Japanese Shopping and Money Vocabulary: Prices, Sizes, Payment, Receipts, Tax-Free, Staff Phrases, and Common Mistakes

**Target level**: JLPT N5–N4 / Beginner–Intermediate **Topic**: A complete guide to Japanese shopping and money vocabulary for English speakers — covering store and product vocabulary, payment methods, what you say vs. what staff say, size and color phrases, receipts, tax-free shopping, different store types, common mistakes, and a quick quiz. —

You have just walked into a department store in Shinjuku. The staff greets you with a cheerful いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase). You find something you like, want to ask if it comes in a different size, and then need to figure out whether you can pay by card or whether you should have brought more cash. At the register, someone asks you something you do not quite catch — and you nod automatically, unsure whether you just agreed to a point card, a bag, or gift wrapping.

Shopping in Japan is one of the most rewarding experiences the country offers — but it works differently from what most English speakers are used to. Japan still runs significantly on cash. Staff follow a set of scripted phrases that can sound rapid and formal. Tax is calculated in specific ways, and tourists have access to a tax-free system that requires its own vocabulary. This guide walks you through the full transaction: from entering the store to walking out with your receipt.

Whether you are preparing for a trip to Japan, studying for JLPT N5 or N4, or just want to feel confident the next time you step into a konbini or a 百貨店 (hyakkaten, department store), this is the vocabulary you need.

Your situation	Section to read
Visiting Japan and shopping at stores	What You Say + What Staff Will Say
Need to pay by card or electronic money	Price and Payment Vocabulary
Looking for a different size or color	Size, Color, and Clothing Vocabulary
Want a receipt or need to refuse a bag	Receipt, Bag, and Point Card Vocabulary
Tourist wanting to shop tax-free	Tax-Free Shopping in Japan
Shopping at a conbini, supermarket, or 100-yen shop	Shopping at Different Store Types
Studying for JLPT N5 vocabulary	Core Vocabulary Tables + Quick Quiz

Why Shopping Vocabulary Is Essential in Japan

Japan has a reputation for smooth, effortless shopping — and that reputation is well-earned. But the smoothness depends partly on the shopper knowing how the system works. A few things set Japan apart from shopping in most English-speaking countries.

Cash culture is still alive. Despite the growth of IC cards and QR payment apps like PayPay, Japan still has a significant cash-first culture, especially at smaller shops, local restaurants, and traditional markets. Many stores display 現金のみ (genkin nomi, cash only) at the register. Coming prepared with yen — and knowing what the cashier is asking you — saves awkward moments.

Omotenashi shapes every interaction. 御もてなし (おもてなし, omotenashi) is the Japanese concept of wholehearted hospitality. In retail, this means staff will greet you loudly, offer bags and gift wrapping, suggest products, and follow a very consistent set of phrases. These phrases sound formal and can feel overwhelming if you do not know what they mean — but once you learn them, you can respond confidently every time.

Tax-free shopping is available for tourists. Japan has a consumption tax (消費税, shouhizei) of 10% on most goods. Foreign visitors staying fewer than six months can receive a refund on qualifying purchases at stores displaying the 免税 (menzetsu) or Tax Free sign. Knowing the key phrases means you do not miss out on this benefit.

Essential Japanese Shopping Vocabulary

These are the core words you will encounter in any retail environment in Japan. Learn these first — they appear on signs, in conversations, and on receipts.

Japanese	Reading	Meaning	Notes
店（お店）	みせ（おみせ）	store / shop	お店 is the polite, everyday form
商品	しょうひん	product / merchandise / item	Used on signs and in formal contexts
値段（ねだん）	ねだん	price (everyday use)	The most common word for “price” in daily shopping
セール	seāru	sale	From English; 割引 is the Japanese equivalent
割引	わりびき	discount	10%割引 = “10% off”
レジ	reji	cash register / checkout counter	From English “register”
お会計	おかいけい	the bill / payment / checkout	Also used in restaurants
レシート	rishīto	receipt (paper printout)	Different from 領収書 (ryoushuusho, formal receipt)
袋	ふくろ	bag (shopping bag)	Staff will ask: 袋はご利用ですか？
在庫	ざいこ	stock / inventory	在庫切れ = out of stock
試着室	しちゃくしつ	fitting room / changing room	Also called フィッティングルーム
店員	てんいん	shop staff / sales clerk	Polite form: 店員さん

Essential Japanese Money Vocabulary

Understanding money words in Japanese goes beyond knowing yen. You need to handle payment methods, tax displays, and change — all of which use specific vocabulary that appears on signs, registers, and receipts.

