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, and peanuts, as well as beef, chicken, pork, gelatin, and others. Separately from the ingredients section, the names of these foods are shown together inside a square box. The FAQ does not say anything about halal certification.

Returns and exchanges

The rules in MUJI's FAQ for returning and exchanging items bought in stores are as follows.

• Accepted within 30 days of purchase, at the store where you bought the item.
• The receipt is required. If you paid with a credit card or smartphone, you also need the card or smartphone you used to pay.
• The item must be unused, with its packaging and tags complete.
• As a rule, the refund is made by the same payment method you used when you bought the item.

The following items cannot be returned or exchanged for personal reasons.

• Cosmetics (whether opened or unopened)
• Food and drinks
• Items that cannot be resold for hygiene reasons, such as masks, toothbrushes, and underwear
• Items that have been washed, and clothing that has been altered, for example by hemming

Items bought in Japan cannot be returned or exchanged at MUJI stores outside Japan. The FAQ does not say how returns of items bought tax-free are handled.

Good to know

Notes

• The information in this article is based on MUJI's official website (the store list, each store's page, the special page for the Ginza store, and the tax-free information page for travelers) and MUJI's FAQ, checked on October 18, 2026. Opening hours, the tax-free procedure, and the products sold may change.
• The tax-free procedure may change in line with the change to the tax-free system on November 1, 2026.
• The photos in this article were taken at MUJI by the operator. We do not say which photo was taken at which store. Some of the photos of the large-portion curry, baumkuchen, and chocolate-coated fruit were taken on October 17, 2026. The look of the sections, the products on display, and the notices are one example from the store we photographed, at the time we photographed it. The faces of people in the photos are blurred.
• The food prices in this article are the prices on MUJI's online store (checked on October 18, 2026, including consumption tax). They are not necessarily the same as the prices in stores.
• As examples of the tax-free procedure at other stores in Japan, UNIQLO is explained in How to Shop at UNIQLO in Japan | Tax-Free Rules and Returns, Hemming Fees and Turnaround Times, Sizes, Payment, Choosing HEATTECH, UNIQLO Shinjuku Takashimaya, LOFT in How to Shop at LOFT in Japan | Tax-Free Conditions and Procedure, Hours of Stores in Shibuya, Ginza, Umeda and More, Cosmetics and Stationery Sections, Payment Methods, and Montbell (mont-bell) in Shopping at Montbell (mont-bell) in Japan | PIE VAT Tax-Free App and Fees, Store Hours in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka, Store-Exclusive Local T-Shirts, Bear Bells, Japanese Sizes.