Japan has increased its International Tourist Tax, commonly known as the departure tax, from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for all travellers leaving the country from July 1. The move is part of the government's efforts to tackle overtourism and strengthen infrastructure as visitor arrivals continue to rise.
The higher departure tax applies to both foreign visitors and Japanese nationals leaving Japan. It is automatically included in the price of airline and cruise tickets booked on or after July 1, meaning travellers do not have to pay separately at airports or seaports. Bookings made before July 1 are not affected by the increase.
Revenue to fund overtourism measures
Japan introduced the departure tax in 2019. The government said the higher levy will help fund measures to address overtourism and improve the country's capacity and infrastructure to accommodate growing numbers of visitors.
The departure tax currently generates around ¥50 billion in annual revenue. With the increase, the government expects annual collections to rise to about ¥120 billion.
