I hope you all are fine.

It may be late, but I want to advise you when in Japan.
I am a resident in Japan, so I have never experienced VAT exemption in Japan. (^_^;
That’s why I , as a tax attorney in Japan, was ashamed not to tell you the detail of VAT exemption before.
Now we’ve done all of individual tax returns completely. I can do my best to explain the feature of Japanese VAT.

In Japan, VAT is called ” Consumption Tax”. It’s a pity that the tax rate is 8% from tomorrow, you may know about it, I think.
We don’t have a refund system for non-residents. Many countries have it but , in Japan, tax exempt process is completed in the shop. Some stores in Tokyo get an approval from National Tax Agency about sales to non-residents without VAT, and you can buy without VAT in such duty free shops in the designated manner.
(1) Commodities
Commodities are restricted not including consumables such as food, drinks, cigarettes, medicine, cosmetics, film, and batteries and 10,000yen over.
(2) Procedure
Non-residents must present their passports when purchasing and their passports receive a “Record of Purchase for Export”. Non-residents must then submit a “Covenant of Export”, and at last the commodities will be handed.
(3) Prohibition
Commodities sold in duty free are prohibited to transfer. Everyone commits the transfer owes fines under 1,000,000 yen.

Japan is a safe country. Cherry blossom is very beautiful these days.
May your family trip be the happiest one.

Sincerely yours,

Sakky in Japan