International Tourist Taxes in Japan That You Need to Know

03 30, 2023

Japan offers plenty of exciting opportunities to its visitors. Experience the advanced technology, explore incredible natural landscapes, and indulge in superb cuisine—these and a lot more are waiting for you in Japan! Whether your visit is purely a vacation or a combination of business and leisure, note that there are taxes you need to pay.

Depending on their plans and circumstances, foreign visitors to Japan may have to pay different taxes, fees, and charges. Here are some common taxes and fees that you may encounter:

International Tourist Tax

Passengers leaving Japan either by ship or aircraft are required to pay an international tourist tax worth 1,000 yen per departure, although there are some exceptions to the rule. This includes children younger than 2 years old as well as foreign ambassadors, ministers, consuls, state guests, and others with similar status. The international tourist tax is usually collected by the travel agency and remitted to the Japanese government to develop tourist resources, improve access to local attractions, and create a more comfortable tourist environment.

Consumption Tax

The consumption tax in Japan is tax that is levied on all “taxable sales”. Japan has a consumption tax of 10% that is applied to most goods and services, including hotels, transportation, and food. A non-resident in Japan or any foreign corporation is also subject to paying consumption tax.

If you have any business transaction that happened within the borders of Japan, whether it is for a business entity, for the purpose of compensation, transfer of assets, or use of services, you need to pay the consumption tax on it.

Accomodation Tax

Japan follows varied accommodation tax rules in several cities.

Place	Accommodation Rate (per person, before tax)	Amount of Tax
Tokyo	Under 10,000 yen	No tax
	10,000 – 15,000 yen	100 yen
	Over 15,000 yen	200 yen
Osaka	Under 7,000 yen	No tax
	7,000 – 15,000 yen	100 yen
	15,000 – 20,000 yen	200 yen
	Over 20,000 yen	300 yen
Kyoto	Under 20,000 yen	200 yen
	20,000 – 50,000 yen	500 yen
	50,000 yen	1,000 yen
Kanazawa	Under 20,000 yen	200 yen
Kanazawa	Over 20,000 yen	500 yen
Kutchan, Hokkaido		flat 2% of accommodation fare (not including food expenses or consumption tax) for one night

Note that the accommodation tax in Fukuoka, a famed sightseeing spot in Kyushu, is different as it implements double taxation (by Prefecture and City).

Place	Prefectural Tax	City Tax	Total
Kitakyushu City	50 yen	150 yen	200 yen
Fukuoka City Under 20,000 yen	50 yen	150 yen	200 yen
Fukuoka City Over 20,000 yen	50 yen	450 yen	500 yen
Fukuoka Municipality	200 yen	0 (Not Collected)	200 yen
Fukuoka Municipality	100 yen	Tax Collected	100-yen prefectural tax + tax rate determined by the municipality

Visa Fees

A tourist visa is required in Japan for travelers who intend to visit family or friends or for any other recreational and short-term purposes that do not require engagement in paid activities. While citizens of most countries need to apply for a Japan Tourist Visa, there are some countries whose nationals can stay visa-free in Japan for up to 90 days.

These are the fees for Japan visas:

· 3,000 Yen for a single-entry visa

· 6,000 Yen for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa

· 700 Yen for a transit visa

Japan Business Visa is required for those traveling to Japan to attend a meeting, conference, or for business talks or negotiations. Business travelers from the following countries staying up to 90 days do not need a Japan Business Visa:

· Andorra

· Argentina

· Australia

· Austria

· Bahamas

· Belgium

· Brunei (Visa exemption for up to 15 days)

· Bulgaria

· Canada

· Chile

· Costa Rica

· Croatia

· Cyprus

· Czechia

· Denmark

· Dominican Republic

· El Salvador

· Estonia

· Finland

· France

· Germany

· Greece

· Guatamela

· Honduras

· Hongkong

· Hungary

· Iceland

· Ireland

· Israel

· Italy

· Latvia

· Liechtenstein

· Lithuania

· Luxemburg

· Macau

· Malta

· Mauritius

· Mexico

· Monaco

· Netherlands

· New Zealand

· North Macedonia

· Norway

· Poland

· Portugal

· Republic of Korea

· Romania

· San Marino

· Singapore

· Slovakia

· Spain

· Suriname

· Sweden

· Switzerland

· Taiwan

· Tunisia

· United Kingdom

· United States

· Uruguay

Passport holders from the following countries do not need to apply for Japan Transit Visas if they have a Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) or an ePassport in line with ICAO standards:

· Barbados

· Indonesia (visa exemption for up to 15 days)

· Lesotho

· Malaysia

· Serbia

· Thailand (visa exemption for up to 15 days)

· Turkey

· United Arab Emirates (visa exemption for up to 30 days)

Secure Your Visa Before Going to iWT

Japan's 1st and only international wellness tourism expo is coming up real soon. Make sure to have your visas ready before traveling to Japan. Additionally, it's always a good idea to check with the relevant authorities or your travel agent for the most up-to-date information about taxes and fees.

See you at iWT on May 10-12, 2023, at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan.

Sources

Japan National Tourism Organization, June 2018, The leaflet for individuals departing from Japan, https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/indirect/pdf/leaflet2.pdf

Live Japan, December 2022, All You Need to Know About Tax-Free Shopping in Japan (2023), https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000238/

Kawai Porter, June 2021, Guide to Japan Consumption Tax, https://bfftokyo.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-japan-consumption-tax/

MATCHA, March 2020, 2020 Accommodation Tax In Japan: A Guide For Travelers, https://matcha-jp.com/en/9362

VisaGuide.World, Japan Business Visa Application and Requirements, https://visaguide.world/asia/japan-visa/business/