Understanding the 'Sayonara Tax'
Japan's International Tourist Tax, nicknamed the 'Sayonara Tax', is a fee levied on most travellers as they leave the country by air or sea. As of July 1, 2026, this tax was tripled, increasing from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per person. This change applies
to both international visitors and Japanese residents. The revenue generated is earmarked for significant goals: to manage the effects of overtourism, improve tourism infrastructure across the country, and encourage travellers to explore destinations beyond the well-trodden paths of Tokyo and Kyoto. While the amount itself is relatively small, its implementation is what travellers need to watch.
The Hidden Cost in Your Ticket
A key feature of the departure tax is that you don't pay it at a separate counter at the airport. Instead, airlines and cruise lines collect the fee by embedding it directly into the total price of your ticket. For a simple round trip to and from Japan, this is straightforward. The complexity arises when you're building a multi-country trip, such as flying from India to Tokyo, then from Osaka to Seoul, and finally back home from Seoul. The tax is only applied on the flight departing Japan, but how and when it appears during your online booking process can vary significantly between different airlines and travel aggregator websites.
Why Multi-Stop Comparisons Get Tricky
When you use a flight search engine for a multi-city itinerary, the initial prices displayed are often designed to be as low as possible to catch your eye. Some sites might show a fare for the Osaka-to-Seoul leg that doesn't include the 3,000 yen tax until the final payment screen. Others might bundle it in from the start. This creates an apples-to-oranges comparison problem. A flight that appears cheaper at first glance might end up costing more once all mandatory taxes and fees are added at the last step. Casually browsing and comparing these initial fares can give you a misleading sense of the total cost, making precise budgeting a frustrating exercise.
How to Compare Prices Accurately
To avoid surprises, you need to adopt a more methodical approach. First, always proceed to the final checkout page on multiple websites to see the true, all-inclusive price. This is the only way to be sure you're comparing the final figures. On your e-ticket's fare breakdown, the charge may be listed as 'International Tourist Tax' or a similar code. Using your browser’s incognito or private mode can also help prevent prices from increasing based on your search history. It's also wise to experiment with 'open-jaw' tickets—flying into one city (like Tokyo) and out of another (like Osaka)—which can sometimes offer better value and routing for multi-city trips.
Are There Any Exemptions?
While most travellers are required to pay the tax, there are a few specific exemptions. Children under the age of two are not subject to the fee. Another key exemption is for transit passengers who depart Japan within 24 hours of their arrival, provided they don't officially enter the country. If you have a long layover and decide to leave the airport to explore, the tax will apply when you depart. Additionally, those who purchased their tickets on or before June 30, 2026, are only subject to the old 1,000 yen rate, even for future travel.
