Japan's departure tax triples to ¥3,000 from July 2026

From 1 July 2026, leaving Japan costs more. The departure tax (出国税, shukoku-zei), which has been ¥1,000 per person since 2019, has tripled to ¥3,000. It is now one of the highest departure taxes in Asia, and the increase is a direct response to record-breaking tourist numbers and the pressure they have placed on the country.

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What Japan’s departure tax is

The departure tax is a levy paid by anyone leaving Japanese territory by air or sea. You don’t pay it at an airport counter: it is automatically included in the price of your flight or ferry ticket, in the same way airport taxes are bundled into airfare everywhere else — the mirror image of the paperwork covered in our Japan arrival guide.

It was introduced in January 2019 at ¥1,000 per person. For over six years that rate didn’t change. In 2026 the Japanese government approved tripling it to ¥3,000, with effect from 1 July.

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Who pays it

The tax applies to everyone leaving Japan, regardless of nationality. Foreign tourists, foreign residents and Japanese nationals are all subject to it equally.

The only exemptions are:

• Children under the age of 2
• Transit passengers who spend no more than 24 hours in Japan without formally entering the country

If you bought a return ticket before 1 July 2026, the terms that apply are those in force at the time of purchase, not at the time of departure. Anyone who bought their ticket in June paid the old rate.

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Why it was raised

The Japanese government’s reasoning is twofold: funding measures against overtourism, and redistributing visitors toward less crowded destinations.

Japan broke tourism records in 2024 and 2025. Cities like Kyoto, Nikko and Lake Kawaguchi have been dealing for years with a level of saturation that affects residents, pushes up housing prices and makes daily life harder. The increase in the departure tax, alongside local tourism levies in certain municipalities and access fees at specific sites, is part of a broader strategy to manage that flow.

Departure tax revenue hit a record of around ¥52.5 billion in fiscal 2024. With the new rate, the government expects to collect around ¥130 billion in fiscal 2026, with the proceeds earmarked primarily for overtourism control measures and promoting travel to alternative destinations.

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What it means in practice

For an individual traveller, the change is ¥2,000 per departure. On a round trip from Europe, the direct impact is ¥2,000 extra (the return flight is your departure from Japan). It’s not a figure that radically changes the maths of a trip — if you’re budgeting a 10-day Japan itinerary, it barely moves the total — but it’s worth factoring in if you’re planning frequent short visits or multiple exits.

For residents in Japan who travel regularly, whether for work or to visit family abroad, the cumulative effect can add up: ¥3,000 per departure, several times a year.

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Context: more fee changes in 2026

The departure tax isn’t the only significant fiscal change affecting people who travel or live in Japan in 2026.

• Visa fees: from October 2026, residency renewal and permanent residency application fees will rise significantly. The permanent residency fee goes from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. See our full breakdown of the visa fee hike or the visa fee calculator for the details.
• Local tourism levies: some municipalities (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara) already have or are introducing their own tourism taxes, separate from the national departure tax.
• Site access fees: Mount Fuji charges ¥4,000 per person on the Yoshida Trail, with daily caps. Other sites are introducing their own access restrictions or additional charges.

The overall direction is a structural shift in how Japan manages mass tourism: more regulation, higher access costs, and a more deliberate attempt to redirect visitor flows away from the most saturated circuits.

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FAQ

Do I have to pay the tax at the airport? No. It’s included in the ticket price, the same as airport taxes anywhere. There’s no separate counter where you pay it.

What about leaving Japan by boat (ferry to Korea, to China)? Yes. The tax also applies to departures by sea.

Do domestic flights within Japan include it? No. The departure tax applies only to international departures from Japan.

Does anything change for already-purchased tickets? Tickets bought before 1 July 2026 are charged at the old rate (¥1,000). Those purchased from that date onwards, at ¥3,000.

Does it affect the JR Pass or domestic transport? No. The JR Pass and transport within Japan are not affected. It applies exclusively to international departures.

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Information based on the reform approved by the Japanese government with effect from 1 July 2026. Always verify the exact conditions with your airline or ferry company at the time of purchase.