Departure tax: the ¥3,000 International Tourist Tax
Everyone leaving Japan by plane or ship pays the International Tourist Tax, often called the departure tax. Since 1 July 2026 it has been ¥3,000 per departure, and it is almost always included in the ticket. Checked against the National Tax Agency on 22 October 2026.
What it is
The tax applies to every passenger leaving Japan, foreign visitors and Japanese citizens alike. It was introduced on 7 January 2019 at ¥1,000. The 2026 tax reform, enacted on 31 March 2026, raised it to ¥3,000 for departures from 1 July 2026.
Airlines and shipping companies add it to the ticket price and pay it to the government, so there is nothing to pay at the airport. Some carriers charge it in your own currency, but the amount paid to Japan is ¥3,000.
Who does not pay
- Children under 2 on the day of departure
- Air passengers changing planes in Japan who leave within 24 hours of arriving, on a ticket that shows the connection. This does not apply to ships.
- Aircraft and ship crew
- Passengers whose plane or ship had to stop in Japan unexpectedly, and passengers who come back to Japan without reaching another country, for example because of the weather
- Passengers on government aircraft or ships, and, with a certificate, diplomats posted to Japan, state guests and members of the US and UN forces
Finding it on your ticket
Open the fare breakdown or the e-ticket receipt. The tax is listed among the taxes and charges with the code TK, often labelled International Tourist Tax or 国際観光旅客税. Booking sites often show only one total for taxes and fees; the breakdown is on the receipt or in the booking details.
TK is a different item from the airport charges, which are listed separately and vary by airport and terminal.
Departure tax and airport charges, adult, international flights
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| International Tourist Tax (TK) | ¥3,000 at every airport and port |
| Narita, Terminals 1 and 2 | ¥2,460 facility charge + ¥700 security charge |
| Narita, Terminal 3 | ¥1,370 facility charge + ¥700 security charge |
| Kansai, Terminal 1 | ¥3,310 facility charge + ¥320 security charge |
| Kansai, Terminal 2 | ¥1,250 facility charge + ¥320 security charge |
Tickets bought before July 2026
The old ¥1,000 rate applies to departures from 1 July 2026 only when the contract with the airline or shipping company was made before that date and the departure date was already fixed. If the date was set or changed from 1 July 2026, the new rate applies. In practice many airlines charge ¥3,000 on any ticket issued or reissued from 1 July 2026, and some tour companies have asked customers to pay the ¥2,000 difference.
Round trips, cruises and private flights
The tax is charged once for each departure from Japan. A round trip that starts abroad pays it on the flight out of Japan. A cruise that leaves Japan, calls at a foreign port and comes back pays it again each time it leaves Japan.
Passengers on private jets and yachts pay it themselves at customs before departure.
What the money pays for
The government expects about ¥130 billion from the tax in fiscal year 2026. It is used for smoother immigration and customs checks, information for visitors, regional tourism and measures against overcrowding.
Not part of the tax refund
The departure tax cannot be refunded at the airport. The customs check and refund only cover the consumption tax on goods you take out of Japan.
Questions
Do I pay it at the airport?
How do I check that my ticket includes it?
I am changing planes in Japan. Do I pay?
Do Japanese passport holders pay it too?
For your departure day
- Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags: Klook · Trip.com · Welcome Pickups
- Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight: Radical Storage