The moment you step into a Japanese shop, something unexpected happens: a staff member calls out a bright, energetic greeting you weren’t quite prepared for. You freeze — should you say something back? And that’s just the first thirty seconds. Shopping in Japan is a uniquely immersive cultural experience, from the way clerks wrap your purchase with near-ceremonial care to the tax-free paperwork at the department store counter. Knowing the right vocabulary doesn’t just help you buy things — it lets you participate confidently in a ritual that millions of Japanese people navigate every day. This guide covers the essential words and phrases you need, from the moment you walk through the door to the moment you walk out with your bag.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | Welcome! (staff greeting — no reply needed) |
| 〜をください | 〜 wo kudasai | Please give me 〜 / I’d like 〜 |
| いくらですか | ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| 試着（しちゃく） | shichaku | Trying on clothes |
| レジ | reji | Register / checkout counter |
| 袋（ふくろ） | fukuro | Bag |
| 領収書（りょうしゅうしょ） | ryoushuusho | Formal receipt (for reimbursement/tax) |
| 税込み（ぜいこみ） | zeikomi | Tax included |
| 免税（めんぜい） | menzei | Tax-free / duty-free |
| 返品（へんぴん） | henpin | Return (of goods) |
| セール | seeru | Sale |
| 割引（わりびき） | waribiki | Discount |
1. At the Store Entrance: What That Greeting Really Means
The instant you walk into almost any Japanese shop — a convenience store, a boutique, a department store — you will hear: いらっしゃいませ. This is a formal welcome phrase used exclusively by service staff. It literally means something close to “You have honoured us with your presence,” though in everyday practice it simply means “Welcome!”
Here is the key thing English speakers often get wrong: you do not need to respond. Saying “hello” back is fine if you feel like it, but staff are not expecting a reply. A slight nod or a smile is perfectly appropriate — and in fact, most Japanese customers do not reply verbally either.
Other phrases you may hear near the entrance or from floor staff include:
- どうぞ — “Go ahead / Please, feel free.” Used when staff hold a door open or gesture you toward a display.
- ご覧（らん）ください — “Please take a look.” Common at product displays or pop-up stalls.
- 何か（なにか）お探し（さが）ですか — “Are you looking for something?” A staff member offering assistance.
YukaI walked into the store and the staff shouted いらっしゃいませ really loudly. I panicked and said “thank you” in English!
ReiDon’t worry — you don’t need to reply at all. Just walk in and start browsing. The greeting is for the staff, not a conversation starter.
2. Finding What You Want
Once you’re inside, you may need to locate a specific item or ask for help. Here are the most useful phrases for navigating any store in Japan.
〜はありますか（〜 wa arimasu ka）— “Do you have 〜?”
This is your go-to phrase for checking whether something is in stock.
Example: この色（いろ）の青（あお）はありますか。
Do you have this in blue?
〜を探（さが）しています（〜 wo sagashite imasu）— “I’m looking for 〜.”
Slightly softer and more natural than asking directly; useful when you want to explain what you need.
Example: 財布（さいふ）を探しています。
I’m looking for a wallet.
〜はどこにありますか（〜 wa doko ni arimasu ka）— “where is 〜?”
Useful in larger stores or department stores with multiple floors.
Example: メンズコーナーはどこにありますか。
where is the men’s section?
For clothing, you will often need to specify size or colour:
- Mサイズはありますか — “Do you have a size M?”
- 別（べつ）の色（いろ）はありますか — “Do you have a different colour?”
And if you want to try something on, use: 試着（しちゃく）してもいいですか。
May I try this on?
Staff will almost always say どうぞ and point you to the fitting rooms (試着室 / しちゃくしつ).
Yukaすみません、このジャケットを試着してもいいですか。
Excuse me, may I try on this jacket?
Reiはい、どうぞ。試着室はこちらです。
Of course! The fitting rooms are this way.
3. Asking About Price
Price questions are straightforward in Japanese. The core phrase is:
いくらですか。（Ikura desu ka.）— “How much is it?”
