Japan to Triple Departure Tax to 3,000 Yen Starting July 1

Japan will triple its international tourist tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per departure on July 1, the first increase since the so-called Sayonara Tax launched in January 2019.

The tax applies to every traveler aged 2 or older leaving Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality. It is normally collected at the time of ticket purchase rather than at the airport, so most travelers do not see a separate charge during checkout.

Revenue from the tax funds tourism infrastructure projects, including airport upgrades, multilingual signage, and the rollout of Japan's eVisa program. The Ministry of Finance estimates the higher rate will raise an additional 80 billion yen annually as Japan continues to break inbound visitor records.

The change comes alongside a separate hike in tourist visa application fees, which jumped from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen for single-entry applications in April. Visa-exempt nationalities, including travelers from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, do not pay the application fee but still owe the departure tax.

For travelers with summer trips already booked, the new departure tax applies to flights leaving Japan on or after July 1, even if the ticket was issued earlier. Airlines and travel agencies will collect the difference at check-in or as an add-on charge before boarding.