Travelling is one of life’s great joys, but to ensure each leg of your journey and stage in your plans runs as smoothly as possible, it’s always advised to brush up on a country’s rules and restrictions.
Recently, Thailand has significantly revoked visa freedoms for tourists – while Sri Lanka has done the opposite, and waived visa fees for loads of nations, meaning more travellers can enter the country for free.
Headed to Japan? Well, there’s a couple of new rules that anyone travelling there imminently should be aware of, too, so read on for all the latest information.
‘If you throw trash, you lose cash’
That catchy little motto is part of a new Tokyo campaign to mitigate the impact of swarms of visitors overcrowding the streets and leaving a mess in their wake. Japan welcomed a staggering 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, according to euronews, and a whole lot of them are packing into Tokyo’s busiest tourist districts.
In Shibuya, people caught dropping litter will now face on-the-spot fines of ¥2,000 (around €10.75), and the local authorities are reportedly dispatching 50 officials to enforce the fines (which will be payable with cash, card, or via a QR code).
Photograph: NorthSky Films / ShutterstockCrowds wait at a Shibuya, Tokyo crosswalk
Something to be aware of is that Japan is famously lacking when it comes to rubbish bins. Due to their potential use in terror attacks, they’re few and far between on the cities’ streets – in fact, 20 percent of people who responded to a government survey last year cited it as the most inconvenient aspect of visiting Japan. Be prepared to hold onto your iced coffee cups or snack wrappers for a while.
‘Sayonara tax’ is on the up
Japan’s departure fee – which has applied to all visitors leaving the country by air or sea since it was introduced in 2019 – is increasing on July 1. Originally ¥1,000 (around US$9 at the time), it’s set to go up to ¥3,000. However, because the Japanese currency is weak right now, that isn’t a tripling – it’s actually only around $18.
And while sure, extra fees are a little annoying, let’s not be too bitter about it. According to AFAR, the government plans to filter all funds raised back into improving infrastructure and addressing overtourism challenges.
This includes installing more facial recognition gates at airports and seaports to make passport control more efficient, as well as looking after historic attractions, online resources for visitors, and funding to draw travellers to lesser-known destinations.
🌳 While you’re here, check out our roundup of the most underrated places in Japan.
Did you see that an historic overnight train between two fascinating capitals has just relaunched after six years?
Plus: The world’s most endangered dishes, from Northern Portugal to New York.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
AloJapan.com