Japan has never been more popular with tourists. But starting July 1, it will also be more expensive to get a visa. The government raised fees for the first time since 1978, with some costs jumping up to 400%.
The Biggest Fee Jump in Decades
The new single-entry visa fee is now 15,000 yen ($93), up from 3,000 yen. Multiple-entry visas go from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen. The departure tax, paid by every traveler leaving Japan, triples to 3,000 yen from 1,000 yen. Japan's government said the changes are "in order to respond to the current price increases and fluctuations in exchange rates." The yen has been near multi-decade lows - a term called depreciation, meaning the currency buys less foreign money.
Zilmiyah Kamble, senior lecturer at James Cook University, said "Given the prolonged depreciation of the Japanese yen in recent years, maintaining fee structures set under different economic conditions may no longer be financially sustainable."
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Tourism Boom Gives Japan Room to Raise Fees
Japan set a record 42.6 million foreign visitors in 2025, beating the 2024 record of 36.8 million. Foreign travelers now make up 74% of all departures from Japan, up from 20%-30% before 2013. That shift shows how dependent Japan's tourism economy is on international visitors.
But economists expect the higher fees will not hurt demand much. Research firm Dentsu said in its Japan Brand Survey 2025 that "More than the effect of the weak yen, the appeal of Japan's food and products is boosting visits, suggesting that Japan's popularity as a travel destination is not just a passing fad." Among the 12,400 survey participants, over half (52.7%) expressed a desire to revisit Japan, placing the nation at the top of a 20-market ranking. Yuki Masujima, chief economist at Deloitte Tohmatsu, commented that the strength of demand gives policymakers room to raise fees without losing many visitors. Kamble added that "Although the visa fee increase is unlikely to be a direct overtourism control measure, it may contribute modestly to offsetting some of the administrative and operational costs associated with managing growing visitor volumes."
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reportedly said, "The visa fee increase is unlikely to affect tourism in the country."
A Shift in Immigration Policy
The visa fee increases are not the only changes. In May, Japan's Upper House passed a law increasing the maximum fee for permanent residency applications from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen, while the cap for changing residency status fees will jump from 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen. These moves signal a more selective approach to immigration.
Jesper Koll, expert director at Monex Group, noted the political dimension: "After an explicit 'open door' policy for skilled immigrants adopted by Abe, his chosen heir [Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi is reacting to growing popular concerns of overtourism and over immigration." Japan also wants to offset costs from sales tax refunds given to foreign tourists, as Yuki Masujima noted. Because tourists can claim sales tax refunds, Japan aims to recoup some related expenses by raising visa and departure fees.
Mastercard noted tourism's contribution to Japan's GDP, underscoring how important this sector has become.
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