Guide · Japan
Export wine to Japan: the 2026 guide
Updated 31 Oct 2026 · Checked against official sources · Reviewed each year
Key points
- Wine from the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Chile enters duty free; otherwise duty is 15% or 125 yen per litre, whichever is less (minimum 67 yen per litre).
- Liquor tax is 100 yen per litre (75 yen a bottle), then consumption tax 10%: taxes add about 16% to a JPY 1,500 CIF bottle with an agreement, about 22% without.
- No registration of the foreign winery: the importer holds a liquor licence and files a food import notification for each shipment.
- The Japanese label must be on the bottle before it leaves the bonded warehouse.
The market in numbers
Japan imported JPY 252.6 billion of wine in 2025 (USD 1.69 billion), up 1.5% and the highest yen value since 2014, for 234 million litres (down 2.3%). Sparkling is the growth engine: 42% of import value for 17% of litres. France holds 59% of value; Chile leads by volume. Full ranking by country, 2025 data.
Duties and taxes
- Customs duty: free for wine from the EU, the UK, Australia, New Zealand (CPTPP) and Chile. Otherwise, still wine pays 15% or 125 yen per litre, whichever is less, with a minimum of 67 yen per litre; sparkling pays 182 yen per litre.
- Liquor tax: 100 yen per litre for wine (75 yen for a 0.75 L bottle), the rate in force since October 2023.
- Consumption tax: 10% of (CIF + duty + liquor tax).
| One bottle of still wine, CIF JPY 1,500 | No agreement | EU, UK, Australia, NZ, Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 93.75 | 0 |
| Liquor tax | 75.00 | 75.00 |
| Consumption tax | 166.88 | 157.50 |
| Total taxes | 335.63 (22% of CIF) | 232.50 (16% of CIF) |
Computed from the 1 April 2026 tariff schedule; customs rounding ignored. Above 625 yen CIF per bottle, the non-agreement duty is a flat 93.75 yen.
Who imports
There is no registration of the foreign winery. The importer needs a liquor sales licence (an import wholesale licence to sell to retailers) and files a food import notification with the quarantine station for each shipment. Importers of regular lines can register products to simplify later notifications. You provide ingredient and process details, the origin proof and the label data.
Labels
- The Japanese label must be on the container by the time the wine leaves the bonded area: labelling after clearance is not allowed.
- It shows the importer's name and address, the place of withdrawal, the category « 果実酒 », net content, alcohol content and the country of origin.
- Sulphites are shown as an additive; ingredients, allergens and nutrition are not required for alcoholic drinks.
- A statement that drinking under 20 is prohibited by law.
- « Japan Wine » (日本ワイン) is reserved for wine made in Japan from Japanese grapes.
Documents and samples
- The food import notification certificate, presented to customs.
- For EU wine at 0%: a statement on origin by the exporter (a REX number above EUR 6,000 per consignment), or the importer's knowledge.
- Samples: below 10,000 yen of value, duty and consumption tax are generally waived, but liquor tax still applies. Whether trade samples need a food notification could not be confirmed from an official text: ask us before you ship.
How the market works
Licensed importers sell to wholesalers and retailers; separate licences cover retail and mail order across prefectures. Japan buys with patience and loyalty: relationships take time, then last.
Fairs: FOODEX Japan, Tokyo Big Sight, 9 to 12 March 2027; ProWine Tokyo, which took over the wine section of Wine & Gourmet Japan in 2024, Tokyo Big Sight in April 2027.
Mistakes we see
- Planning to label in a Japanese warehouse after clearance.
- Assuming small sample parcels travel tax free: liquor tax applies.
- Quoting a flat 15% duty: above 625 yen CIF per bottle, the cap of 125 yen per litre applies (93.75 yen a bottle).
- Calling the fair « Wine & Gourmet Japan »: the wine fair is now ProWine Tokyo.
How we work in Japan
Our Japan desk works importers in Japanese, prepares tastings around the main trade events and follows every sample through. Meet the Japan desk.
Sources
- Japan's Tariff Schedule, Chapter 22 (1 April 2026), Japan Customs, link (primary)
- Liquor tax overview, Ministry of Finance Japan, link (primary)
- Consumption Tax Act, Articles 28 and 29, e-Gov Japan, link (primary)
- Liquor Business Association Act, Article 86-5, and Enforcement Order Article 8-3, e-Gov Japan, link (primary)
- Wine label rules (leaflet), National Tax Agency, link (primary)
- Food Labeling Standards, Articles 3 and 5, e-Gov Japan, link (primary)
- Importing liquor (Customs Answer 3105), Japan Customs, link (primary)
- Import notification of foods, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, link (primary)
- EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, European Commission, link (official, secondary)
- FOODEX JAPAN 2027, Japan Management Association, link (primary)
- ProWine Tokyo, Messe Düsseldorf Japan, link (primary)
This guide summarises official texts for exporters; it is not legal or tax advice. Rules change: check with your importer or with us before shipping.
Contact me
Exporting to Japan? Talk to Benjamin.
Benjamin Birot
Founder, General Manager Asia-Pacific
benjamin@yourwinerep.com · LinkedIn
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