Japan hikes tourist costs

Japan is making foreign travel to and around the country more expensive in 2026, with higher rail-pass prices from October and new local lodging taxes already taking effect. (bangkokpost.com) (kyoto.travel) Japan Rail Pass prices will rise on October 1, 2026, in the first revision in three years. A seven-day ordinary pass will cost 53,000 yen, up from 50,000 yen, and a seven-day Green Car pass will rise to 74,000 yen from 70,000 yen. (bangkokpost.com) The six Japan Railways Group passenger companies said the increase reflects fare changes already made by operators including East Japan Railway, Hokkaido Railway, West Japan Railway and Kyushu Railway. Adult 14-day ordinary passes will rise to 84,000 yen and 21-day ordinary passes to 105,000 yen. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) (bangkokpost.com) Kyoto, one of the country’s most visited cities, raised its accommodation tax on March 1, 2026. The top rate is now 10,000 yen per person per night for rooms costing 100,000 yen or more, up from a previous maximum of 1,000 yen. (kyoto.travel) Kyoto also added new bands that hit more travelers in the middle of the market. Rooms priced at 6,000 yen to 19,999 yen now carry a 400 yen tax, while rooms at 50,000 yen to 99,999 yen are taxed 4,000 yen per person per night. (kyoto.travel) The push comes after Japan closed 2025 with 3,617,700 visitor arrivals in December alone, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. The same organization’s 2025 annual data show Japan topped 40 million foreign visitors for the first time. (jnto.go.jp) (nippon.com) Tokyo is also moving on the national departure tax. Japan’s Finance Ministry listed a rate increase for the International Tourist Tax in its fiscal 2026 tax reform outline; the tax is currently 1,000 yen per person each time someone leaves Japan by air or sea. (mof.go.jp 1) (mof.go.jp 2) The departure tax is not limited to foreign tourists. The Finance Ministry says it applies once per departure to international travelers leaving Japan, with exemptions that include children under 2, some transit passengers leaving within 24 hours, and aircraft or ship crew. (mof.go.jp) Rail operators are softening one part of the October increase by keeping official online pass prices unchanged for a limited period, with the timing of that revision to be announced later. Even with that delay, the 2026 travel bill for visitors is moving in one direction: up. (bangkokpost.com)