Travel

Japan Tax-Free Shopping: Customs at Tokyo Haneda Airport

Here's where I found Customs in Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 2, to declare Tax-Free Shopping items before checking my bags.

Matt Gray

Matt Gray

— 2 min read

Sunday 3rd August 2025

Here's where I found Customs in Tokyo Haneda Airport's Terminal 2, to declare Tax-Free Shopping items before checking my bags. I could find no details about how and where to do this in Tokyo Haneda Airport, so I thought I'd document my experience.

As I understand it, Tourists in Japan are allowed to buy things tax-free, but the items have to leave the country, and you may be required to show every item to customs on the way out to prove it.

The Tax-Free rules from the Japan Tourism Agency say:

🇯🇵
Present your passport and or other documentation at the customs office of the departure location.
*Customs officers may ask you to show the tax-free items. Therefore, it is recommended to obtain customs approval before checking in your luggage.

I'd bought some souvenirs tax-free and wanted to take these items in my checked luggage. So as I understood it, I needed to declare them to customs before checking my bags and before going through security.

Pre-Security Customs at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) Terminal 2

My flight departed from Terminal 2. Customs in Haneda Terminal 2 was located in the International Flights Departure Lobby on the third floor, next to the Currency Exchange desk. I would not have found it if I hadn't asked at the info desk.

Map of Tokyo Haneda Airport,Terminal 2, Third Floor
Customs shown next to Currency Exchange

It was a closed white door, with an intercom phone handset next to it. Instructions on how to use the phone were on the handset itself. I had to press button 2 for customs, then press the call button to make the call.

A customs officer opened the door, invited me in, and got me to scan my passport. I wasn't asked to show anything and was free to go.

Disclaimer

  • This is entirely based on my one-time experience, and I'm no expert in the matter.
  • I don't know about other airports or terminals.
  • I can't answer any questions about this.
  • I travelled on 3rd August 2025. The rules and airport layout may have changed since then.
  • My understanding of the Tax-Free rules from the Japan Tourism Agency may be flawed.

And for those of you who found this via search results:

Hi, I'm Matt, a YouTuber sharing my wonder for amazing careers in Matt Gray is Trying; and using my electronics & 3D printing skills to Make Things.

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