Recent flight deals have made travel to Japan surprisingly affordable, and now the country has introduced a departure fee that visitors should be aware of. Beginning in early January, Japan began charging a modest levy when travelers leave the country, commonly referred to as a departure tax.
The fee adds roughly $9.23 to the cost of an outbound airline ticket or to boat fares for passengers departing by sea. It is applied at the time of booking, so travelers will typically see the amount added to their airfare or ferry fare.
There are a few exemptions. Infants under 2 years old are not charged the departure fee, and travelers who are in Japan for less than 24 hours—such as those on a brief layover—are also exempt.
Japanese officials say the new charge is intended to support tourism-related improvements and infrastructure upgrades in the run-up to major international events. Funds from the fee are earmarked for projects such as enhanced border processing technologies, including facial recognition systems at airports and seaports intended to speed up arrivals and departures. Officials have also pledged wider public Wi‑Fi access on transportation systems.
At about $9 per person, authorities estimate the levy could generate roughly $461 million in additional revenue over the course of the year, money that will be used to maintain and improve services for both visitors and residents.