Family Dining · Practical guide
LUPICIA
The Inbound Traveler's Guide to Japan's World Tea Emporium, Regional Limited Tins & Fragrance Sampling
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | ルピシア (LUPICIA) |
| Brand Name | LUPICIA / ルピシア (株式会社ルピシア / LUPICIA Co., Ltd.) |
| Store Type | Specialty loose-leaf tea retailer (black tea, Japanese green tea, oolong, herbal & original blends) |
| Target Audience | Tea enthusiasts, gift buyers, and international travelers seeking lightweight, shelf-stable regional Japanese teas in collectible tins |
| Ordering Style | Open browsing of loose-leaf aroma sample tins, personalized flavor consultations with tea specialists, and staffed checkout registers |
| Membership Required? | Membership is not generally required for ordinary in-store shopping. Tea-room and workshop reservations depend on the venue. Tax-free shopping, where offered, requires eligible nonresident purchaser status and passport verification. |
| Approximate Price Range | Prices depend on the named tea, gift pack or (where available) cafe menu. Check the official listing or the venue’s current menu; no chain-wide price range applies. |
| Multilingual Support | Official web information may be available in English. Menu language and staff assistance depend on the individual shop or cafe; confirm locally. |
| Payment Methods | Confirm accepted cards, cash and electronic payment types at the specific branch; host-facility payment acceptance does not establish acceptance by each tea counter. |
| Store Network | 136 domestic and 3 overseas locations, from the company profile in an official LUPICIA press release published in 2026 (company tally dated August 17, 2026). This is the company-reported network figure; individual outlets, cafes and resellers should not be merged into it. |
What it is
LUPICIA is a Japanese specialty tea retailer offering black, green and oolong teas, herbal infusions and flavored blends. A company announcement dated August 2026 reports 136 stores in Japan and 3 abroad; that published count should not be treated as an always-current live directory.
Travelers can explore LUPICIA’s scented oolong and black teas, Japanese green tea, and illustrated tins. Regional-themed editions vary by store and season. LUPICIA’s official retail-design page describes aroma-sample counters and states that tea tastings are possible at all stores, including shops without a dedicated tasting counter. Ask staff which teas can be sampled on the day.
How to order
Step 1: Finding Station, Mall & Department Store Branches
LUPICIA boutiques are tucked into convenient transit and shopping hubs nationwide:
- Tax-Free vs. Ordinary Shopping: Confirm whether the exact branch is enrolled before purchasing. Do not infer registration from a mall address, a tourist-oriented display, or a host facility’s separate refund service.
- Regional Sightseeing Cities: Search the official current shop list for Kyoto, Sapporo, Naha, Yokohama or Fukuoka; branch operation and regional-exclusive items must be checked independently.
- Branch hours depend on each host shopping center or store; consult the relevant store directory, as 10:00–20:00/21:00 is not a chain-wide schedule.
Step 2: Smelling Aroma Samples & Tasting Iced/Hot Brews
- Compare tea aromas: LUPICIA sample counters let shoppers see and smell tea leaves, including black, green and oolong teas. The exact assortment and counter layout differ by store; ask staff for a specific item if it is not displayed.
- LUPICIA says tea tastings are possible at all stores, even without a dedicated tasting counter. Ask staff about the teas and tasting arrangements available during your visit; this does not guarantee a fixed number of cups or a particular tea.
- Ask the tea specialists for brewing advice or caffeine-free herbal/rooibos recommendations.
Step 3: Choosing Decorative Tins vs. Zippered Refill Pouches
- Tea packaging varies by item: loose leaf, tea bags, tins and bag refills are sold in different sizes. Check the product’s exact net weight, seal and storage instructions; not every tea is sold in a 50 g tin or 10-bag pack.
- If buying multiple tins as gifts, ask staff for individual paper gift bags (Kowake-bukuro).
Step 4: Checkout & the November 2026 Tax Refund System
- Check the actual seller: Tax-free shopping is available only when that specific seller is an authorized tax-free shop and processes the eligible purchase. A shop's presence inside a department store or airport does not automatically qualify that counter. Ask before paying; there is no assumed brand-wide tax-free service.
- Pay first: For purchases made on or after November 1, 2026, an eligible nonresident buyer pays the full tax-inclusive price. The statutory minimum is ¥5,000 before tax at the same authorized seller on the same day; the seller must record the eligible purchase electronically using the required passport details.
- Export confirmation: Have Japan Customs verify the goods are being taken out of Japan within 90 days of purchase. Keep them available for presentation if requested. Complete confirmation before checking in baggage containing the goods. The 2026 rules removed the old general-goods/consumables categories and mandatory special sealed packaging, but food purchased tax-free must not be consumed in Japan.
- Refund: Following customs export confirmation, the seller or its designated refund operator repays the tax-equivalent amount using the method agreed at the time of purchase. Do not assume that one universal airport refund counter serves all merchants.
- Different transaction: A restaurant, cafe dessert or drink consumed during the Japan visit is not an exported retail purchase and is not eligible for the shopping refund. Check product labels and your destination country's food-import rules before carrying tea or sweets abroad.
What to order first
1. City & Prefecture "Regional Limited Teas" (地域限定茶)
- What it is: Regional and location-themed blends in the LUPICIA range may feature local ingredients or illustrations. Check the current branch or catalog for the precise region, tea type and edition.
