As travelers plan trips to Japan for the upcoming Liberation Day holiday, they should be aware of increased travel costs. The departure tax, known as the international tourism passenger tax, has tripled since last month.
According to Japan's Ministry of Finance and the National Tax Agency, the tax was raised from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per person starting July 1.
This tax applies to travelers departing Japan, including both foreign tourists and Japanese citizens traveling abroad.
Japan introduced the international tourism passenger tax in 2019, charging a set amount for each departure via air or sea.
With the new tax, a family of four would see their departure tax burden increase from 4,000 yen to 12,000 yen.
However, it is uncommon for travelers to pay the 3,000 yen directly at the airport. Airlines or shipping companies typically collect the tax from travelers and remit it to the Japanese government, usually included in the ticket price.
Not all travelers are subject to the 3,000 yen tax. According to the National Tax Agency, children under two years old and certain transit passengers who leave within 24 hours of entering Japan are exempt.
There are also exceptions related to the timing of travel contracts. If a transportation contract was signed before July 1 under specific conditions, the previous tax rate of 1,000 yen may apply for departures after that date. Therefore, travelers should verify the actual amount based on their ticketing and contract details.
The Japanese government plans to use the revenue from the tax increase to address overtourism, improve the capacity of tourist sites, and enhance immigration and customs environments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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