Japan tripled its International Tourist Tax, also known as the departure tax, on Wednesday as part of a push to address the growing number of inbound tourists.
Previously set at ?1,000, the tax has increased to ?3,000 for all travelers departing Japan, regardless of nationality. The levy applies to both foreign visitors and Japanese nationals leaving the country.
The tax is automatically included in the price of airline and cruise tickets for bookings made from July 1 onward, so travelers are not required to make any additional payment at airports or seaports when departing Japan. Bookings made before July 1 will be exempt from the tax increase.
The move comes amid a significant uptick in inbound tourism in recent years. The additional revenue will be used to fund overtourism countermeasures and strengthen the nation¡¯s infrastructure and capacity to accommodate tourists.
The tax already generates about ?50 billion in revenue annually, with the increase expected to boost that to approximately ?120 billion.
As the higher departure tax also affects Japanese residents traveling abroad, the government decreased the application fees for passports starting Wednesday to help ease the financial burden.
The fee for a 10-year passport application submitted online was reduced from ?15,900 to ?8,900 for applications made on or after Wednesday. In-person applications were also cut by ?7,000.
The prices for short-term tourist visas were also raised fivefold on the same day. Single-entry visas increased from ?3,000 to ?15,000, while multiple-entry visas went up from ?6,000 to ?30,000.
Visitors from 74 countries and regions, including the United States and South Korea, are exempt from the short-term visa requirements. However, travelers from countries such as China, the Philippines, and Vietnam are required to obtain one.
According to the latest data from the Foreign Ministry, more than 70% of short-term visa applicants in 2025 were Chinese nationals. The number of visas issued that year was the second-highest on record, behind only 2019.
With the visa price hike, the cost has reached similar levels to visa fees in the U.S. and the E.U., at $185 and €90 ($102), respectively, although Japanese residents are exempt from visa requirements from both and vice versa.
Japan saw a record number of inbound tourists in 2025, reaching approximately 42.4 million. The country is aiming to raise the number even further to 60 million per year by 2030.
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