Every new travel fee in Japan for 2026, in one place
A tripled departure tax, Kyoto's steep new hotel tax, pricier rail passes and an online entry permit on the way. What each one costs you and when it applies.
Japan raised several visitor charges in 2026. None of them is huge on its own, but together they add up, especially for a family. Here they are in the order you will meet them.
1. Departure tax: ¥1,000 → ¥3,000
The International Tourist Tax, charged on everyone leaving Japan, rose from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person in July 2026. Japanese citizens pay it too.
- It is added to your plane or ferry ticket. You do not pay it separately at the airport.
- Tickets bought before the change still carry the old ¥1,000 charge.
- Children under 2 are exempt, as are passengers connecting through Japan within 24 hours.
2. Kyoto's accommodation tax
From 1 March 2026, Kyoto charges the highest hotel tax in Japan. It is per person, per night, and depends on the room rate.
| Room rate per person, per night | Tax per person, per night |
|---|---|
| Under ¥6,000 | ¥200 |
| ¥6,000 – ¥19,999 | ¥400 |
| ¥20,000 – ¥49,999 | ¥1,000 |
| ¥50,000 – ¥99,999 | ¥4,000 |
| ¥100,000 and above | ¥10,000 |
The rate is calculated before meals and consumption tax. Most hotels and ryokan collect it at check-in, in cash or by card, even if you prepaid the room online. Tokyo, Osaka and several other cities also have smaller hotel taxes.
3. Japan Rail Pass: about 6% more from 1 October 2026
| Pass (adult) | Before | From 1 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary, 7 days | ¥50,000 | ¥53,000 |
| Ordinary, 14 days | ¥80,000 | ¥84,000 |
| Ordinary, 21 days | ¥100,000 | ¥105,000 |
| Green Car, 7 days | ¥70,000 | ¥74,000 |
| Green Car, 14 days | ¥110,000 | ¥116,000 |
| Green Car, 21 days | ¥140,000 | ¥147,000 |
Child passes (ages 6 to 11) are roughly half price. See our JR Pass guide for whether it is still worth buying.
4. Tax-free shopping becomes a refund
Not a new fee, but it changes your cash flow. From 1 November 2026 you pay the 10% tax up front and get it back later. Read the full tax-free guide.
5. Coming later: JESTA
Japan passed a law in 2026 creating JESTA, an online travel authorisation for visitors who currently enter without a visa. It is similar in idea to the US ESTA, but will be needed for each entry.
- Target start: fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029).
- Fee: not announced yet.
- Right now you do not need to do anything for JESTA.
What it adds up to
For a couple spending a week in Tokyo and four nights in Kyoto, the new charges come to roughly ¥4,000 in departure tax increases and ¥3,000 to ¥4,000 in Kyoto hotel tax. Add ¥6,000 if you both buy a 7-day rail pass.
