Japan's departure tax: ¥3,000 from July 2026
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Japan charges a departure tax of ¥3,000 per person, per departure. It applies to everyone leaving Japan, regardless of nationality. Airlines add it to the ticket price, so there is nothing to pay at the airport.
| Amount | When it applies | Effective from |
|---|---|---|
| ¥3,000 | Applies to departures from Japan on or after 1 July 2026. | |
| ¥1,000 | Applies where the transport contract was concluded before 1 July 2026 AND the departure date was fixed before that date. | — |
The ¥1,000 transitional rate does not apply in these cases:
- Open tickets or coupon tickets where the departure date is fixed on or after 1 July 2026
- Where the departure date is changed on or after 1 July 2026
- Where the contract terms provide for the tax to be collected separately from the fare
Who has to pay?
Everyone who goes through immigration to leave Japan on an international flight or ship. Nationality and country of residence make no difference.
Who is exempt?
Children under 2. Age is counted on the departure date. If one ticket covers both arrival in and departure from Japan, age is counted on the earliest date travel begins under that contract.
Transit passengers leaving within 24 hours. Three conditions must all be met:
- One air ticket covers the whole itinerary. Separate tickets booked individually do not qualify.
- The ticket shows departure from Japan within 24 hours of arrival.
- The airport flown in from and the airport flown on to are different. Los Angeles → Tokyo → Los Angeles is taxed, even under 24 hours.
Sea transit does not qualify.
Source: National Tax Agency Q&A, Q12 (transit passengers) and Q15 (children under 2).
Tickets booked before July 2026
The old rate of ¥1,000 applies when two conditions are both met:
- The transport contract — the contract between the traveller and the carrier — was concluded before 1 July 2026.
- The departure date was fixed at that time.
The old rate does not apply in three cases:
- Open tickets or coupon tickets where the departure date was fixed on or after 1 July 2026
- The departure date was changed on or after 1 July 2026
- The contract terms provide for the tax to be collected separately from the fare
- Did you book before 1 July 2026?
- No → ¥3,000
- Yes → Was the departure date fixed when you booked?
- No → ¥3,000
- Yes → Have you changed the departure date since 1 July 2026?
- Yes → ¥3,000
- No → ¥1,000
The relevant date is when the transport contract was concluded, not the booking date with a travel agent. For package tours, these two dates can differ.
Source: National Tax Agency Q&A, Q19 and Q20.
How is the tax collected?
Carriers collect the tax and remit it to the government. It is included in the fare at the time of purchase. Japanese consumption tax is not charged on it.
There is no statutory exchange rate for payment in other currencies. Carriers may collect an equivalent amount using a reasonable method reflecting market rates at the time of collection. The carrier remits ¥3,000 to the government.
Source: National Tax Agency Q&A, Q23 (foreign currency) and Q43 (consumption tax).
Edge cases
Two departures on one cruise. A ship that departs one Japanese port, calls at a foreign port, then departs a second Japanese port is taxed on each departure.
Two seats, one passenger. Buying an extra seat does not double the tax. It is charged per person departing.
Source: National Tax Agency Q&A, Q17 (departures) and Q18 (multiple seats).
All figures and conditions verified against the National Tax Agency’s Q&A on the International Tourist Tax (revised April 2026) on 9 November 2026.
If you shopped tax-free while you were in Japan, there is a separate step to complete at the airport before you check your bag. See Japan’s tax-free airport check.
Source: National Tax Agency, Q&A on the International Tourist Tax (revised April 2026)