Last edit by: armagebedar
This thread is about where to find whiskey in Japan. Extended discussion about where to find Japanese whiskey elsewhere is off topic and will be removed.
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Consolidated "Buy Whiskey in Japan" thread (was: Haneda/Narita Duty Free Whiskey)
#2641
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,532
I think the US duty topic has been talked about here in the thread before. You always want to claim all the bottles you are bringing in. Every time I fly back to the US I bring more than 1L. In this case she was flying to Taiwan and claimed it. Paid only ~$10 USD for the 1.1L over the limit (1L). So yeah duty is really minimum.
As for your first question, I (we) have been buying Y18, H21 at RRP whenever we see them since early 2015 (currently have 19 bottles between the two, finished 4 bottles). Before 2019 I usually skip airport LE due to the higher price but now with price increase on regular bottle to Y33,000 and no where to be found here in Japan we just buy the airport LE. In this case we might just use couple bottles to cover our airfare.
As for your first question, I (we) have been buying Y18, H21 at RRP whenever we see them since early 2015 (currently have 19 bottles between the two, finished 4 bottles). Before 2019 I usually skip airport LE due to the higher price but now with price increase on regular bottle to Y33,000 and no where to be found here in Japan we just buy the airport LE. In this case we might just use couple bottles to cover our airfare.
Two of us came back to Japan with a case of wine once, and the duty office seemed surprised we declared it. Duty was around ¥100-150/bottle I think.
#2642
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Southwest, HHonors, National
Posts: 528
For duty-free it's 1L, but FAA/TSA rules cap it at 5L for anything above 40 abv. In theory, you can bring up to 5L if you're flying in and then just pay duty if you decide to declare. In my experience, how strictly they enforce the rules depends on the port of entry and the customs agent in front of you.
#2644
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,532
For duty-free it's 1L, but FAA/TSA rules cap it at 5L for anything above 40 abv. In theory, you can bring up to 5L if you're flying in and then just pay duty if you decide to declare. In my experience, how strictly they enforce the rules depends on the port of entry and the customs agent in front of you.
One more novice question: If you buy DF on departure from Japan, take them overseas, pay tax if over the limit, then bring bottles back to Japan, is it necessary to pay over-limit duty to Japan too? Or are most people selling these Japan DF bottles overseas, so the issue rarely comes up?
#2645
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 166
The existence of Duty Free is based on the principle that you do not have to pay tax in the sellers country as it will be consumed in another. You would pay tax upon entry of the country at destination. Now if you reimport the bottles to Japan, this is your choice, but Japan has not received their share of the taxes, so yes they would tax you technically. There is no coverage of double taxation as the DF system was not designed for this. Liquor imported into Japan has tax consequences. Knowing this fact, you would want to bring in untaxed (tax free bottles) from an economic perspective. As a resident in Japan, there is no way the US or other authorities will know you are just passing through (and even if you were on holiday with plans to return to Japan) this is not a reason not to pay the tax, as you could sell the bottles while you are there. But if Yamazaki 18 or Hibiki 21 is available at Yen 50K but you can sell them Y100k/Y122k there is a fine margin left over anyways (https://kaitori.e-daikoku.com/liquor/whisky/yamazaki/)
#2646
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
I wonder where to purchase good sought after Shochu....
#2647
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Southwest, HHonors, National
Posts: 528
Not sure about Japanese customs, so I'll defer to daizawaguy. I have done something somewhat similar, where I bought something from DF and brought it back to my point of origin. Some years ago, a friend asked me to buy a substantial amount of DF accessories and cosmetics when I flew from Seoul to Osaka. The DF items basically stayed in my bag the whole trip. Korean customs didn't ask anything on my return. However, I can't remember if I did or did not declare the items.
#2648
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,532
The existence of Duty Free is based on the principle that you do not have to pay tax in the sellers country as it will be consumed in another. You would pay tax upon entry of the country at destination. Now if you reimport the bottles to Japan, this is your choice, but Japan has not received their share of the taxes, so yes they would tax you technically. There is no coverage of double taxation as the DF system was not designed for this. Liquor imported into Japan has tax consequences. Knowing this fact, you would want to bring in untaxed (tax free bottles) from an economic perspective. As a resident in Japan, there is no way the US or other authorities will know you are just passing through (and even if you were on holiday with plans to return to Japan) this is not a reason not to pay the tax, as you could sell the bottles while you are there. But if Yamazaki 18 or Hibiki 21 is available at Yen 50K but you can sell them Y100k/Y122k there is a fine margin left over anyways (https://kaitori.e-daikoku.com/liquor/whisky/yamazaki/)
I figure a couple bottles don't matter to anyone, but in situations where there is such a markup it really can pay off to maximize purchases. As you said, the actual duty is nothing compared to the profit.
It really is strange how this market works. Normally such pricing gaps would shrink more as the manufacturers/sellers caught on.
#2650
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-a...tent_entity=en
#2651
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Internet
Posts: 865
The limit was there many years before Covid (or it was hiding very well). I strongly recall it being due to the fact that most people drive there and they needed to show "responsibility".
#2652
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 166
Interesting observation - in Japan the place where alcohol is consumed and even a passenger can be held liable in the case of a drunken accident, so yes these establishments want to make sure they are legally removed from this as far as is possible, hence the warning signs of no drink and drive.
#2653
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,532
Interesting observation - in Japan the place where alcohol is consumed and even a passenger can be held liable in the case of a drunken accident, so yes these establishments want to make sure they are legally removed from this as far as is possible, hence the warning signs of no drink and drive.
#2654
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,532
Data point: Yamazaki is now allowing booking for a month in advance.
Tried to book a tour at Yamazaki at exactly 10:00am. Got on the waiting list at 10:03 and was number 3,500, with a wait estimated to be "7hrs". By 11am I was accepted off the list, but every spot for the next month was filled, both for tasting and tours.
This has happened to me twice now. It is frustrating that they keep you on the list when all the spots have already been filled.
Tried to book a tour at Yamazaki at exactly 10:00am. Got on the waiting list at 10:03 and was number 3,500, with a wait estimated to be "7hrs". By 11am I was accepted off the list, but every spot for the next month was filled, both for tasting and tours.
This has happened to me twice now. It is frustrating that they keep you on the list when all the spots have already been filled.
#2655
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 278
Data point: Yamazaki is now allowing booking for a month in advance.
Tried to book a tour at Yamazaki at exactly 10:00am. Got on the waiting list at 10:03 and was number 3,500, with a wait estimated to be "7hrs". By 11am I was accepted off the list, but every spot for the next month was filled, both for tasting and tours.
This has happened to me twice now. It is frustrating that they keep you on the list when all the spots have already been filled.
Tried to book a tour at Yamazaki at exactly 10:00am. Got on the waiting list at 10:03 and was number 3,500, with a wait estimated to be "7hrs". By 11am I was accepted off the list, but every spot for the next month was filled, both for tasting and tours.
This has happened to me twice now. It is frustrating that they keep you on the list when all the spots have already been filled.