Travelling out of Japan is set to become significantly more expensive from July 2026, as the country plans to triple its departure tax for all international travelers.
The current exit tax of JPY 1,100 will be increased to JPY 3,000 per person, and the charge will apply to everyone leaving Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality.
Japan introduced the departure tax in January 2019 as a way to fund tourism management and infrastructure development. The fee is automatically added to airline or ferry tickets and is not billed separately.
Under the new policy, all travelers aged two and above, including Japanese citizens, will be required to pay the higher amount.
However, there are a few exceptions. Airline crew members and transit passengers leaving Japan within 24 hours will not be charged the tax.
Since its introduction, the departure tax has become a major source of revenue for Japan. In the year ending March 2025, the country collected a record JPY 52.48 billion from the tax as international travel rebounded strongly.
The government says the additional revenue will be used to manage overcrowding at major tourist destinations, improve transport systems, and enhance facilities for visitors.
For the 2026 financial year, Japan expects tourism-related tax revenue to rise to around JPY 130 billion, nearly 2.7 times higher than current levels.
Japanese nationals travelling abroad will also have to pay the higher fee. To offset the burden, the government is reportedly considering reducing passport issuance fees for residents, though no final decision has been made.
The departure tax hike is not the only new cost travelers may face. By 2028, Japan plans to introduce a pre-travel authorization system called JESTA for visitors from visa-free countries.
The expected JESTA fee is likely to range between JPY 2,000 and JPY 3,000 per person.
If both charges apply, travelers could end up paying:
This would bring the total additional cost to JPY 5,000–6,000 per trip.
Japan is also considering raising visa issuance fees for certain nationalities, particularly travelers from China and parts of Southeast Asia. Visitors from visa-free countries would not be affected by this change.
While Japan remains one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, the rising fees signal a shift toward more tightly managed and costlier international travel.
For frequent travelers, the additional charges will add up over time. For occasional visitors, the cost may be modest compared to overall travel expenses, but it is still a noticeable increase.