Japan hikes departure tax to curb overtourism and fund infrastructure

Japan raised its International Tourist Tax (departure tax) to 3,000 yen for all travelers departing the country, effective July 1, with the levy auto-included in airline/cruise bookings; revenue is earmarked for overtourism countermeasures and infrastructure, boosting annual revenue toward about 120 billion yen from 50 billion. To soften the impact on residents, passport fees were cut (10-year online: 15,900 → 8,900 yen; in-person down by 7,000), while short-term visa fees jumped fivefold (single-entry 3,000 → 15,000; multiple-entry 6,000 → 30,000); exemptions remain for many visa-free nationals. Japan saw a record inbound year in 2025 (roughly 42.4 million visitors) and aims for 60 million annually by 2030.