Japan Raises Visa Fees Fivefold and Triples Departure Tax to Fund Overtourism Measures

From July 1 2026, Japan raised the single-entry tourist visa fee from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 and the multiple-entry fee from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000, the first change since 1978. The international departure tax was tripled from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 and now applies to all outbound travelers as a ticket surcharge.

Japan Triples Departure Tax to Fund Overtourism Response

Japan welcomed 36.8 million foreign visitors in 2024 and 42.6 million in 2025, straining transport and public services. The yen’s prolonged depreciation prompted officials to cite “price increases and fluctuations in exchange rates” as a reason for the fee changes. Localities such as Fujiyoshida have cancelled events because of overtourism pressure.

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The departure-tax hike is expected to lift annual revenue from about ¥50 billion to ¥120 billion, while the Japan Tourism Agency projects FY 2026 collections near ¥130 billion. Visa-fee increases aim to offset higher processing costs. Simultaneously, passport fees for Japanese citizens were cut, with the five-year adult passport falling from ¥15,900 to ¥9,300.

Japan Triples Departure Tax to Fund Overtourism Response

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the adjustments are needed to keep fee structures viable amid inflation and to fund anti-congestion projects. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the visa fee rise is unlikely to affect tourism demand. Deloitte chief economist Yuki Masujima noted that foreign travelers now account for 74 % of departures and that the measures should offset sales-tax-refund costs without deterring repeat visitors.

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Chinese commentators argue the visa-fee hike targets Chinese tourists, who still need visas unlike citizens of visa-waiver partners such as Korea, the United States and Taiwan. Domestic critics point to the added burden on Japanese nationals, prompting the simultaneous passport-fee reduction. Analysts warn higher entry costs may disproportionately affect travelers from Kenya, Nigeria and other developing economies.

Japan Triples Departure Tax to Fund Overtourism Response

Revenue estimates differ: one source projects the departure-tax increase to raise receipts to ¥120 billion, while another forecasts ¥130 billion for FY 2026. Officials claim the fees will not deter tourism, yet the actual impact on overtourism mitigation remains unmeasured.

Japan triples departure tax to combat overtourism

• “Given the prolonged depreciation of the Japanese yen in recent years, maintaining fee structures set under different economic conditions may no longer be financially sustainable,” — Zilmiyah Kamble, senior lecturer, James Cook University

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• “Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi justified the hikes by noting that base visa fees had remained untouched since 1978, requiring an adjustment for decades of inflation and currency fluctuation.” — Toshimitsu Motegi

Japan Hikes Tourist Taxes and Visa Fees to Combat Overtourism Surge

• “But despite the tax increases, Masujima said they are unlikely to deter tourists, noting that many visitors are returning travelers, underscoring Japan's enduring appeal as a destination.” — Yuki Masujima, chief economist, Deloitte Tohmatsu Group

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The additional tax revenue will be ring-fenced for anti-congestion measures and rural tourism infrastructure outside the Tokyo-Osaka corridor. The government will monitor visitor numbers and fiscal effects, with further adjustments possible if overtourism persists or if higher costs affect demand.

Japan Hikes Tourist Taxes and Visa Fees to Combat Overtourism Surge