In short: will the increase in taxes slow down arrivals in Japan?
No, the increase in tourist taxes in Japan will not reduce attendance in 2026, because the sums deducted remain derisory in the face of the average budget of visitors.
- Record attendance: Japan welcomed 42.7 million international visitors according to the National Tourism Organization of Japan (JNTO), generating a record total expenditure of 9,500 billion yen.
- Traveler budget: A tourist spends an average of 227,000 yen (about €1,400) per stay according to the Japan Tourism Agency, making taxes marginal.
- Tripled departure tax: The national exit tax (Sayonara tax) increases from 1,000 to 3,000 yen (about €18) per person according to the National Tax Agency.
- Recipe explosion: The national revenue from this starting tax will increase from 50 billion to 120 billion yen according to the Ministry of Finance.
Why the 2026 tourist tax will not stop tourists
The multiplication of tourist taxes through the archipelago is presented by the authorities as a bulwark against the saturation of major sites. However, the analysis of the official figures published by the National Tourism Organization of Japan (JNTO) demonstrates that this financial strategy will have no deterrent effect on foreign attendance.
In 2025, Japan crossed the milestone of 42.7 million international visitors. These travelers injected a record sum of 9,500 billion yen into the local economy. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the average expenditure per visitor is about 227,000 yen. Faced with such a financial commitment to cross the globe, the increase in administrative costs at the borders or at the hotel does not in any way modify the arbitration of travellers.
By tripling the international departure tax (known as Sayonara tax), administered by the National Tax Agency, the government increases the levy from 1,000 to 3,000 yen per person at the time of the discharge of the territory. Out of an individual budget of 227,000 yen, this adjustment represents a change of less than 1%. No behavioral study validates that an additional cost of around €12 at the exit of the country may discourage a departure.
Comparative grid of tourist taxes applicable in Japan in 2026
The amounts deducted vary greatly depending on the prefectures and the level of range of accommodation. The table below details the structure of the municipal and national tariffs in force.
| Territory or tax | Room price range (per night) | Tax rate (per person) | Projection of annual revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| National departure tax | All categories (from the country) | 3,000 yen | 120 billion yen (compared to 50 billion previously) |
| Kyoto (lower bearing) | Less than 6,000 yen | 200 yen | 12.6 billion yen (compared to 5.9 billion previously) |
| Kyoto (upper landing) | 100,000 yen and more | 10,000 yen | Included in Kyoto Municipal Total |
| Tokyo | Less than 10,000 yen 10,000 to 14,999 yen 15,000 yen and more |
0 yen 100 yen 200 yen |
Not communicated globally |
| Osaka | 20,000 yen and more | Maximum ceiling of 500 yen | Not communicated globally |
A municipal tax windfall that does not solve the problem of residents
The central argument of the municipalities is based on improving the local living environment thanks to these new revenues. In Kyoto, the city council and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication have validated a spectacular overhaul of the accommodation tax. The lowest level remains set at 200 yen per night for rooms less than 6,000 yen, while the summit land now reaches 10,000 yen per night per person for overnight stays equal to or greater than 100 000 yen. The Kyoto City Council thus plans to increase its annual revenue linked to this tax from 5.9 billion to 12.6 billion yen.
However, this record collection does not solve the saturation of municipal buses or the increase in the cost of living for the inhabitants. In Tokyo, the metropolitan government applies a very low scale: 0 yen below 10,000 yen, 100 yen between 10,000 and 14,999 yen, and a maximum of 200 yen from 15,000 yen. In Osaka, the prefectural government sets a maximum ceiling of 500 yen for rooms of 20,000 yen and more. These symbolic amounts feed general budgets but do not redirect visitor flows to under-frequented rural areas.
To compensate for the financial burden imposed on Japanese citizens — who also have to pay for 3,000 yen of departure tax when traveling abroad — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reduced the online application fee for the passport by 10 years, passing them from 15,900 to 8,900 yen. This corrective measure clearly shows that tourism taxation acts as a global budgetary lever, and not as a tool for regulating overtourism.
How to travel intelligently despite rising tax costs
For French-speaking travelers who are preparing their stay, the impact of these taxes remains easy to anticipate. Accommodation tax amounts are generally charged directly by hotels at check-in or included in the property’s final invoice. There is no complex prior process to take online for these local taxes.
The international departure tax of 3,000 yen is, for its part, automatically integrated into the price of the plane ticket or boat by the transport companies. There is no need to provide cash at the airport to pay for it. To optimize your overall budget in the face of the general increase in hotel rates, favor stays in secondary cities underserved by mass circuits, where no specific tourist tax is levied.
Frequently Asked Questions about Japan Tourist Tax
Does the tourist tax in Japan apply to all accommodation?
Most hotels, ryokans and furnished rentals in cities like Kyoto, Tokyo or Osaka apply the accommodation tax. The amount depends on the price of the night per person. In rural areas without a specific municipal decree, no local tax is levied.
How do you pay the starting tax of 3,000 yen when leaving Japan?
You have no steps to take on site. The international departure tax of 3,000 yen is directly included by airlines and shipping companies in the price of your return ticket when you purchase your ticket.
Do children have to pay accommodation tax in Kyoto or Tokyo?
The rules depend on the municipalities. In Kyoto and Tokyo, the tax applies according to the price of the night allocated to each occupant. If the child occupies a paying bed reaching the taxable thresholds defined by the city, the tax is due.
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