Effective from Monday, 7th January 2019, visitors to Japan will pay a 1,000 yen departure tax to expand and enhance the country’s tourist infrastructure — a small tax that will make a significant difference.

Revenue from the International Tourist Tax will be allocated to the following three areas:

• Create a more comfortable, stress-free tourist environment.
• Improve access to information about a wide variety of attractions of Japan.
• Develop tourist resources taking advantage of the unique cultural and natural assets of respective regions.

Please note that travellers meeting certain conditions, such as “children under the age of 2” and “those leaving Japan on or after January 7, 2019, using an air ticket issued before January 7, 2019,” are exempt from paying the “International Tourist Tax”.

For more info, visit National Tax Agency.