If you’re planning a trip to Japan, there’s some disappointing news to keep in mind.
Starting July 1, 2026, Japan’s International Tourist Tax (departure tax) will triple from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for travelers leaving the country.
With travel costs already rising amid inflation, the increase is unwelcome news for tourists. Here’s a quick overview of the changes, along with the best booking timing for saving money.
📌 Key Details at a Glance
- Effective date: Applies to travelers departing Japan on or after Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- New rate: From ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 (a threefold increase)
- How it is paid: Automatically included in the tax section when purchasing an airline ticket or ferry ticket (no payment at the airport or port)
- Who pays: Adults and children pay the same rate (children under age 2 and passengers transiting within 24 hours are exempt)
💡 [Important] A Booking Tip to Cut Travel Costs
Even if you depart after July 1, tickets issued and paid for by June 30, 2026, will still be charged the pre-increase rate of ¥1,000.
- Have you already decided to take a trip to Japan during your summer vacation or the Chuseok holiday?
- Then it pays to complete your ticket purchase by June 30.
- For a family of four, that means saving about ¥8,000 (roughly ₩70,000–₩80,000) on the departure tax alone.
🤔 Why Is Japan Raising the Tax?
The Japanese government says the increase is intended to address the worsening problem of overtourism. The revenue is expected to fund improvements to the travel environment, including expanded automated immigration systems at airports, measures to ease congestion at major tourist attractions, multilingual information services, and smart trash bins.
If you’re considering a trip to Japan after July, it may be worth booking your flights a little sooner given the size of the increase. Know someone planning a trip to Japan? Be sure to share this news with them.
