Selling Gold and Jewelry in Japan: Rates, Hallmarks and Paperwork
Gold prices have been at historically high levels, and Japan's precious-metal buyback system is unusually transparent: most shops post their per-gram rates daily, and the price you get is simply rate Γ purity Γ weight, minus a small margin. That makes gold one of the easiest things to sell in Japan.
Read the hallmark
Look inside the ring band or on the necklace clasp for a stamp:
- K24 = pure gold (99.9%), K18 = 75% gold, K14 = 58.5%
- Pt1000 / Pt900 / Pt850 = platinum purities
- SV1000 / SV925 = silver
- GP or GF = gold-plated β essentially no metal value
Weigh the item on a kitchen scale, then use our precious-metal calculator to get an instant estimate from the hallmark and weight. Today's per-gram reference rates are on the rates page.
Where to sell
Precious-metal specialists (Tanaka Kikinzoku is the benchmark), pawnshop chains like Daikokuya, and general buyback shops all buy gold. Specialists tend to offer the tightest margins. Broken chains, single earrings and old dental gold are all fine β value is in the metal, not the design, unless the piece is from a luxury brand (then have it quoted as jewelry too, and take the higher number).
Paperwork and rules to know
- ID is mandatory β bring your residence card. Address in Japan required; tourists generally cannot sell.
- Transactions above Β₯2,000,000 require the shop to record your My Number β bring your My Number card for large sales.
- Tax: for residents, profit on gold sales counts as occasional income, but there is a Β₯500,000 annual deduction β casual sales of a few items rarely create any tax bill. Keep receipts if you sell a large amount.
Stones are valued separately
Diamonds and gemstones are appraised separately from the metal, and small melee stones often add little. If a piece has significant stones, get quotes from at least two shops β gemstone valuations vary far more between shops than metal prices do.