Japan plans to raise several travel-related fees and taxes that mainly target foreign visitors, part of an effort to modernize systems and fund public programs. For travelers, that could mean Japan’s famously good-value experience could soon cost more.
One of the biggest changes under discussion is a rise in the international departure tax, sometimes called the “sayonara tax.” Since 2019, everyone leaving Japan, citizens and foreigners alike, has paid JPY 1,000 (about $6.6). That rate could soon increase, with the government pointing out that similar fees in many other countries are much higher.
Officials have floated the idea of lowering passport renewal fees for Japanese citizens to offset the increase, but that would not apply to visitors.
Visa-related fees are also expected to rise. Japan’s current charges are among the lowest in the developed world: from JPY 3,000 ($20) for a single-entry visa and JPY 6,000 ($40) for a multiple-en
AloJapan.com