Japan Has Tripled Its Departure Tax for International Travellers

Japan's International Tourist Tax, sometimes called the sayonara tax, increased from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per departing passenger from 1 July 2026, tripling a levy that had stayed unchanged since it was introduced in 2019. The tax is collected once, when a traveller leaves Japan by air or sea, and is generally folded into the price of an international ticket by the airline or shipping line rather than collected as a separate airport charge.

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What the increase covers

Japan's tourism ministry has said revenue from the tax is directed toward tourism-related infrastructure, including airport facilities, upkeep of popular sites and preservation of cultural and historic assets, alongside development of travel information resources for visitors. The increase was set out in Japan's tax reform outline for the 2026 fiscal year and applies to nearly all departing passengers aged two and over, regardless of nationality.

A transition window for tickets bought earlier

A transitional rule allowed the previous ¥1,000 rate to apply to tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026, even if the actual travel and departure happened after that date, so the change primarily affects tickets booked from around mid-2026 onward. For Indian travellers, who make up a growing share of visitor arrivals to Japan, the increase is a modest addition on top of airfare rather than a new separate fee to budget for at the airport.

What it means for travellers

Because the tax is built into ticket pricing rather than paid at a counter, most travellers will not notice a distinct charge; the practical effect is a small increase in the total cost of an international ticket out of Japan compared with one booked before the change. This is reported to have taken effect from 1 July 2026; travellers should confirm current details with their airline or Japan's National Tax Agency before booking, since fee structures can be revised again.

Traveller tips

• The International Tourist Tax is a one-time departure charge, not a recurring or accommodation-based levy.
• It applies to almost all travellers aged two and over leaving Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality.
• The tax is usually included in the ticket price and collected by the airline or shipping line, not paid separately at the airport.
• Confirm current fees with your airline or Japan's official tourism and tax authority pages before booking, as tax rates can change.