Flying Out of Japan? New ¥3,000 Departure Tax Now Applies to Most Travellers

Flying home from Japan now costs a little more. Japan has raised its International Tourist Tax, also known as the departure tax, from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for everyone leaving the country, with the higher charge applying to airline and cruise tickets booked from July 1.

For international travellers, there is nothing extra to pay at the airport. The tax is automatically added to the ticket price. If you booked your flight before July 1, the old ¥1,000 rate still applies.

Why Japan Is Charging More

Tokyo says the extra revenue will help tackle overtourism and improve tourism infrastructure as visitor numbers continue to climb.

Japan introduced the departure tax in 2019 and currently collects around ¥50 billion a year. With the revised rate, annual revenue is expected to reach roughly ¥120 billion.

The move reflects a wider trend across popular destinations. Governments are increasingly using tourism taxes to fund infrastructure instead of relying solely on public spending.

Record Tourism Driving the Change

Japan welcomed 42.4 million international visitors in 2025, the highest figure on record, and has set an ambitious target of attracting 60 million annual visitors by 2030.

With airports, transport networks and tourist hotspots under growing pressure, the government is looking for new funding to keep pace with demand.

Indian Travellers Still Pay the Same Visa Fee

The departure tax is the only new travel cost for most Indian visitors.

Although Japan has raised its standard short-term visa fees worldwide from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 for single-entry visas and from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000 for multiple-entry visas, Indian applicants are not affected by this increase. They continue to pay the existing visa processing fee of around ₹500, under the current arrangement in India.

Unlike travellers from 74 visa-exempt countries, including the United States and South Korea, Indian passport holders still need to obtain a visa before travelling to Japan.

However, the visa fee remains unchanged, meaning the higher departure tax is the only additional cost Indian travellers need to factor into their trip.

Passport Fees Cut for Japanese Residents

While overseas visitors are paying more, Japan has reduced passport application fees for its own citizens. Online applications for a 10-year passport now cost ¥8,900, down from ¥15,900, while fees for in-person applications have also been reduced by ¥7,000.

Travelobiz Take

We see Japan balancing booming tourism with rising infrastructure costs. Indian travellers should simply factor these higher visa and departure charges into their travel budget, as they are now part of the cost of visiting Japan.