The answer will almost always come in the form: 〜円（えん）です — “It is 〜 yen.” For example: 三千円（さんぜんえん）です。 — It’s 3,000 yen.
On price tags, you will see two important labels related to consumption tax (消費税 / しょうひぜい, currently 10%):
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 税込み（ぜいこみ） | zeikomi | Tax included — the price you actually pay |
| 税抜き（ぜいぬき） | zeinuki | Tax excluded — add 10% at checkout |
Japan’s stores are required to display 税込み prices at the shelf, but some older or outlet-style signs still show 税抜き. Always check which applies before you assume the price is final.
Important cultural note: Bargaining is not a common practice in Japan. Attempting to negotiate the price at a regular retail store will generally make staff uncomfortable — the price on the tag is the price you pay. The exceptions are flea markets (フリーマーケット) and some antique or second-hand shops, where light negotiation may be acceptable.
4. At the Register (レジ)
When you’re ready to pay, you head to the レジ (reji) — the checkout register. Here is what to expect and the key phrases staff will use.
お支払（しはら）いはどうなさいますか。
“How would you like to pay?”
This is the standard payment method question. Your options:
- 現金（げんきん）で — “By cash”
- カードで — “By card”
- 〜ペイで — “By [PayPay / LINE Pay / etc.]”
ポイントカードはお持ちですか。
“Do you have a points card?”
Many stores in Japan run loyalty card programmes. If you don’t have one, simply say: 持（も）っていません or shake your head gently.
袋（ふくろ）はご入用（いりよう）ですか。
“Do you need a bag?”
Since Japan introduced mandatory charges for plastic shopping bags (レジ袋 / レジぶくろ), clerks routinely ask this at the register. If you want a bag, say お願（ねが）いします. If not, say 大丈夫（だいじょうぶ）です (“I’m fine, thank you — I don’t need one”).
領収書（りょうしゅうしょ）をお願いします。
“Could I have a formal receipt, please?”
A 領収書 is a more official document than the standard レシート (receipt slip) — it is typically needed for business expense claims. If you just want the regular printed slip, that is handed to you automatically at most stores. Only ask for a 領収書 if you specifically need one.
Yuka袋はよろしいですか。
Would you like a bag?
Reiはい、お願いします。
Yes please, I’d like one.
5. Tax-Free Shopping (免税)
One of the biggest perks of shopping in Japan as a foreign visitor is the tax-free (免税 / めんぜい) system. Tourists staying in Japan for less than six months can receive a refund of the 10% consumption tax on qualifying purchases.
Who qualifies? Non-resident visitors who entered Japan on a tourist or short-stay visa — not a work or resident visa. Staff may check your passport, so carry it with you when you plan to shop.
Minimum purchase amount: Purchases of 5,000 yen or more (tax excluded) at a single store on a single day typically qualify. Individual store policies can vary, so check the signage or ask.
Look for signs that say 免税対応店（めんぜいたいおうてん） or Tax-Free Shop near the entrance. At the counter, use these phrases:
- 免税できますか。 — “Can I get tax exemption here?”
- パスポートを持（も）ってきました。 — “I’ve brought my passport.”
- 免税手続（めんぜいてつづき）きをお願いします。 — “I’d like to complete the tax-free procedure, please.”
Staff will scan your passport and attach a special form to your purchases, which are then sealed in a bag you must not open until you leave Japan. Keep all documents together until you pass through customs at the airport.
6. Returns and Exchanges (返品・交換)
Japanese stores generally have clear return policies, but the process involves specific vocabulary. Returns are called 返品（へんぴん） and exchanges are 交換（こうかん）.
Key phrases for this situation:
- 返品できますか。（Henpin dekimasu ka.）— “Can I return this?”
- 交換できますか。（Koukan dekimasu ka.）— “Can I exchange this?”
- レシートを持ってきました。 — “I brought the receipt.”
- サイズが合（あ）いませんでした。 — “The size didn’t fit.”
- 壊（こわ）れていました。 — “It was broken / defective.”
