Black Friday in Japan 2026: Amazon, Rakuten & Tax-Free Change

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Black Friday has become a fixture of Japan’s shopping calendar. Amazon Japan calls it its last big sale of the year, Rakuten runs a Black Friday points event before its December Super SALE, and chains from Bic Camera to AEON and Uniqlo hold their own November sales.

When is Black Friday 2026 in Japan?

Not announced yet. Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November (Rakuten uses the same definition in its press releases), so it falls on Friday 27 November 2026. Japanese retailers do not stick to that day. Amazon Japan’s past dates:

In all three years the main sale lasted eight days and started between 24 and 29 November, after a two- to three-day pre-sale. If Amazon keeps that pattern, late November is the likely window, but that is our reading of past dates, not an announcement. In 2025, Amazon published the full details on 14 November.

Amazon Japan’s Prime Kanshasai (プライム感謝祭) is on now: pre-sale until 15 October 23:59, main sale 16 to 19 October 2026, for Prime members only (Amazon says first-time members can join with a 30-day free trial). Our Amazon Japan sale calendar covers the rest of the year.

Amazon Japan Black Friday: how it works

It is not a Prime-only sale. Amazon describes Prime Day and Prime Kanshasai as members-only sales. Its 2025 Black Friday announcement instead lists extras for Prime members, namely fast delivery on eligible items at no extra cost and Prime-only campaigns, and Business Insider Japan’s 2024 guide states that non-members can take part.

The pre-sale matters. 2023 was the first Amazon Black Friday with a pre-sale (Impress Watch). In 2025, Impress Watch warned that headline items can sell out during the pre-sale, while other items are discounted only in the main sale, so check at the start of both.

Points need an entry. The 2025 rules: enter between 14 November and 1 December, spend ¥10,000 or more in total (tax included) between 21 November and 1 December, and earn extra limited-time Amazon points: +1.5% for Prime members, up to +3% with the Amazon Mastercard (normal rate included), +6.5% on toys, plus a draw for up to 100,000 points. The rules change every year.

What was discounted in 2025. Impress Watch reported cuts across Amazon’s own devices, for example the Fire TV Stick 4K Select at ¥3,980 (half price), Echo Show 5 (3rd gen.) at ¥6,980, Kindle Paperwhite at ¥19,980 and Kindle Colorsoft at ¥29,980. Apple items such as AirPods 4, iPad and MacBook Air were also on sale. The same outlet noted that the newest Echo models were not discounted and that, in recent years, big cuts have mostly been on older models.

Rakuten: Black Friday points and the December Super SALE

Rakuten Ichiba (楽天市場) runs two events close together. Past dates from Rakuten and the press:

Both work on shop-hopping (買いまわり, kaimawari): after you enter, buying from more shops raises your points multiplier. In Rakuten’s 2024 and 2025 Black Friday, each shop where you spent ¥1,000 or more (tax included) counted, and the bonus came as limited-time points. In the December 2025 Super SALE, ten shops meant 10x points (normal 1x included), and up to 47x in total with Rakuten service bonuses and shop offers added. The Super SALE also has half-price time sales (半額タイムSALE) at set hours, revealed when the sale opens.

The December Super SALE has used the same slot three years running, so early December is likely, but Rakuten’s event pages showed no 2026 dates on 14 October.

Chain-store sales: electronics, AEON, Uniqlo

Many chains start before Amazon. Recent examples, with the year:

• Bic Camera (2025): 14 to 30 November in stores and online (online from 13 November, 22:00), with up to 20% Bic Points on selected items instead of the usual 10% (BCN).
• Yodobashi.com (2024): an online Black Friday sale from 23 November 0:00 to 1 December 23:59 (BCN).
• Yamada Denki group (2024): from 16 November at Yamada Denki, Best Denki and Matsuya Denki stores and online (BCN).
• AEON (2025): the “Super! Black Friday Sale” from 20 November for up to 11 days at about 600 AEON and AEON Style stores; AEON has held Black Friday sales in Japan since 2016 (ECのミカタ).
• UNIQLO (2025): Uniqlo Kanshasai (感謝祭, “thanksgiving festival”) from 21 to 27 November, with GU and PLST on the same dates (Netshop Tantosha Forum).
• Don Quijote (2025): Black Friday from 14 November at selected stores, with a second round at more stores from 21 November (Travel Watch).

