Japan tourist tax to rise July 2026

Japan will raise its international tourist tax to 3,000 yen per departure from July 1, 2026, from the current 1,000 yen, according to Japan Tourism Agency materials published in April. The levy, formally the International Tourist Tax, is charged on people leaving Japan and is generally collected by airlines and ship operators through ticket prices. (mlit.go.jp) Infants under age 2 are exempt, and a transitional measure keeps the old 1,000 yen rate for certain tickets issued on or before June 30, 2026. (mlit.go.jp) The increase comes as Japan expands tourism spending in its fiscal 2026 budget. Tourism Agency budget documents show 138.3 billion yen in FY2026 spending, with large allocations tied to projects funded by the departure tax and 10 billion yen specifically set aside for overtourism prevention and mitigation. (mof.go.jp) Japan's Finance Ministry says the FY2026 budget was enacted on April 7, 2026. ### How much will travelers pay from July 2026? July 1, 2026 is the start date for the higher rate, and the tax will be 3,000 yen for each departure from Japan, according to the Tourism Agency's English-language leaflet. (mlit.go.jp) The current rate is 1,000 yen, making the new charge three times higher. The Tourism Agency says airlines and sea carriers generally collect the tax from passengers when they leave Japan and then remit it to the government. The tax applies to departures rather than arrivals. ### Who pays it, and is there any grace period? (mlit.go.jp) Children under 2 are exempt from the tax, according to the agency leaflet. The documents also set out a transitional measure: travelers departing on or after July 1 can still pay the old 1,000 yen rate if they use eligible tickets issued on or before June 30, 2026. The Tourism Agency did not describe that transition as universal for every ticket type in the leaflet, instead referring to "eligible tickets," so travelers would need to check with carriers or the tax guidance linked by the agency. (mlit.go.jp) ### Where does the money go? April 17, 2026 guidance from the Tourism Agency says revenue from the tax is used in three areas: making travel more comfortable, improving access to information about Japan's attractions, and developing tourism resources that use local culture and nature. The agency says the funds will also support stronger nationwide measures to prevent and curb overtourism, address poor visitor behavior and congestion, and promote travel dispersion to regional areas. (mlit.go.jp) The agency's FY2026 budget papers give examples of those uses, including airport fast-travel projects, customs and entry-exit improvements, promotion of regional destinations, and upgrades to tourism assets such as historic properties, hiking trails and streetscapes. (mlit.go.jp) ### How big is the FY2026 tourism budget tied to this? Tourism Agency budget documents show 138.3 billion yen in FY2026 spending across major inbound, regional-dispersal and tourism-industry programs. In the same materials, 10 billion yen is listed for measures to prevent and suppress overtourism. (mlit.go.jp) The same budget summary shows broad increases in several tax-funded lines, including 31.7 billion yen for balancing inbound acceptance with residents' quality of life and 74.9 billion yen for dispersing demand through regional attraction measures. The budget page says the FY2026 overview was posted on February 18, 2026. (mlit.go.jp) ### Why is Japan moving now? March 2026 inbound traffic remained strong. The Japan National Tourism Organization said visitor arrivals reached 3,618,900 in March 2026, according to its April 15 release. The Tourism Agency's own April guidance ties the tax increase to larger efforts to manage congestion and expand infrastructure nationwide. (mlit.go.jp) The agency says the tax-funded measures are meant to let regions take sustained and planned steps against excessive crowding and support dispersion of visitors beyond the busiest destinations. July 1, 2026 is the next concrete milestone for travelers, when the 3,000 yen rate takes effect for departures from Japan. The Tourism Agency has already posted multilingual leaflets and says tax details are available through National Tax Agency guidance linked from its website. (jnto.go.jp) (mlit.go.jp 1) (mlit.go.jp 2)