Shopping and tax refunds: do not leave money behind

Visitors can reclaim the VAT on purchases above a set amount. Whether you actually get it depends on knowing the procedure.
Immediate refund at the till is the easiest version: show your passport when paying and you are charged the tax-free price. It has to be the passport itself, not a photocopy.
Where that is not offered, take the refund paperwork. At the airport you scan your passport and the forms at a kiosk and get the money back in cash or to your card.
Some airports put that desk before security and some after. Leave time, and read the signs before you join a queue.
For cosmetics, Olive Young gathers the brands in one place so you can compare in a single stop. For household bits and souvenirs, Daiso is cheaper.
As a rule the goods should leave the country unopened, and you must still have them with you when you fly out.