Japan’s new travel taxes in 2026: what visitors pay now

A trip to Japan costs more in 2026, and not only because of exchange rates. The government tripled the departure tax, Kyoto raised its accommodation tax, Himeji Castle now charges more to anyone who doesn’t live in the city, and from 1 November tax-free shopping stops being a discount at the till and becomes a refund at the airport.

None of these changes will wreck a travel budget on its own. Added together, they’re noticeable, especially for families or anyone spending several nights in Kyoto.

Departure tax: from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000

The International Tourist Tax, charged to everyone leaving Japan by air or sea regardless of nationality, went from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person on 1 July 2026. The Japan Tourism Agency says the money goes to three areas: easing overcrowding at tourist spots, information for visitors, and conserving heritage sites and trails.

You don’t pay it at the airport. Airlines and ferry operators add it to the ticket price and pass it to the government. There’s a transition rule: if you leave on a ticket issued on or before 30 June 2026, you pay the old ¥1,000. Children under 2 are exempt.

Kyoto: an accommodation tax of up to ¥10,000 a night

Since 1 March 2026, Kyoto has charged a much steeper accommodation tax, always per person and per night, based on the room rate:

Rate per person per night	Before	From March 2026
Under ¥6,000	¥200	¥200
¥6,000 to ¥19,999	¥200	¥400
¥20,000 to ¥49,999	¥500	¥1,000
¥50,000 to ¥99,999	¥1,000	¥4,000
¥100,000 or more	¥1,000	¥10,000

In a mid-range hotel, the rise is small: from ¥200 to ¥400 a night. The jump is at the top. A couple in a luxury room above ¥100,000 per person pays ¥20,000 in tax per night, against ¥2,000 before. The city says the money funds tourism and urban development.

Himeji Castle: ¥2,500 for non-residents

Himeji Castle introduced two prices on 1 March 2026. Adults who live in the city pay ¥1,000; everyone else, foreign tourists and Japanese visitors from other cities alike, pays ¥2,500. Under-18s go free wherever they live.

Tax-free shopping becomes a refund

The change that affects day-to-day spending most starts on 1 November 2026. Until now, participating shops took the 10 percent consumption tax off at the till. Under the new system you pay the full price and claim the refund before you fly, at the airport, using a customs terminal or Visit Japan Web before check-in.

According to japan-guide.com, the minimum spend stays at ¥5,000 before tax, at the same shop on the same day. Goods must leave Japan within 90 days of purchase. Some old rules disappear, including sealed packaging for cosmetics and food and the split between consumables and general goods. How you receive the refund depends on the shop.

What it adds up to

Take two people spending two nights in Kyoto at ¥15,000 per person per night, plus a visit to Himeji:

Departure tax: ¥3,000 × 2 = ¥6,000, up from ¥2,000.
Kyoto: ¥400 × 2 people × 2 nights = ¥1,600, up from ¥800.
Himeji: ¥2,500 × 2 = ¥5,000, up from ¥2,000.

That’s ¥12,600 in total, about ¥7,800 more than before. Noticeable, but small next to the airfare. The bigger adjustment is the tax-free refund: heavy shoppers will be fronting the 10 percent and need to allow time at the airport.

Before you go

Check your ticket’s issue date. If it was issued by 30 June 2026, you pay the old departure tax.
Look for Kyoto’s tax in your booking. It may be charged separately at check-in and not appear in what you paid upfront.
Arrive earlier at the airport from November. The tax-free refund is claimed before check-in.
Climbing Fuji? There’s a fee for that too. Details in why you now pay to climb Mount Fuji.

A bigger change is on the horizon. According to specialist press reports, Japan’s parliament approved JESTA in 2026, an electronic travel authorisation for visitors who currently enter without a visa. It’s planned for the 2028 fiscal year, with no fee set yet.

FAQ

How much is Japan’s departure tax in 2026?

¥3,000 per person from 1 July 2026, included in your ticket price. Tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026 keep the old ¥1,000 rate.

How much is Kyoto’s accommodation tax?

From ¥200 to ¥10,000 per person per night, depending on the room rate, since 1 March 2026.

How does tax-free shopping in Japan work from November 2026?

You pay the price including 10 percent tax and claim a refund before departure at the airport. The minimum is ¥5,000 at the same shop on the same day.

How much does Himeji Castle cost now?

¥2,500 for adults who don’t live in Himeji, ¥1,000 for residents, and free for under-18s.

Sources

The International Tourist Tax will be increased to JPY 3,000, Japan Tourism Agency: the new rate, start date, transition rule, under-2 exemption and how the money is used.
Kyoto’s Accommodation Tax to Change Starting March, Kyoto City Tourism: old and new accommodation tax bands.
Revision of Himeji Castle Admission Fees, Visit Himeji, official tourism site: prices from March 2026.
Changes Are Coming to Tax-Free Shopping in Japan, Japan National Tourism Organization: the refund system from 1 November 2026.
Japan’s tax-free shopping rules change from November 2026, japan-guide.com: the minimum spend, the 90-day window, where to claim and the rules being dropped.
Japan’s Parliament unveils new details on JESTA, VisasNews, April 2026: the fiscal 2028 target and the law’s passage.