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The International Tourist Tax (Sayonara Tax): What Is Changing and Why

The Japan departure tax is a flat national levy charged on almost every international departure from Japan by air or sea.1 It tripled in 2026, so anyone budgeting a trip needs the policy timeline and the current figure with its date, not the old ¥1,000 number still quoted in older guides.12

Confirm current details with official sources

Fees, rules, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the National Tax Agency or the JNTO site.

Overview​

This article tells the policy story: how the tax started, why it rose, what the revenue funds, and the dated timeline of the change.23 Last verified 2026-09-04 against the National Tax Agency basic-knowledge page (as of 2026-09-04; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency).1

The rate figure, the full exemption list, and the ticket collection procedure belong to the companion mechanics reference. For those details, read Japan's International Tourist Tax: The Departure Tax Every Visitor Pays alongside this article.

What this article covers and what it leaves to the mechanics guide​

You get history, the 2026 change with dates, a payer summary, funding context, and a short collection summary here.12 You get the dated rate snapshot, every exemption category, and the step by step ticket handling in Japan's International Tourist Tax: The Departure Tax Every Visitor Pays.

Visa and entry application fees are a separate system and are out of scope here beyond a one line boundary note.4 If you are budgeting entry costs, treat those fees as a different line item, not part of this tax.

Why this article keeps ticket detail short

The mechanics companion already documents the rate snapshot, the exemption list, and carrier collection in full. This article summarizes those points and spends its length on the policy change instead of repeating them.

History: the 2019 Introduction at ¥1,000​

Japan introduced the International Tourist Tax on 7 January 2019 at a flat ¥1,000 per departure (as of 2018-06; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency).3 The formal name is the International Tourist Tax, or 国際観光旅客税 (kokusai kanko ryokyaku zei, "international tourist tax").23

Its informal English nickname is the Sayonara tax, and both names refer to the same levy.2 From day one the charge applied per departure by aircraft or ship, regardless of purpose or nationality.13

Why Japan created the tax​

The stated purpose was a permanent funding source to expand tourism infrastructure as Japan pursued higher inbound targets ahead of 2020 and beyond.3 Revenue was assigned to three areas from the start, described below in the funding section.3

JNTO's plain-language version of those uses names public works, airport and tourist-site infrastructure, restoration of historic assets, and online tourist resources.2 Those labels describe the same three statutory areas in visitor friendly terms.

Who has always paid​

Taxpayers are international tourists departing Japan by aircraft or ship regardless of purpose or nationality.1 That universality covers foreign visitors of every visa type, Japanese nationals, business travelers, and residents alike.

Narrow exemptions have existed from the start, including crew members, transit passengers leaving within 24 hours after entry, and passengers under age 2.1 The full exemption list lives in Japan's International Tourist Tax: The Departure Tax Every Visitor Pays; this section keeps only the shape of the rule.

The 2026 Increase to ¥3,000 and Change Timeline​

The rate rose from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per departure effective 1 July 2026 (as of 2026-09-04; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency).1 JNTO announced the same change on 11 May 2026 with the same before and after figures (as of 2026-05-11).2

Contemporaneous reporting confirmed implementation on 1 July 2026 for all travelers departing Japan regardless of nationality (as of 2026-07-01).4 The table below states each step as a dated snapshot rather than a permanent figure (as of 2026-09-04).1

ItemAmount or statusAs ofNotes
Introduction rate per departure¥1,0002018-063Superseded 1 July 2026
Increase announced¥1,000 rising to ¥3,0002026-05-112JNTO announcement
Current rate per departure¥3,0002026-09-041Flat rate, no nationality tiers
Transitional ruleEligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026 keep ¥1,0002026-09-041Check ticket issue date
Annual revenue before increaseAbout ¥50 billion2026-07-014Reported figure
Expected annual revenue after increaseAbout ¥120 billion2026-07-014Reported figure

The policy path from introduction to the new rate looks like this:

From proposal to 1 July 2026 implementation​

The National Tax Agency index page marks its carrier Q&A as revised April 2026 and points readers to the Japan Tourism Agency leaflet for the July 2026 revision procedures.5 That leaflet exists and is linked from the JNTO visitor page; its line-item content is unconfirmed in text form.67

The transitional measure keeps the old ¥1,000 rate for departures on eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026 (as of 2026-09-04).1 Secondary reporting paraphrases related contract-date mechanics such as fixed departure dates and date changes, but the primary wording keys on ticket issuance, so this article follows the primary wording (as of 2026-07-01).14

Check your ticket issue date before you budget

A ticket issued on or before 30 June 2026 can carry the old rate even for later travel. Look at the issue date on your confirmation, not just the travel date, then confirm the applied rate with your carrier.1

A ¥5,000 figure was discussed in 2025 policy debate but the confirmed nationwide rate is ¥3,000 (as of 2026-06-10) (limitation: proposal-stage detail from secondary reporting only).4 Do not plan around the higher debated figure.

