Japan triples departure tax in push to combat overtourism

Key Points:

• Japan has tripled its International Tourist Tax from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for all travelers departing the country, effective for bookings made from July 1 onward, to help manage the surge in inbound tourism.
• The increased tax revenue, expected to rise from ¥50 billion to approximately ¥120 billion annually, will fund measures to address overtourism and improve tourism infrastructure.
• To offset the impact on Japanese residents, the government reduced passport application fees significantly, with online 10-year passport fees dropping from ¥15,900 to ¥8,900.
• Short-term tourist visa fees were raised fivefold, with single-entry visas increasing to ¥15,000 and multiple-entry visas to ¥30,000, aligning Japan's fees with those of the U.S. and E.U.; however, travelers from 74 countries, including the U.S. and South Korea, remain exempt from visa requirements.
• Japan recorded a historic 42.4 million inbound tourists in 2025 and aims to increase this number to 60 million annually by 2030.