From 1 July 2026, Returning from Japan Will Incur Rp340,000 Tax

The Japanese government has officially announced a new policy that will directly impact the wallets of international tourists. Starting 1 July 2026, the International Departure Tax, popularly known as the ‘Sayonara Tax’, will increase from 1,000 JPY (approximately Rp115,000) to 3,000 JPY (approximately Rp340,000).

According to Japan Travel, this policy was first introduced in January 201s9 for travellers leaving Japan. This tourist tax follows the precedent set by several other nations, such as New Zealand and Bhutan. The government considers this tariff adjustment necessary to support its ambitious target of attracting up to 60 million international tourists per year by 2030, while simultaneously maintaining the quality of tourist destinations and the comfort of local residents.

While many tourist taxes are charged per night as a percentage of accommodation costs, Japan’s tourist tax is collected only once, at a fixed rate of 3,000 JPY starting 1 July 2026. This policy applies to all travellers departing Japan via air or sea, regardless of nationality. The tax will be integrated directly into the price of airline or ship tickets by airlines and transport operators.

Groups exempt from the ‘Sayonara Tax’ include flight and ship crews, transit passengers, and passengers landing in Japan due to adverse weather conditions. This step is being taken by the Japanese government as an effort to address the impacts of overtourism, which is increasingly felt in popular tourist cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. In recent years, the sharp increase in international tourists has begun to place pressure on public transport, the environment, and the lives of local communities.

Revenue from the tourist tax will be used to support the maintenance of public works, essential infrastructure at airports and tourist sites, the restoration of historical assets, and the creation of online tourism resources.