OK, there are just a few realities that a traveler to Japan just has to deal with.
Yes- it actually CAN cost upwards of US $300 for a taxi ride from the airport to your downtown hotel.
Yes, there actually is a right way and a wrong way to enter & exit the subway and yes, making a call on a public phone is challenging even for the tech-savviest of people.
But, there are fewer places that are more chaotically beautiful, visually stimulating, (and yes, crowded too) than Japan itself, and the same goes for the Food Hall at Osaka’s Hankyu Department Store. This popular mainstay has a food floor that rivals that of Harrods as far as culinary overload is concerned.
Plan to visit, be sure to check out the food market on the lower floors, which is known for its excellent quality and service.
Traverse the aisles and you’ll likely agree, never before and never again will you see such a collection of interestingly shaped fruit, angry/cool/ugly-looking fish, brilliantly colored sweets…and who knew there could be an entire aisle dedicted wholly to the art of tempura?
Bring your appetite, your camera, and naturally, your very fat wallet because even small souvenirs or nibbles of these intersting delicacies don’t come cheap. My tasty stick of shrimp tempura rounded out at the equivalent of US $25 (ok it was a BIG shrimp but still…)
Choose from about 30 restaurants serving delicious Japanese cuisine, including sushi, eel, tempura and okonomiyaki – an Osaka specialty – as well as Chinese, Italian and other flavors from around the world.
More info about Hankyu Department Store
Hankyu is one of Japan’s largest department store chains, and their flagship store is in the Hankyu Terminal in the Umeda district. It really is worth seeing. The exclusive interior matches the high standards of other Hankyu stores throughout the country. The brands on offer are both international and Japanese, from international fashion houses to Japanese designers.
The store is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Some departments, such as the restaurants, may vary. There may also be changes to the hours of operation. Please note that the store will be closed on January 1st.
Although today it is not uncommon to see department stores near train stations around the world, Hankyu Department Store was the very first, establishing Osaka’s Umeda district as an important part of shopping history.
Tax Refund for foreign visitors
Foreign visitors staying in Japan for less than 6 months can get the consumption tax back on their shopping. Heads-up: Japan changes the way this works on 1 November 2026. From that date, you pay the full price including tax at the store, and you get the tax back when you leave Japan, after a customs check at the airport (at a customs terminal or through Visit Japan Web in the departure lobby, before check-in). Until 31 October 2026, the store counters below still refund the tax on the spot.
Check the conditions below, and register your purchases at the tax-free counter on the day you buy them. Bring the items and your passport.
Until 31 October 2026, Hankyu charges a processing fee of 1.55% of the pre-tax price (it is not refunded if you return the product). From 1 November 2026, a system fee from its refund partner Global Blue applies instead.
Where can you get the tax back
B1 Foreign Customer Services Counter. That’s where you will also find lots of food. There is also a self-service tax-free counter on 1F, open from 2pm to 8pm.
Who can get the tax back?
Non-resident Japanese citizens who can prove that they have lived outside Japan continuously for at least two years. (Applications by proxy are not eligible).
Non-resident aliens with “temporary visitor”, “diplomatic” or “official” visas who have not resided in Japan for more than 6 months. (Proxy applications are not allowed)
Date of purchase only (during business hours)!
What kind of products will I get a tax refund on?
You need to spend at least 5,000 yen excluding tax, at the same store on the same day. From 1 November 2026, there is no longer any difference between general goods like clothing, watches and housewares and consumables like food, drinks and cosmetics. The 500,000 yen limit and the sealed packaging rules are gone too.
What matters now is that you take everything out of Japan within 90 days of buying it, and that you don’t use up food, drinks or cosmetics before you leave.
Until 31 October 2026, you can get the tax back at the counter in cash or on your card. Accepted cards include VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and UnionPay. If you prefer to use your smartphone, you can also use WeChat Pay or Alipay. From 1 November 2026, the refund is paid out after the customs check when you leave Japan.
Procedure to get your tax money back
If you want your eligible purchases refunded as soon as possible, you should make sure you take them to the tax refund counter on the same day.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- First, you will need to bring the items you purchased with you so they can be verified.
- Second, you will need your original passport with an immigration stamp on it.
- You will also need a receipt, but only machine-issued receipts will be accepted.
- Finally, if you paid by credit card, you will need a valid card. Please note that corporate credit cards are not accepted.
Until 31 October 2026, the refund is paid on the spot, minus the 1.55% service charge.
Important, be sure to show your purchases and passport to customs when you leave Japan. From 1 November 2026, this is the step that actually gets you your money back. Keep all the items from one receipt together: if one of them is missing at departure, the whole receipt loses its tax refund.
How to get to the Hankyu Department Store:
Hankyu Department Store is a 2-minute walk from Umeda Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and about 3 minutes from Hankyu and Hanshin Osaka-Umeda stations and JR Osaka Station.
Address: 8-7, Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Free WiFi
Importantly for all customers, the Wi-Fi service is free.
Select the “HANKYU-HANSHIN-DEPT_FREE_Wi-Fi” network on your device, register online or through the Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect app, and you’re ready to go.
So if you find yourself in Osaka, do drop in, it’s worth a visit.
