Japan will hike its ‘Sayonara’ departure tax from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per traveller starting July 2026, the Ministry of Finance confirmed on 9 January. The levy applies to all passengers leaving Japan by air or sea, including Indian tourists, business travellers and expatriates.
Tokyo says the increase will fund crowd-management measures and digital-border upgrades after inbound arrivals topped 32 million last year. A separate pre-travel screening fee for visa-exempt nationals will also be introduced, though details are pending.
![Japan to Triple Departure Tax From July 2026—Indian Visitors Face Higher Exit Costs]()
For Indian corporates routing executives through Japan or using Tokyo as a regional hub, travel managers should budget an extra ₹1,600 per person in 2026-27. Airlines generally embed the tax in ticket prices, so companies with volume contracts will see higher base fares. The hike coincides with Japan’s push to diversify its visitor mix beyond China and South Korea, markets still below pre-Covid levels.
Indian tour operators fear cost-sensitive travellers could switch to visa-free destinations in Southeast Asia. To soften the blow, they are negotiating bundled discounts with hotels and rail passes, and recommending clients finalise 2026 conference venues early to lock in lower airfares before carriers adjust pricing.
Tokyo says the increase will fund crowd-management measures and digital-border upgrades after inbound arrivals topped 32 million last year. A separate pre-travel screening fee for visa-exempt nationals will also be introduced, though details are pending.
For Indian corporates routing executives through Japan or using Tokyo as a regional hub, travel managers should budget an extra ₹1,600 per person in 2026-27. Airlines generally embed the tax in ticket prices, so companies with volume contracts will see higher base fares. The hike coincides with Japan’s push to diversify its visitor mix beyond China and South Korea, markets still below pre-Covid levels.
Indian tour operators fear cost-sensitive travellers could switch to visa-free destinations in Southeast Asia. To soften the blow, they are negotiating bundled discounts with hotels and rail passes, and recommending clients finalise 2026 conference venues early to lock in lower airfares before carriers adjust pricing.
Source: The Economic Times
