Story perspectives

Japan raises visa fees, Himeji fees double revenue

7/2/2026

Summary

Japan Raises Fees

Japan raised visa fees to 15,000 yen ($93) and cut passport fees for its citizens.
Himeji Castle raised non-resident admission to 2,500 yen ($15.50) on 1 March, after which admissions fell 17% but revenue more than doubled.
Japan saw over 42 million foreign visitors spending 9.5 trillion yen ($59 bn) last year, prompting the Japan Tourism Agency to increase its budget by over 700% to 10 billion yen ($62 m) for AI crowd-detection and smart-bin systems.

Summary

Japan Raises

The departure tax rose to 3,000 yen, exempting stays under 24 hours and children under two.
Fiscal-2026 revenue is projected at 130 billion yen, up from 49 billion yen, to fund measures like photo-spot zones and railway tourism.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the hike reflects inflation-driven yen depreciation and should not deter visitors, noting Korea, the United States and Taiwan keep visa-waiver status despite Chinese observers claiming the fee targets Chinese tourists.

Summary

Japan Hikes Visa

Japan will raise its visa fee to ¥15,000 ($92), the first increase in nearly 50 years.
Officials say the hike offsets inflation and a weaker yen.
Industry analysts warn the steep fee could damage Japan’s welcoming image and lower future World Travel Index rankings.
Tourism operators are launching campaigns to reassure travelers that Japan remains welcoming despite the fee change.

History

Historical Context

In 2019 Japan added a departure “Sayonara Tax” on outbound travelers, reflecting a broader trend of tourist levies used to fund infrastructure. The Japan Tourism Agency, which manages tourism taxes, now oversees such revenues, while recent decisions by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to raise visa fees and Himeji Castle’s admission fees follow the same revenue-driven logic. This continuity raises concerns about Japan’s tourist-friendly image.

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Japan Raises Fees

Japan raised visa fees to 15,000 yen ($93) and cut passport fees for its citizens.
Himeji Castle raised non-resident admission to 2,500 yen ($15.50) on 1 March, after which admissions fell 17% but revenue more than doubled.
Japan saw over 42 million foreign visitors spending 9.5 trillion yen ($59 bn) last year, prompting the Japan Tourism Agency to increase its budget by over 700% to 10 billion yen ($62 m) for AI crowd-detection and smart-bin systems.

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