Treat these as a guide to timing; each chain sets its own dates every year.

Tax-free shopping from 1 November 2026: what visitors must know

Black Friday 2026 will be the first under Japan’s new refund system. Per the Japan Tourism Agency, for purchases made on or after 1 November 2026:

• You pay the tax-inclusive price in the shop. The amount equivalent to the consumption tax (10%, or 8% on food and non-alcoholic drinks) is refunded after a customs inspection at the airport or seaport confirms that the goods are leaving Japan.
• Within 90 days of purchase, present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal (kiosk) in the international departure lobby, before you check in any bags: checked baggage cannot be retrieved for the procedure. A green result means you are done; a red one means showing the goods at the customs inspection area. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also use Visit Japan Web on the dedicated Wi-Fi in the departure lobby, up to the security checkpoint.
• Have every item with you. Inspection is per receipt: if one item on a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt qualifies. Food, drinks or cosmetics used up in Japan do not qualify; if you have consumed any, do not use the terminal but tell a customs officer at the counter. Finish before your boarding procedures.
• The rules for goods: ¥5,000 or more before tax per store per day; the split between general goods and consumables, the ¥500,000 cap on consumables and the special packaging for consumables are abolished; quantities are limited to what you can personally carry out of Japan.
• The refund comes from the shop or a refund service provider it has entrusted, by bank transfer, credit card, app or cash at the port, depending on the shop.

Tax-free shopping is for non-residents: the agency’s list covers foreign nationals in Japan for less than six months as a Temporary Visitor or under certain landing permits, plus a few others such as diplomats and Japanese citizens living abroad for two years or more. Work and student residence statuses are not on it. Our Japan tax-free shopping guide covers the details.

How to shop as a foreigner

If you live in Japan

Use an Amazon.co.jp account with your Japanese address. Prime is optional for Black Friday but adds delivery perks and points; first-time members get a 30-day free trial. Before the sale, add items to your wish list, note today’s prices and enter the points campaign. When you pay, check the seller and the shipping fee: Impress Watch has warned about marketplace sellers with very high delivery charges, and about sellers who discount only one colour of a product. On Rakuten, the campaigns are for Rakuten members and need an entry on each event page.

If you are abroad

For global products such as AirPods or Sony earbuds, your local Amazon is usually simpler. For Japan-only items, a proxy service buys and ships for you. Buyee supports Amazon, Rakuten, Mercari and ZOZOTOWN, among others; it charges a ¥500 purchase fee per order, a plan fee from ¥0, international shipping and domestic shipping, which Buyee says is usually ¥150 to ¥1,500. Its lithium battery rules generally limit a package to two items with built-in batteries, depending on the destination and carrier, and some items, such as rechargeable hair straighteners, cannot be shipped at all. Appliances sold for Japan are often rated for 100 V (the robot vacuum below is), so check the voltage. See our guide to buying from Japan with Buyee and Tenso.

If you are visiting in late November

Store sales overlap with your trip, and tax-free shopping now means paying the full price first. Keep each receipt’s items together and with you, not in a checked bag, until you have used the airport terminal, and allow extra time.

Black Friday watch list: 6 things people buy

Nobody knows yet which items will be discounted in 2026. Here are current prices for six typical buys, so you can tell a real deal on the day. Prices include tax; shop prices were checked on 14 October 2026.

Sources: Amazon Japan, Apple, Sony, Anker and ECOVACS pages, and shop prices on kakaku.com. Amazon’s own devices and the 100 V robot vacuum link to Amazon Japan only.

1. Fire TV Stick 4K (2026 model): 4K streaming for your TV

Amazon’s new standard 4K stick went on sale on 30 September 2026 at ¥11,980. It draws power from the TV’s USB port, so the adapter is usually not needed (if the TV shows a power warning, follow the manual).

Amazon says Prime members can buy it for ¥5,980 during Prime Kanshasai only, 13 to 19 October 2026 including the pre-sale. Fire TV sticks were discounted in Black Friday 2025; whether this model joins in 2026 is unknown.

