Travelling to Japan this year? See these Japan rules for tourists

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If Japan is on your travel radar — whether you’re returning for another round or planning your first visit—there are a few new developments worth knowing about before you book. Japan has introduced major updates for visitors regarding fees, tax-free shopping, and entry requirements to manage high tourism levels. These include a significantly increased tourist tax, a fivefold rise in visa fees, a new refund-based tax-free shopping system, and the requirement to plan itineraries in advance rather than winging it.

Japan welcomed a staggering 42.7 million international visitors in 2025. Driven by an overwhelming surge in visitors and a growing interest in making tourism work for local communities, many of Japan’s recent travel rules are designed to manage crowding while encouraging more sustainable ways of exploring the country.

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Page Contents

1. New Fees and Taxes

Increased Visa Fees to Japan

Japan has significantly raised foreign entry visa fees to align with G7 country standards. Single-entry visa costs have risen to JPY 15,000 (from JPY 3000), while Multiple-entry visas now cost JPY 30,000 (from JPY 6000).

Increased Departure Tax

From 1 July 2026, the international tourist tax imposed on travelers leaving Japan has tripled from JPY 1,000 to JPY 3,000 per person, which is typically bundled into your flight or sea ticket.

Tiered Lodging Fees

Kyoto now has tiered lodging tax for high-end accommodations (credit: pexels)

High-traffic areas are adjusting to accommodate masses. From March 1, 2026, Kyoto will introduce a tiered lodging tax, with rates ranging from JPY 200 up to JPY 10,000 per person per night for high-end accommodations. The goal? As you might have expected, it will fund preservation and crowd-management efforts in the historic districts of Kyoto.

Dual Pricing at Landmarks

Popular attractions in Japan are implementing dual-pricing structures where non-residents pay higher entry fees than locals. On our day trip to Himeji castle, we paid a higher fee to enter the castle grounds as tourists.

2. Advance Planning and Crowd Control Rules

Mandatory Advance Reservations

The era of spontaneous travel is nearly over in major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. For our trip to Japan, we had booked hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in advance. Booking Shinkansen bullet train reserved seats, restaurants, and major attractions well in advance is highly recommended to avoid missing out due to high volume. Digital art museums in Tokyo like teamLab Borderless or Planets need to be booked at least 3-4 weeks in advance.

To manage overcrowding and promote safety, climbing Mount Fuji is no longer spontaneous. You are now required to make an advance booking, pay a climbing fee (approx. JPY 4,000), and pass security checks verifying you are wearing appropriate hiking gear

Crowd Control & Local Rules

Kyoto is drowning with overtourism (credit: pexels)

The iconic ‘Golden Route’ between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka bears the brunt of the congestion. Cities like Kyoto and areas in Tokyo have ramped up etiquette expectations, such as discouraging large suitcases on crowded public transit.

Kyoto has banned photography in private alleys within the historic Gion district and launched Kyoto City Official Travel Guide to help visitors predict crowd levels and find less-crowded spots.

Site-Specific Caps

Certain highly sensitive areas—such as Mount Fuji viewing spots and specific attractions in Kyoto—have implemented physical crowd management, daily entry caps, and even blocked views.

If you are planning day trips from Tokyo to popular places like Mt. Fuji area, do take care of the new rules for tourists in Japan. Following aggressive tourist behavior (such as climbing on local roofs to take photos), officials in towns like Fujikawaguchiko erected physical barriers to block views, while nearby Fujiyoshida completely canceled its annual cherry blossom festival.

Littering

Hold on to your rubbish while roaming around Shibuya, Tokyo (credit: pexels)

On your Tokyo trip, you will note that some parts of the city lack rubbish bins, so be prepared to hold onto your rubbish. If you’re planning to spend time in Shibuya’s nightlife districts, keep an eye on where your rubbish ends up. The ward has introduced a ¥2,000 on-the-spot fine for littering as part of a tougher crackdown on street drinking and waste left in public areas. Around 50 enforcement officers will patrol neighbourhoods and can issue penalties immediately, with payment accepted by cash, card, or QR code.

3. Entry and Customs

Visit Japan Web

You can use the official Visit Japan Web portal [fill out the immigration form online on the site] to declare customs and immigration information. This gives you a personalized QR code that makes passing through airport terminals much faster. This is one of the essential travel tips for Japan.

Prohibited Items

Japan is extremely strict about biosecurity. Bringing in meat products (like jerky, ham, or sausages) and fresh fruits or vegetables is strictly forbidden and can lead to confiscation or severe penalties. Always verify the legal limits on medications and tobacco.

4. Tax-Free Shopping Changes

Refund-Based System

Japan overhauled its tax-free system to prevent abuse. Instead of instantly deducting the consumption tax at the store, you now pay the full price and claim your refund at the airport before departing.

You now have to claim your refund at any of the airports in Japan before departing. (credit: pexels)

Packaging Changes

Special sealed packaging for consumable goods is no longer required at checkout, speeding up the process.

High-Value Purchases

While the JPY 500,000 purchase limit has been removed, purchases exceeding JPY 1 million require stores to register serial or identification numbers.

Summary: Japan updated rules for Visitors

Japan is not setting any cap on the total number of tourists to enter the country. But it is heavily regulating and managing crowds at specific sites to combat overtourism. In addition, Japan has raised visa fee and departure tax, plus introduced visitor accommodation taxes to fund local tourism infrastructure in certain cities / prefectures (including Kyoto, Hokkaido, and Okinawa).

Hope your trip is amazing with knowing the above Japan new rules for tourists.