Japan to triple exit tax from 2026.
Japan is raising its departure tax from July 2026 Between 1,000 and 3,000 yen per passenger. The increase applies to all international departures, regardless of whether travelling from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or other airports and seaports.
The tax is included in the ticket price and applies to all passengers over two years old, including tourists, residents, and Japanese citizens. For families and groups, this means a noticeably higher cost at the end of the journey.
The reason is strong growth in tourism and pressure on key destinations. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are already struggling with crowds, overloaded transport and an excessive number of visitors. The government wants to shift some of the costs of destination management onto those who use them.
Revenue from the new fee will go towards modernising airports, improving infrastructure and protecting cultural and natural heritage, while also encouraging travel to less-visited regions of Japan.
For travel agencies and TMCs, this means that the new cost must be clearly included in package prices and corporate travel. Japan remains a premium destination, but entering and exiting the country is becoming part of a broader sustainable tourism management strategy.
Source: ET