2. Kindle Paperwhite (2026): waterproof reader, shipping in November

Refreshed on 1 October 2026 with a flat front and a thinner body, the Paperwhite keeps IPX8 waterproofing and up to 12 weeks of battery life (it varies with use). It costs ¥39,980 on pre-order, with shipping planned from 11 November 2026.

In Black Friday 2025, the previous Paperwhite sold for ¥19,980 (Impress Watch); a new model may not get the same cut.

3. Apple AirPods Pro 3: Amazon Japan below Apple’s price

Apple’s current Pro earbuds (released 19 September 2025, per kakaku.com) offer active noise cancelling, up to 8 hours per charge with it on, a heart-rate sensor and IP57 dust, sweat and water resistance, a first for AirPods.

Apple Japan charges ¥42,800. On kakaku.com on 14 October 2026, Amazon.co.jp sold them for ¥36,800 and the lowest shop for ¥34,589, so know these numbers before calling a Black Friday price a deal.

4. Sony WF-1000XM6: LDAC and multipoint

Sony’s 1000X-series earbuds (released 27 February 2026, per kakaku.com) run up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on (12 hours off), weigh about 6.5 g each, are IPX4 splash-resistant and support LDAC, multipoint and wireless charging.

Sony’s own store sells them for ¥39,600. On 14 October, Amazon.co.jp charged ¥40,000, while the lowest shop on kakaku.com charged ¥35,799 for black: Amazon is not always cheapest.

5. Anker Nano Charger (70W, 3 Ports): one charger for laptop and phone

Anker’s compact GaN charger (released in August 2025) has two USB-C ports of up to 70 W when used alone and a 33 W USB-A port; with several devices connected, the total is up to 67.5 W. Anker lists a 100 to 240 V input.

Anker’s store sells all four colours for ¥5,990; no cable is included.

6. ECOVACS DEEBOT N30 PLUS: a robot vacuum that empties itself

This robot vacuum (released 17 September 2025, per kakaku.com) has 10,000 Pa of suction, a bagless auto-empty station that ECOVACS says holds up to 45 days of dust, and a 300 ml water tank for mopping (no automatic mop washing). It is rated for 100 V.

On 14 October, ECOVACS’s own store and its Amazon store both showed ¥29,800. At ECOVACS’s store that is a promotional price running to 19 October; the normal price there, and at ECOVACS’s Rakuten shop on kakaku.com, is ¥69,800.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday 2026 in Japan?

Not announced as of 14 October 2026. US Black Friday is Friday 27 November 2026. Amazon Japan’s main sale started on 24 November in 2025, 29 November in 2024 and 24 November in 2023, each time after a short pre-sale.

Do I need Amazon Prime for Amazon Japan Black Friday?

No. Unlike Prime Day and Prime Kanshasai, Black Friday has been open to all customers. Prime members get extras: in 2025, fast delivery on eligible items at no extra cost, Prime-only campaigns and +1.5% in the points campaign.

When is the Rakuten Super SALE in December 2026?

Not announced yet. In 2023, 2024 and 2025 it ran from 4 December 20:00 to 11 December 1:59. Rakuten’s Black Friday came first, from 20 November 20:00 to 27 November 1:59 in 2025.

Can tourists still shop tax-free on Black Friday 2026?

Yes, under the new refund system for purchases from 1 November 2026: pay the tax-inclusive price, then within 90 days of purchase present your passport at a tax-free terminal at the airport or seaport before checking in your bags. The shop or its refund service provider pays back the tax amount after the customs inspection.

Can I buy Amazon Japan Black Friday deals from abroad?

Yes, through a proxy service. Buyee supports Amazon and Rakuten and charges a ¥500 purchase fee per order plus a plan fee from ¥0 and shipping, and its lithium battery rules generally limit a package to two items with built-in batteries.

The short version

The 2026 dates are not out yet. Past years point to late November for Amazon Japan and to 4 to 11 December for Rakuten’s Super SALE. Enter the points campaigns, note today’s prices, check sellers and shipping fees, and, if you are visiting, keep tax-free purchases with you until the airport kiosk.

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