November 17, 2025 | 08:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese government, supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, plans to raise the departure tax to 3,000 yen (approximately Rp324,000) per person. The increase is intended to fund measures to address issues arising from the surge in foreign tourism, according to a source quoted by Japan Today.
The higher tourist tax is already included in the airfare and sea travel tickets. According to the source, the government is considering using a portion of the revenue to address the negative impact of overtourism and reduce passport processing fees.
Several party members even advocate a tax increase of more than 3,000 yen (Rp324,000), three times the current fee of 1,000 yen (Rp108,000).
The departure tax, also known as the international tourist tax, is a fee that international tourists must pay before leaving the country. Previously, tourists used to have to purchase tax stamps or certificates from airport vending machines. Now, however, the departure tax is usually included in the total cost of outbound flights booked from Japanese airports.
In fiscal year 2024, the Japanese government collected 52.4 billion yen in departure tax, according to data cited by Sora News24.
The government plans to use the increased tax revenue to address concerns about overcrowding, traffic congestion, and misbehavior at tourist locations. For example, the government plans to introduce an AI-based parking reservation system to reduce traffic congestion. Other proposals include using the funds to introduce reservation systems at popular tourist spots to manage crowds better, or to install more public trash bins to reduce litter, or enhance public awareness campaigns targeting foreign tourists, reminding them to maintain decorum while in Japan.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that the number of international arrivals in Japan during the first nine months reached 31.7 million visits. This marks the fastest achievement ever, surpassing 30 million.
The largest contributing markets were China with 775,500 visitors (up 18.9 percent year-on-year), followed by South Korea with 670,500 (up 2.1 percent), Taiwan with 527,000 visitors (up 12.0 percent), the U.S. with 224,700 visitors (up 17.1 percent), and Hong Kong with 149,500 visitors (down 12.2 percent).
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