Planning a trip to Japan? If yes, plan it before July. This is because Japan is planning to triple its departure tax for everyone leaving the country, as part of a broader effort to manage overtourism. As per the reports, this burden will not be felt only by foreign travellers, but also by Japanese citizens.Departure tax to triple from July 2026 Japan plans to triple its international departure tax, officially known as the International Tourist Tax. The levy, which is included in airline and ferry tickets, will rise from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person starting July 2026.
The higher charge will apply to all travellers aged two and above, regardless of nationality, when leaving Japan by air or sea. Japanese citizens travelling overseas will also pay the increased tax. Aircraft crew and passengers in transit who depart Japan within 24 hours will remain exempt. Japan introduced the departure tax in January 2019, and it has since become a steady revenue stream. In the year ended March 2025, the country collected a record ¥52.48 billion from the levy, reflecting a sharp rebound in international travel. Read more: “Are we eating the wrong way?” A traveller’s moment of culture shock in JapanTourist visa fees to rise sharply
The government is preparing to significantly increase travel-related charges, including tourist visa fees and the country’s international departure tax, as part of a broader effort to shore up public finances and manage overtourism. According to reports, the proposed measures could generate up to ¥350 billion a year once fully implemented. A five-fold increase in tourist visa fees is one of the most notable changes that could become a reality soon. Standard tourist visa fees will likely increase from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, while fees for status modifications or visa renewals would increase from ¥6,000 to about ¥40,000, depending on the duration of stay. These increases would mainly affect travellers from countries that require entry permits, including visitors from China and parts of Southeast Asia. Short-term travellers from visa-exempt countries would not be impacted by the visa fee hike. Revenue allocation and overtourism concerns
The government expects the new measures to bring in ¥225 billion in fiscal 2026, rising to ¥350 billion in subsequent years. Around 60% of the revenue will be earmarked for tackling overtourism, upgrading consular services and improving immigration systems, while the remaining 40% will be used for other budgetary needs. Tourism-related revenue for the 2026 fiscal year, from April 2026 to March 2027, is projected to increase nearly 2.7 times to about ¥130 billion, as visitor numbers continue to climb and higher fees take effect.Read more: Why Japan has no public dustbins—know the reasons More travel charges on the horizon The Nikkei Asia report also notes that Japan plans to introduce additional travel-related fees in the coming years. By 2028, the country is expected to roll out the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA) for travellers from visa-free countries. Fees for this pre-screening system are likely to range between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 per person. If the higher departure tax and JESTA are implemented as planned, the total cost of travel might reach ¥5,000–¥6,000 per passenger. This would represent a significant change in Japan’s approach as it attempts to strike a balance between tourism growth, fiscal stability, and crowd control at popular sites.
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