Kyoto, Japan | Image credit:
Graham Powell-Wood/Unsplash
Highlights
The departure tax applies to everyone leaving Japan by air or sea.
For Japanese citizens, the higher departure tax may be partly offset.
Japan is set to significantly increase taxes for travellers leaving the country, tripling the current departure levy from JPY 1,000 (USD 6.40) to JPY 3,000 (USD 19.19) per person, effective from July 2026. The government has also announced plans to introduce additional entry inspection fees by 2028, citing pressures from overtourism and rising fiscal constraints.
The International Tourist Tax, commonly referred to as the departure tax, was introduced on January 7, 2019, and applies to all travellers (aged two and above) departing Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality. The departure tax will be automatically added to airline and ferry tickets, with exemptions for aircraft crew and transit passengers departing within 24 hours.
Also, learn why Kyoto is planning to introduce Japan’s highest-ever hotel tax starting March 2026.
Departure tax: What visitors to Japan must know
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Since the departure tax applies to everyone leaving Japan for an overseas destination, Japanese citizens will also feel the impact of higher travel costs. To offset this, the government is reportedly considering using some of the additional revenue from the increased tax to lower passport issuance fees for Japanese nationals.
“Japan collected a record 52.48 billion yen in departure tax revenue in the year ended March 2025. The government aims to use the increased tax income to address concerns about overcrowding, congestion and poor behaviour at tourist sites,” reported Japan Wire by Kyodo News. Under the new plan, the government expects tourism-related revenue for the 2026 fiscal year (April 2026 to March 2027) to rise nearly 2.7 times to around JPY 130 billion.
Did you know?
Before these new hikes, the biggest change came on April 1, 2025, ending tax-free claims via overseas shipping and departure slips.
Japan also plans to introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA) by 2028. Fees for this pre-screening system for travellers from visa-free countries are expected to range between JPY 2,000 (USD 12.79) and 3,000 (USD 19.19) per person, which would bring total travel charges (including departure tax) to roughly JPY 5,000 (USD 31.98) to 6,000 (USD 38.37) per traveller.
Visa issuance fees for travellers requiring entry permits, such as visitors from China and parts of Southeast Asia, may also increase by up to five times next year. However, short-term visa-exempt visitors will not be affected. Airlines, including Korean Air, Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways, may adjust fares accordingly, while no official hikes have been announced yet.
(Feature image credit: Graham Powell-Wood/Unsplash)
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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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Written By
Sneha Chakraborty
Sneha Chakraborty is a journalist and photographer covering how travel intersects with food, culture, ..Read Moreand identity. Her reporting has appeared in National Geographic Traveller India, Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveller, Vogue India, and Hindustan Times, where she spent two years on staff as a correspondent covering travel and culture. She is an alumna of the University of Westminster`s Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design. Currently based in Delhi, she grew up in various cities across India and has lived in Amsterdam, and London. Read Less
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