Last-verified status and what could still move​

This article was last verified 2026-09-04 against the National Tax Agency basic-knowledge page showing the ¥3,000 rate and the transitional measure (as of 2026-09-04).1 Treat the increase as subject to change until fully implemented and confirmed via official channels, and confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency or JNTO before you finalize a budget.16

On the same day the higher rate took effect, passport application fees were reduced to ease the burden on Japanese residents, and short-term visa fees rose on a separate schedule (as of 2026-07-01).4 Those visa fees remain out of scope here beyond this boundary note.

What the Revenue Funds​

Funding use is context for understanding the policy, not a justification for the cost to you.23 The levy adds a fixed line to your departure cost whether or not you use the funded services directly.

The three statutory spending areas​

The three areas set at introduction still frame the spending.3 Area one is a comfortable, stress-free tourist environment, including immigration and customs capacity, multilingual support, and travel information platforms (as of 2018-06; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency).3

Area two is easier access to information about Japan's attractions, including JNTO digital marketing.3 Area three is regional resource development using local culture and nature, including multilingual explanations at cultural assets and parks plus new visitor content (as of 2018-06).3

What the increase is stated to support​

The stated purpose of the increase is overtourism countermeasures plus stronger infrastructure and capacity for growing visitor numbers.4 Reported measures include dispersing visitors beyond busy hotspots and relieving congestion at famous sites.

Annual revenue was about ¥50 billion before the rise and is expected to reach about ¥120 billion after (as of 2026-07-01; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency) (limitation: news reporting only; no primary budget source fetched).4 The stated demand backdrop is record 2025 arrivals near 42.4 million with a 2030 target of 60 million per year (as of 2026-07-01) (limitation: news reporting only).4

How Collection Works in Practice (Summary)​

Airlines and cruise lines collect the tax from passengers and remit it by the end of the month after the next month of departure.1 Travelers leaving on private vessels outside carrier collection pay by boarding time.

In practice the levy is usually bundled into the ticket price at purchase, so most travelers make no separate airport payment.12 Exact handling varies by carrier and route, and fare-breakdown label wording varies by airline and ticketing system.

Full procedure detail, including the exemption categories and carrier settlement mechanics, lives in Japan's International Tourist Tax: The Departure Tax Every Visitor Pays. This summary is enough to understand the policy cost; use the companion for the ticket mechanics.

Good to know​

Do not confuse this tax with visa or entry fees​

This departure tax is not a visa fee or an entry charge. The levy attaches to leaving Japan, while single-entry and multiple-entry visa fees changed on a separate schedule.14

If a checklist or booking page mixes the two, separate them into two budget lines. This article covers only the departure side.

Budget per departure, not per trip​

Each international exit from Japan triggers the levy separately (as of 2026-09-04; confirm current figures with the National Tax Agency).1 A family of four aged 2 or older pays ¥12,000 per exit at current rates.

Older guides still quoting ¥1,000 understate the line item by ¥2,000 per person per departure. Check the rate date on any guide before you copy its number.

An older ticket can carry the old rate​

The rate can turn on when the ticket was issued, not when you fly (as of 2026-09-04).1 Departures on eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026 keep the previous ¥1,000 rate under the transitional measure.

Check the ticket issue date before assuming the newest figure applies. When in doubt, ask the carrier which rate was applied to your booking.

The rate line in your fare may use a different label​

Your fare breakdown may label the same levy differently depending on the airline and ticketing system. The bundled collection means no airport queue, so the absence of a separate payment step is normal, not a sign of an error.12

If you cannot find the line, search the taxes and fees detail for the departure tax wording your carrier uses. Exact label variants come from secondary guidance, so confirm against your own confirmation.

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. 国税庁 National Tax Agency (NTA). "Basic knowledge" (International Tourist Tax outline: taxpayers, exemptions, tax rate, collection/payment). https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/indirect/basic_knowledge.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22

  2. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). "Japan's International Tourist Tax is Increasing" (news, 2026-05-11). https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/news/japans-international-tourist-tax-is-increasing ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  3. 国税庁 National Tax Agency (NTA). "Leaflet for business operators" (June 2018) (introduction outline: 7 January 2019 start, 1,000 yen rate at introduction, carrier collection, three funded areas). https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/indirect/pdf/leaflet1.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  4. The Japan Times (Yukana Inoue). "Japan triples departure tax in push to combat overtourism" (2026-07-01). https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/01/japan/tourist-tax-increase/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  5. 国税庁 National Tax Agency (NTA). "Information about International Tourist tax" (index page; notes Q&A revised April 2026 and points to Japan Tourism Agency leaflet for the July 2026 rate revision). https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/indirect/tourist_tax.htm ↩

  6. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). "International Tourist Tax" (visitor guidance page). https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/international-tourist-tax/ ↩ ↩2

  7. 国土交通省観光庁 Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT). "The International Tourist Tax will be increased to JPY 3,000" (leaflet PDF, linked from JNTO visitor page). https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001996466.pdf ↩