Will Traveling to Japan Become More Costly? Departure Tax to Triple Next Year

International Tourist Departure Tax Raised from 9,000 Won to 27,000 Won

The Japanese government has decided to raise the "International Tourist Departure Tax," which is levied upon departure, from the current 1,000 yen (approximately 9,000 won) per person to 3,000 yen (approximately 27,000 won) starting in July next year.

Japanese media outlets, including Kyodo News, reported on the 27th that the government confirmed this policy during a meeting held the previous day.

At the meeting, the Japanese government set this policy and projected that revenue for the 2026 fiscal year (April 2026 to March 2027) would rise to 130 billion yen (approximately 1.2 trillion won), 2.7 times higher than the previous year.

The increased revenue from the departure tax hike will be used for initiatives to address overtourism caused by the rise in inbound tourists.

Kabukicho Shinjuku, Tokyo Entertainment District, Japan

The Japanese government also plans to raise visa fees to about five times the current level sometime next year.

However, since South Koreans can currently enter Japan without a visa for short-term stays such as tourism, they are not required to pay visa fees.

Nevertheless, the Japanese government plans to introduce an electronic travel authorization system (JESTA) around 2028, which will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to submit basic information online for pre-entry screening. After the system is implemented, a screening fee will be charged.

This is a system similar to the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).