Japanese	Reading	Meaning	Notes
お金	おかね	money	General word; お is a polite prefix
円	えん	yen (Japanese currency)	500円 = 500 yen; pronounced “en”
現金	げんきん	cash	現金のみ = cash only
カード	kādo	credit/debit card	クレジットカード = credit card
電子マネー	でんしマネー	electronic money	Includes Suica, PayPay, LINE Pay, etc.
交通系ICカード	こうつうけいICカード	transit IC card (Suica, Pasmo, etc.)	Widely accepted at convenience stores and larger chains
税込	ぜいこみ	tax included (in the price)	Most displayed prices in Japan are 税込
税抜	ぜいぬき	tax excluded / pre-tax price	Less common; add 10% for the actual total
合計	ごうけい	total	Appears at the bottom of receipts
お釣り	おつり	change (money given back)	お釣りをください = “Please give me my change”
支払い	しはらい	payment	お支払い方法は？= “How would you like to pay?”
一万円札	いちまんえんさつ	10,000-yen note	The most common large-denomination bill

What You Say When Shopping

These are the phrases you — as the shopper — will actually say. They cover the most common situations from entering the store to completing the purchase.

Japanese	Romaji	English	When to use it
これはいくらですか？	Kore wa ikura desu ka?	How much is this?	Pointing at an item to ask the price
これをください。	Kore wo kudasai.	I’ll take this / Give me this please.	Buying a specific item; point at it if needed
〜はありますか？	~wa arimasu ka?	Do you have ~?	Asking if a product is in stock
他の色はありますか？	Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka?	Do you have this in other colors?	Looking for a color variation
サイズはありますか？（Mサイズは？）	Saizu wa arimasu ka? (M saizu wa?)	Do you have this size? (Do you have a medium?)	Looking for a specific size in clothing
試着してもいいですか？	Shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?	May I try this on?	Asking to use the fitting room
カードは使えますか？	Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka?	Can I pay by card?	Checking whether cards are accepted
袋をお願いします。	Fukuro wo onegaishimasu.	A bag, please.	Asking for a shopping bag (charged in many stores)

What Store Staff Will Say to You

Japanese retail staff follow a fairly consistent set of phrases. Once you recognize these, the whole shopping experience becomes much less stressful. Each phrase below includes what it means and how to respond.

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning / How to respond
いらっしゃいませ。	Irasshaimase.	“Welcome.” — No response needed. It is a ritual greeting said to every customer.
何かお探しですか？	Nanika osagashi desu ka?	“Are you looking for something?” — Say 大丈夫です if browsing, or describe what you need.
ご試着できますよ。	Go-shichaku dekimasu yo.	“You are welcome to try it on.” — お願いします if yes; 大丈夫です if not now.
お支払い方法はいかがなさいますか？	O-shiharai houhou wa ikaga nasaimasu ka?	“How would you like to pay?” — Answer: 現金で (cash), カードで (card), or name your e-money app.
袋はご利用ですか？	Fukuro wa goriyou desu ka?	“Would you like a bag?” — はい or お願いします for yes; 大丈夫です / 結構です / 要りません for no.
ポイントカードはお持ちですか？	Pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka?	“Do you have a point card?” — 持っていません or ありません if you do not.
レシートはご利用ですか？	Rishīto wa goriyou desu ka?	“Would you like a receipt?” — はい to get one; 結構です or 大丈夫です to decline.
〇〇円になります。	~en ni narimasu.	“That comes to ~~ yen.” — The total amount. Listen for the number and hand over payment.

Price and Payment Vocabulary

Japan offers a wider range of payment methods than many visitors expect — and knowing the vocabulary lets you navigate them smoothly.

Asking about and stating prices

いくら (ikura) is the most practical word for “how much.” You will hear it and use it constantly. But Japanese also has three related words for “price” that confuse many learners:

Word	Reading	Meaning and register
値段	ねだん	Everyday word for “price.” Used in conversation and casual signs: 値段を確認する (check the price).
価格	かかく	More formal/written word for “price” or “pricing.” Common on product labels, e-commerce sites, and catalogs.
料金	りょうきん	Fee, charge, or fare. Used for services rather than goods: タクシー料金 (taxi fare), 入場料金 (admission fee).

In everyday shopping conversation, 値段 and いくら are your defaults. You would not normally say 価格はいくらですか in a clothing shop — it sounds like a business negotiation. Save 料金 for fees and services, not products on a shelf.

Payment method phrases

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
現金で（お願いします）。	Genkin de (onegaishimasu).	By cash / I’ll pay in cash.
カードで（お願いします）。	Kādo de (onegaishimasu).	By card / I’ll pay by card.
一括払いで。	Ikkatsu-barai de.	In one lump payment (not installments). Asked at the register when paying by credit card.
分割払いで。	Bunkatsu-barai de.	In installments. Less common for tourists; used for large purchases.
Suicaで（払います）。	Suica de (haraimasu).	Paying with Suica IC card.
PayPayで（お願いします）。	PayPay de (onegaishimasu).	Paying with PayPay app. QR code is shown or scanned.