- Why buy it: Illustrated tins make distinctive souvenirs, but some limited teas may appear in online sales or special campaigns. Do not assume permanent regional exclusivity.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
2. White Peach Oolong (Hakuto Oolong / 白桃烏龍 極品)
- What it is: White Peach Oolong (Hakuto Oolong Gokuhin) combines Taiwan-origin oolong tea with white-peach aroma; the official ingredient label also identifies rose-red petals, rather than marigold petals. Check the package for the current ingredient list.
- Why buy it: A widely known aromatic oolong; brew according to the product instructions, which for its current product page specify boiling water and 1.5–2 minutes for a 150 ml cup. Cold-brew guidance, if offered, is product specific.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
3. Single-Origin Japanese Green Teas (Shincha, Gyokuro & Hojicha)
- What it is: Seasonal fresh-harvest Japanese green teas from Uji, Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Yame, alongside fragrant roasted Hojicha and nutty Genmaicha.
- Why buy it: Packaged tea is portable; check each product’s printed storage advice and expiry date rather than assuming nitrogen-flushed packaging.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
4. "The Book of Tea" Curated Gift Assortment
- What it is: A seasonal or edition-specific illustrated gift collection of individually packed tea bags. Check the current edition’s number of teas and contents in the official catalog.
- Why buy it: Compact, flat, and impressive as an all-in-one gourmet gift.
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
5. Cold-Brew Tea Bottles & Stainless Tea Strainers
- What it is: A selection of cold-brew bottles and tea infusers. Materials and country of origin vary by product, so check the item label.
- Why buy it: Practical, durable brewing tools (pack glass carafes carefully in carry-on bags).
- Price: Check current official product prices or the particular cafe menu; choices, servings and prices vary by outlet.
Payment & practical info
- Before paying: Confirm your store's accepted payment methods, opening hours, cafe last-order times and any reservation or numbered-ticket arrangements on the specific official store page. Department-store and shopping-mall facilities can have different rules from standalone boutiques.
- Tax-free shopping: At participating authorized retailers only, the November 1, 2026 refund method requires payment including tax, electronic purchase records, and export confirmation by Japan Customs within 90 days. Check eligible seller status at the point of sale; obtain confirmation before checking baggage that contains the purchases. The agreed seller/refund operator handles the refund; there is no universal merchant-independent airport refund desk.
- Food and allergens: Check ingredient and allergen information for the exact product or menu item. Sweets and cafe desserts can contain milk, eggs, wheat, soy, nuts, or other allergens, and tea soba (where sold) may contain buckwheat. Ingredient listings and shared-kitchen cross-contact are different issues. Confirm vegetarian, vegan and halal suitability item by item instead of assuming a chain-wide policy.
- Storage and travel: Follow each package's storage, expiry and brewing directions; chilled sweets need appropriate cold-chain handling. Check airline rules for powders and liquids and the rules at your country of arrival rather than assuming every food item is importable.
Good to know / Common mistakes
1. Do Not Consume Tax-Free Tea During Your Japan Stay
The November 2026 rules removed the old consumables classification and compulsory special sealed packaging. However, tea bought for a tax-free refund must be exported without being consumed in Japan. Purchase separate tea normally if you plan to brew it in your hotel.
2. Verify Current Offers at the Actual Branch
Avoid relying on an assumed tourist coupon or percentage discount. Check the specific store or host facility for a currently published offer and its conditions.
3. Cold-Brewing (Mizudashi) Is Effortless in Hotel Rooms
For cold-brew tea, follow the product-specific dilution, steeping time, water-safety and refrigeration instructions; not every tea bag is formulated for an overnight cold brew.
FAQ
Q1: Can I bring LUPICIA loose-leaf tea through airport customs into my home country?
Import rules vary by destination and product. Check your arrival country’s current food, agricultural and declaration requirements before traveling with tea, fruit-flavored blends or infusions. Japanese tax-free export confirmation does not guarantee foreign import clearance.
Q2: Does LUPICIA sell caffeine-free teas?
LUPICIA sells some rooibos and herbal blends marketed without caffeine, but not every herbal, barley, buckwheat or flavored infusion is interchangeable. Check the specific package’s caffeine and allergen labeling, especially for buckwheat.
Q3: How do I receive my consumption tax refund under the 2026 airport customs system?
Only qualifying goods sold by a participating authorized tax-free retailer can enter the November 1, 2026 refund system. Eligible nonresident customers pay tax-inclusive prices and supply passport information for electronic purchase records (at least ¥5,000 before tax from the same seller on the same day). Japan Customs must confirm export within 90 days of purchase, before checked baggage containing the goods is handed over. Exported food must not be consumed in Japan; special unopened or sealed packaging is not a blanket legal requirement. After confirmation, the retailer or designated refund operator pays using the agreed refund method. Cafe meals and drinks consumed in Japan are not eligible.
Sources
- LUPICIA Co., Ltd. Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-13)
- LUPICIA Corporate Overview (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- LUPICIA Official Shop Design — Sample Counters and All-store Tastings (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- LUPICIA Official Press Release: Store Count 136 Domestic / 3 Overseas (Aug. 17, 2026) (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- White Peach Oolong Gokuhin — Official Product and Ingredients (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Japan Tourism Agency: Traveler Guide to the 2026 Tax Refund Program (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Japan Tourism Agency: Retailer Guidance for the Refund Method (Checked: 2026-11-14)