Japan is No Longer a Treasure Island : Price Increase and Rule Changes
The year 2026 brings some noteworthy changes for those planning a japan trip. This video covers what to expect, from potential rule adjustments and price increases in areas like accommodation and fares, to new facilities and hotels opening. Get essential travel tips to navigate your travel to japan effectively.
βοΈ Official Travel Information:
– **Visit Japan Web:** [https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/]
– **US Dept. of State:** [https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Japan.html]
– **UK:** [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan]
– **Australia (Smartraveller):** [https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/japan]
π Travel Services:
– Pocket WiFi by Japan Wireless (20% OFF Code: tokyokenchan20): [https://www.japan-wireless.com/?via=tokyokenchan]
– Saily eSIM (15% OFF Code: tokyokenchan): [https://saily.com/tokyokenchan]
– **Mobal** (Japan Phone Number option): [https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&source=3434]
– Expedia: [https://expedia.com/affiliates/kenchan/best-tokyo-hotel-deals]
– Agoda: [https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&cid=1924330&hl=en-us&city=1784]
About Me:
Thanks for watching! My name is Kengo. I create Japan travel guide videos from Tokyo, showing you essential tips and must-visit places. Please subscribe for my weekly exploration to discover the charm of Japan.
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Chapters:
0:00 2026 Plan for Japan Trip
0:52 1.Devaluated Japanese Yen butβ¦
2:08 2.Fare Increase
3:22 3.Kyoto Hotel Tax Increase
4:53 4.Increase of Departure Tax
5:34 5.New Rule for Duty Free Shopping
6:42 6.Edo-Tokyo Museum Reopening
7:16 7.Hotel Opening Rush Continues across Japan
31 Comments
Always helpful in providing useful tips n navigation….keep up the great work…. appreciate much πππΌππΌββοΈπ―π
Japan is always a good idea!!! πβ€π I love Japan!
I have already booked and paid for trip to Shizuoka in April 2026
Hope nothing changes
Cheers
Hi Ken Chan, just came back from tohoku region earlier this week. i had a great time at sendai, morioka, kakunodate, akita, aomori and mount zao. unfortunately my dream trip to ginzan onsen was spoilt by the heavy rain so the photos did not turn out as well as i likedπ’π’
i will be going to tokyo the first week of april so i hope i can get the tickets to the tokyo-edo museum! Thanks for this information! I didn't even know there was such a museum!
I hope it's worth since I already got the tickets! π
Merry Christmas to you and Kenny! ππππΈπΊ
beside the hotel rate, sightseeing / point of interest and transportation price seems like become more pricey. just went to several cities in mid November 2025.
β€thank you for your info, I just got back from my two month trip and feel Japan is still good value for money, besides being clean, superior public transport, awesome food, respectful , and offering a wide spectrum for travel. This trip I avoided again the big threeβ mostly hiking in Gifu and western Japan and finishing off in Kyushu.
Looking forward to my trip in spring 26β regardless.
Have a happy holiday weekend, safe travels and a happy new year everyone
Thank you for another useful video Kengo-San. As I plan towards my next trip in March it is interesting to see the price rises.
I was thinking of going to see Himeji Castle again (been 3 times previously) but will probably not go this time.
Not so much just the price rise but also there are many other sites and attractions which also need and want the visitors and money compared to Himeji.
And I guess this is part of the strategy, direct tourists away from the busy places and push them to less well known and less busy places.
I have no plans to visit Kyoto, despite its beauty, because it just isn't pleasant to visit any more. Kanazawa can offer some similar Machiya and historic districts so I will go there instead.
Thank you.
Kenchan, do you offer guided walking tours of Kanazawa/Shirakawa-go? what is the cost? thanks for your wonderfully informative videos, we appreciate it!
Thank you Kenji your advice is always excellent. I might have to visit Japan… AGAIN
The price increase will affect more of the locals unfortunately.
Thankyou for clarifying the new fees. I'm in Canada and we are getting a lot of media that these increases are only for foreign tourists. So I feel much better now that it's fair increase for everyone! Love your videos! thx so much
Merry Christmas Kenchan san…..it is sad that Japan is getting so expensive. Australian dollar equals Japanese 100 yen, our cost of living here is also going up stupidly. We can't afford to live in our own country either.
My husband and I are getting close to retirement and hope to spend a lot more time in Japan as a result. The people and the community obligations make it so much cleaner, safer and affordable than our own place. We have spent years and years saving to go to Japan, my husband especially works extra hard and lots of OT. Thank you for being "hontonei" about the situation.
I am still going to go to Japan. I am going for spiritual healing and food.
Iβm looking forward to visiting Japan in late February to middle of March 2026 – canβt wait! Unfortunately I will miss the reopening of the Edo Museum but still lots to explore
Kenchan, thanks for the valuable updates. I returned about 3 weeks ago from Japan and did notice price increases at the konbini. While your fruits are relatively expensive, your vegetables are so cheap and beautiful!
γ‘γͺγΌ. γ―γͺγΉγγΉ!
Living in Guam, a 3.5 hour flight. Japan is always worth it!
I guess itβs more incentive for me to just stay in Japan rather than paying the exit tax.
MERRY CHRISTMAS KENCHAN & KENNY! π ππ
I think that most tourists will be able to cope with the price increases in terms of food from the conbini for example. But it might be more painful for locals. Honestly, I would prefer that locals wouldnt be suffering from those price increases. It must be very hard for Japanese people.
Looks like I timed my visit a bit too late, I'll be staying on the very same day the tax increases take effect.
Guess I'll stay a few nights at a friend's house to offset the increase…
Thanks Kenchan for the update. We are looking forward to the Edo Museum next year. It is because of the bad behavior of tourists from some countries that make it troublesome for others – they should limit the number of tourist visas given to these countries especially big groups.
Regarding the tax refund, it is indeed a pity regarding the change. If the tax is refunded to our bank account, there will be differences in the exchange rates and fees by the bank. So basically one has to decide if the amount is worth the trouble of doing it at the airport.
I hope the price increases will not affect the locals too much – especially hearing about the price of the onigiri at konbinis and if accomodation taxes in other cities start to rise, it will affect the locals too.
Frankly, the price increase will be effective only if the Yen starts to get stronger. As long as it remains low, the increases will still affordable for the tourists but will be a bigger burden to the locals. Also I donβt think the price increase in the tax for luxury hotels will make much difference to the wealthier high-spending tourists who stay in such places.
As for restaurants, we hope there will be no discrimination by not allowing non-japanese to dine there. To avoid misunderstanding, a proper explanation in english about the limitations . Eg no vegan menu or not possible to cater to those with allergies etc. can be shown.
Can you recommend onsen towns easy to get to for international travelers? I see videos about going to onsen towns and going onsen hopping. Also I hear about onsen towns not liking day trip travelers. Is there an update about that? Thank you for keeping us up to date with the travel news
I am heading to Toyama & Alpine Kurobe journey in 2026.
It's always worth it, because I love the country. Going back in Feb and can't be soon enough.
I don't want to fly anymore and had hoped to someday use the eastern express train through Russia but obviously that is now a closed option. So no more trips to Japan for me I'm afraid π
It better be, because Iβm going next week. Lol, but really Iβm excited to go back.
Thank you, Kenchan!