Practical tip: When you pay by credit card at many Japanese registers, the staff will ask 一括払いでよろしいですか？ (ikkatsu-barai de yoroshii desu ka, “Paying in full today?”). The expected answer for most tourists is はい (hai, yes). Just confirm with はい and the transaction will proceed normally.

Size, Color, and Clothing Vocabulary

Clothing shopping in Japan requires a few specific phrases — especially if you want a different size or color, or need to return or exchange an item.

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
サイズ	saizu	size (clothing, shoes)
大きいサイズ	ookii saizu	larger size
小さいサイズ	chiisai saizu	smaller size
色違い	いろちがい	different color / color variation of the same item
他の色	ほかのいろ	other colors
試着	しちゃく	trying on clothes / fitting
試着室	しちゃくしつ	fitting room / changing room
返品	へんぴん	return (of a product)
交換	こうかん	exchange (swap for a different item)
在庫切れ	ざいこぎれ	out of stock

Japanese clothing sizes follow both Japanese standards (S/M/L/XL — same letters as English) and numeric sizes for some items. Japanese sizing tends to run slightly smaller than US or European sizing, so checking the サイズ表 (saizuhyou, size chart) when possible is a good habit.

Receipt, Bag, and Point Card Vocabulary

Three things happen at nearly every Japanese register: the staff asks about a bag, offers a receipt, and inquires about a point card. Knowing the vocabulary for each means you never have to guess what you are agreeing to.

Receipts: レシート vs. 領収書

Japan has two kinds of proof of purchase. レシート (rishiito) is the standard printed receipt you get at any register — fine for personal records. 領収書 (ryoushuusho) is a formal written receipt required for business expense claims. If you need the formal receipt for work purposes, ask: 領収書をいただけますか？ (Ryoushuusho wo itadakemasu ka?) — “May I have a formal receipt?”

Bags: paid or free?

Since Japan introduced a mandatory charge for plastic bags in 2020, most retail stores now charge between ¥2–¥10 per bag. When staff ask 袋はご利用ですか？ (Fukuro wa goriyou desu ka?), they are asking whether you want to buy a bag. If you have your own エコバッグ (ecobaggu, reusable shopping bag), this is the moment to take it out. Say 袋はいりません (fukuro wa irimasen, “I don’t need a bag”) or エコバッグを持っています (I have my own bag) to decline.

Point cards: ポイントカード

Japan runs heavily on loyalty point systems. Major chains — from Don Quijote to drug stores to supermarkets — have their own point cards, and the question ポイントカードはお持ちですか？ (Do you have a point card?) comes up at almost every register. If you do not have one, say ありません (arimasen) or 持っていません (motte imasen). If a store is offering to sign you up, they may ask 作りますか？ (tsukurimasu ka?, “Would you like to make one?”) — you can decline with 大丈夫です (daijoubu desu).

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
レシート	rishīto	receipt (standard paper receipt)
領収書	りょうしゅうしょ	formal receipt (for business expenses)
袋	ふくろ	bag
エコバッグ	ekobaggu	reusable shopping bag
袋はいりません。	ふくろはいりません	I don’t need a bag.
ポイントカード	pointo kādo	loyalty / point card
会員カード	かいいんカード	membership card
不要です。	ふようです	Not needed / I don’t need that. (Polite refusal)

Tax-Free Shopping in Japan

Japan charges 消費税 (shouhizei, consumption tax) at 10% on most goods. However, foreign visitors who are not Japanese residents can claim a tax exemption at participating stores — a significant saving on larger purchases.

The basics of 免税 (menzetsu)

免税 (めんぜつ, menzetsu) means “tax exemption.” Stores that participate in the tax-free program display a Tax Free or 免税 sign, often in multiple languages near the entrance or at the register. The program applies to general goods (clothing, electronics, cosmetics) and consumables (food, medicine, alcohol), though the rules differ slightly between categories.

Key threshold: Your purchase must total at least 5,000 円 (tax excluded) at one store on one day. For consumables, the limit is between 5,000 yen and 500,000 yen per store per day.

What you say and what you will hear

Japanese	Romaji	English
免税できますか？	Menzetsu dekimasu ka?	Can I get tax-free here?
免税カウンターはどこですか？	Menzetsu kauntā wa doko desu ka?	Where is the tax-free counter?
パスポートを見せてください。	Pasupōto wo misete kudasai.	“Please show me your passport.” — Staff will say this. Have it ready.
合計が5,000円以上になりますか？	Gōkei ga gosen-en ijō ni narimasu ka?	“Does the total come to 5,000 yen or more?” — The minimum purchase threshold check.
免税の手続きをお願いします。	Menzetsu no tetsuzuki wo onegaishimasu.	Please process the tax exemption for me.
購入記録票	こうにゅうきろくひょう	Purchase record slip — stapled into your passport; do not remove before leaving Japan.

