Ekiben 駅弁

Shopping 買い物 · Stop S03

お会計と免税

Paying and tax-free shopping in Japanese

A department store in Ginza. You've picked out a gift and you're heading to the register. Pay by card, ask for tax-free, and get your gift wrapped.

  • 銀座 · Set in Ginza
  • 7-minute lesson
  • With Ekiben Pass

Phrases

カードではらえますか？

kaado de haraemasu ka?

Can I pay by card?

Swap in 現金 (cash) or Suica. Small shops and temples may still be cash only.

Pattern: 〜で払えますか？

カードでkaado de · by card払えますharaemasu · can payかka · (question)

めんぜいてつづきをおねがいします

menzei tetsuzuki o onegaishimasu

Tax-free, please.

Have your passport ready. From Nov 2026 you pay full price, and the tax is refunded after customs checks your goods as you leave.

Literally: The tax-free procedure, please.

免税menzei · tax-free手続きをtetsuzuki o · procedure (object)お願いしますonegaishimasu · please

プレゼントようにつつんでもらえますか？

purezento-you ni tsutsunde moraemasu ka?

Could you gift-wrap it?

Department stores wrap beautifully, often for free. Staff may ask ご自宅用ですか？ (Is it for yourself?)

Pattern: 〜てもらえますか？

プレゼント用にpurezento-you ni · for a gift包んでtsutsunde · wrapもらえますmoraemasu · could youかka · (question)

reshiito o kudasai

Could I have the receipt?

Need a formal receipt for expenses? Ask for a 領収書 (ryoushuusho) instead.

レシートをreshiito o · receipt (object)くださいkudasai · please give

タッチけっさいはできますか？

tatchi kessai wa dekimasu ka?

Can I pay by tap (contactless)?

Contactless cards are now common in Japan's cities. Look for the tap symbol at the register.

タッチ決済はtatchi kessai wa · tap payment (topic)できますdekimasu · can doかka · (question)

べつべつにつつんでもらえますか？

betsubetsu ni tsutsunde moraemasu ka?

Could you wrap them separately?

Handy when you're buying souvenirs for several people.

別々にbetsubetsu ni · separately包んでtsutsunde · wrapもらえますmoraemasu · could youかka · (question)

What you’ll hear

Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.

pasupooto o misete itadakemasu ka?

May I see your passport?

When you ask for tax-free, the shop registers your purchase to your passport.

You

hai, douzo

Sure, here you go.

ikkatsu barai de yoroshii desu ka?

Paying in one go?

Asked when you pay by credit card, because Japanese cards allow installments. Just say yes.

You

hai

Yes.

gojitaku-you de yoroshii desu ka?

Is this for yourself?

Asked before wrapping. ご自宅用 means 'for home use', so they'll skip the gift wrap.

You

iie, purezento-you de onegaishimasu

No, it's a gift, please.

Culture tip

Tax-Free Is Now a Refund

From 1 Nov 2026, you pay the full tax-included price at the shop and show your passport so the purchase is registered. When leaving Japan, have customs check the goods before you check in your luggage. Then the tax is refunded.

“Under the new system, you pay the tax-free price right at the register.”

Practice scene

A Gift from Ginza

The tableware floor of a Ginza department store. You're buying a set of tea cups as a gift for a friend back home.

Ms. Kato · Department store clerk

  1. irasshaimase. kochira, ichiman nisen en de gozaimasu.

    Hello. That comes to 12,000 yen.

  2. Your turn: Ask if you can pay by card.

    kaado de haraemasu ka?

    Can I pay by card?

  3. hai, kaado mo tsukaemasu.

    Yes, we take cards.

  4. Your turn: You're visiting Japan, so ask for tax-free.

    menzei tetsuzuki o onegaishimasu

    Tax-free, please.

  5. kashikomarimashita. pasupooto o misete itadakemasu ka?

    Certainly. May I see your passport?

  6. Your turn: Hand over your passport, then ask her to gift-wrap the cups.

    purezento-you ni tsutsunde moraemasu ka?

    Could you gift-wrap it?

  7. kashikomarimashita. shouhizei wa, shukkoku no sai ni zeikan no kakunin o ukete kara henkin saremasu.

    Certainly. The tax is refunded once customs checks your goods when you leave Japan.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3