Example sentence: このシャツを返品したいのですが、サイズが合いませんでした。レシートはこちらです。
I’d like to return this shirt — the size didn’t fit. Here is the receipt.
Note that many Japanese stores do not accept returns on items that have been opened, worn, or used — even once. Some stores also have short return windows, such as one week from the date of purchase. It is best to ask about the return policy (返品ポリシー) at the time of purchase if you are unsure.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good vocabulary preparation, a few habits that are perfectly normal abroad can cause awkward moments in Japanese stores. Here are the most common ones.
Mistake 1: Responding to いらっしゃいませ
Many first-time visitors instinctively say “hello” or “thank you” back. Staff are too polite to show any reaction, but you don’t need to say anything. This greeting is not a conversation opener — it’s a professional welcome ritual. A simple nod is the most natural response.
Mistake 2: Trying to negotiate the price
Haggling is deeply normal in many countries, but in Japan it is almost universally not done at regular retail stores. Asking for a discount on marked merchandise will likely cause visible discomfort for staff. If you’re at a flea market or antique shop, gentle negotiation may be acceptable — but even there, keep it polite and do not push hard.
Mistake 3: Forgetting your passport for tax-free purchases
Tax-free procedures require your physical passport — not a photo of it on your phone, not a colour copy. If you are planning to shop for larger purchases (electronics, cosmetics, clothing), carry your passport with you. Leaving it at the hotel means you will pay full price and forfeit the 10% refund.
Mistake 4: Confusing レシート and 領収書
A レシート is the standard machine-printed slip you receive automatically at checkout — sufficient for your own records or expense tracking. A 領収書 is a formally issued receipt used for official expense claims or reimbursements. Only request a 領収書 if you specifically need the formal version; asking for one at every purchase can slow down the line unnecessarily.
Mistake 5: Opening your tax-free sealed bag before leaving Japan
When items are processed as tax-free, they are often placed in a sealed clear bag with your documentation attached. This seal must not be broken before you pass through customs at the airport. If you open the bag and use the item in Japan, you may be required to pay the consumption tax retroactively when you exit.
Quick Quiz: Shopping Vocabulary
Test yourself with these five questions. The answers are provided below each one.
- You walk into a department store and hear “いらっしゃいませ.” What should you do?
Answer: Nothing — or a simple nod. No verbal response is expected. - You want to try on a pair of jeans. What do you say?
Answer: 試着（しちゃく）してもいいですか。 — “May I try these on?” - The price tag says ¥2,200（税込み）. Does that price include consumption tax?
Answer: Yes — 税込み means the tax is already included in the displayed price. - At the register, the staff asks if you want a bag. You say yes. What do you reply?
Answer: お願いします。 — “Yes please.” - You want to know if the store offers tax exemption for tourists. What do you ask?
Answer: 免税できますか。 — “Can I get tax exemption here?”
Shopping in Japan: Quick Reference Summary
| Situation | Japanese Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Store entrance | いらっしゃいませ | Welcome! (no reply needed) |
| Looking for an item | 〜を探しています | I’m looking for 〜 |
| Checking stock | 〜はありますか | Do you have 〜? |
| Finding a section | 〜はどこにありますか | where is 〜? |
| Fitting room | 試着してもいいですか | May I try this on? |
| Asking price | いくらですか | How much is it? |
| Tax included | 税込み | Price shown includes tax |
| Payment method | 現金で / カードで | By cash / by card |
| Bag request | お願いします | Yes please (for a bag) |
| No bag needed | 大丈夫です | No thank you (I don’t need one) |
| Formal receipt | 領収書をお願いします | May I have a formal receipt? |
| Tax-free request | 免税できますか | Can I get tax exemption? |
| Return | 返品できますか | Can I return this? |
| Exchange | 交換できますか | Can I exchange this? |
Have you tried shopping in Japan — or are you planning a trip soon? Which phrase do you find most useful, and which situation makes you the most nervous? Share in the comments below — we would love to hear your shopping stories and questions!
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