Important: The items you bought tax-free must not be opened or used while you are still in Japan. Customs may check your bags at the airport. The purchase record slip stapled into your passport should remain in place until you depart.

Shopping at Different Store Types

Japan has a rich variety of retail environments, and each has its own atmosphere, vocabulary, and shopper norms. Here is a quick guide to the most common ones.

Store type	Japanese	Key vocabulary / notes
Supermarket	スーパー (sūpā)	Self-service; items are 税込 price. Staff at the register will ask about point cards and bags. Some have self-checkout (セルフレジ, serufu reji).
Convenience store	コンビニ (konbini)	Open 24 hours. Staff ask: 温めますか？ (warm it up?), 袋はご利用ですか？, and ポイントカードは？. Payment by IC card is fast and common.
Department store	百貨店 (hyakkaten)	High-end service; very formal staff language. Tax-free counters are usually on a dedicated floor. Gift wrapping (ギフト包装, gifuto housou) is often free.
Don Quijote	ドン・キホーテ (Don Kihōte)	Large discount chain; huge variety. Known for tax-free shopping, especially popular with tourists. Look for the 免税カウンター.
100-yen shop	100円ショップ (hyaku-en shoppu)	Items are mostly 110円 (100円 + 10% tax). No price negotiation; just pay and go. Daiso (ダイソー), Seria (セリア), and Can Do (キャンドゥ) are the main chains.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Even learners with solid Japanese make certain mistakes in shopping situations. Here are five of the most common ones — and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Answering いらっしゃいませ like a question

いらっしゃいませ is a greeting, not a question. Many English speakers — who are trained to respond to greetings with “Hi!” or “Hello!” — try to answer it. This creates an awkward moment. The correct response is no verbal response at all. A brief nod or smile is perfectly appropriate. Staff are not waiting for your reply.

Mistake 2: Confusing 値段 / 価格 / 料金

All three words relate to “cost,” but they are not interchangeable. Saying 料金はいくらですか？ to ask the price of a T-shirt sounds like you are asking about a service fee or admission charge. Use 値段 for product prices in everyday shopping: この値段はいくらですか？ or simply これはいくらですか？

Mistake 3: Not knowing how to refuse the bag

With plastic bag fees now standard, declining a bag has become a normal transaction step. Many English speakers, not catching the question 袋はご利用ですか？, either say nothing (which staff take as a yes) or say something non-committal. Be ready with a clear 大丈夫です or 袋はいりません to avoid paying for a bag you did not want.

Mistake 4: Missing the ポイントカード moment

ポイントカードはお持ちですか？ (Do you have a point card?) comes up at almost every chain store register. If you are a regular visitor to Japan, it is worth getting point cards at chains you use often — some programs accumulate points that can be used as cash. But even if you do not want one, be ready to say ありません quickly so the transaction moves forward smoothly.

Mistake 5: Forgetting that prices may be 税抜

Some stores, particularly electronics shops and certain discount retailers, display prices as 税抜 (pre-tax). This means the actual total at the register will be 10% higher than the shelf price. Always check whether the price tag says 税込 or 税抜. If it is unclear, ask: 税込の値段ですか？ (Zeikomi no nedan desu ka? — “Is this the tax-included price?”)

Quick Quiz

Test your shopping vocabulary. Fill in the blank or choose the correct word.

Question 1. You want to ask how much an item costs. Which question do you use?
a) これはどこですか？
b) これはいくらですか？
c) これはなんですか？

Question 2. The cashier asks 袋はご利用ですか？ You have your own bag. What do you say?
a) はい、お願いします。
b) エコバッグを持っています。
c) ポイントカードはありません。

Question 3. A price tag shows 税抜 3,000円. Approximately how much will you pay at the register?
a) 3,000円
b) 3,300円
c) 2,700円

Question 4. You want to try on a jacket. What do you say to the staff?
a) 交換してもいいですか？
b) 返品してもいいですか？
c) 試着してもいいですか？

Question 5. You are a tourist and want the tax exemption on your purchase. What do you need to show?
a) 免税カード
b) パスポート
c) ポイントカード

Answers:
1. b) これはいくらですか？ — the direct, natural way to ask a price.
2. b) エコバッグを持っています — “I have my own bag.” Also 大丈夫です or 袋はいりません work.
3. b) 3,300円 — 3,000 + 10% consumption tax = 3,300円.
4. c) 試着してもいいですか？ — “May I try this on?” 返品 = return, 交換 = exchange.
5. b) パスポート — always required for tax-free purchases at the 免税カウンター.

Leave a Comment!

Have you shopped in Japan — or are you preparing for a trip? Which phrase do you find most useful, and is there a shopping situation that still trips you up? Share in the comments below! Your questions help us create better content for everyone learning Japanese.

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