Japan's Departure Tax Has Tripled to ¥3,000 as of 1 July 2026

Japan's International Tourist Tax, commonly called the 'sayonara tax', tripled from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person with effect from 1 July 2026, under a rise confirmed in the country's Tax Reform Outline for fiscal year 2026. The charge, introduced in 2019, is a one-time departure levy applied to nearly everyone leaving Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality, and is normally built directly into the price of the airline or cruise ticket rather than collected separately at the airport.

Who pays, and who doesn't

Both foreign visitors and Japanese citizens pay the same rate. Children under two years old are exempt, as are passengers in transit who depart Japan again within 24 hours of arrival. For most travellers, the increase is invisible at the point of departure, since it is folded into the ticket price at the time of booking rather than paid as a separate airport fee.

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A transition rule for early bookings

Tickets booked on or before 30 June 2026 were charged at the previous ¥1,000 rate, even for travel taking place after the change; bookings made from 1 July onward carry the new ¥3,000 charge. For Indian travellers who booked Japan trips earlier in the year, this means the tax paid depends on when the ticket was purchased, not when the trip takes place, so it is worth checking a booking confirmation rather than assuming the current rate applies retroactively.

Why Japan is raising it now

Japanese authorities have linked the increase to record visitor numbers and the strain that overtourism has placed on popular sites, from Mount Fuji's trails to Kyoto's historic districts. Revenue from the tax is earmarked for national tourism measures, including managing overtourism, spreading visitor demand beyond the most crowded destinations, and promoting outbound travel by Japanese residents.

Traveller tips

• The increase applies from 1 July 2026 onward for tickets booked from that date; confirm with your airline or travel agent which rate applies to an existing booking.
• At current exchange rates the increase adds roughly a few hundred rupees to the cost of a Japan trip, folded into the ticket price rather than paid separately.
• This is a departure tax, distinct from Japan's other recent tourism-related charges, including changes to tax-free shopping rules and fees at sites such as Mount Fuji; check current rules for each separately.
• Always confirm the latest rate and any exemptions directly with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or your airline before booking, since figures here reflect the position as of this article's publication.