Travellers to pay 1000 Yen Tax to leave Japan in 2019

There is a new ruling for travellers traveling to Japan. The Japan’s Parliament approved the Bill to introduce tax of 1,000 yen around RM 36.50 (as reported two days ago by https://www.japantimes.co.jp/)

This new tax will be effective on 7^th Jan 2019 onwards and this applies to Japanese and foreign travellers leaving Japan either by plane or ship. This new tax will be added to airfares and ship fares. For transit passengers who depart within 24 hours of arrival will be exempted and same goes to children under 2 years old.

The new tax will be used to boost investment in tourism as Japan is having record-breaking number of foreign visitors. In 2017, Japan received a record 28.69 million tourist up 19% from 2016. Not forgetting, there will be more travellers up to 40 million visiting Japan for Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and 60 million visitors by 2030.

For those who didn’t know, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Osaka Prefectural Government charge a lodging tax of ¥100 to ¥300 per person per night to finance tourism promotion and other measures. Kyoto will start the lodging tax by this October.

In our opinion, we don’t mind paying the 1000 Yen (RM 36.5 tax. If you can visit Japan and the tax can helps the tourism, why not? It will be painful if the tax is 10,000 Yen (RM 365).

New 1000 Yen Tax to leave Japan Facts:

Date: 7^th Jan 2019 onwards

Who will be taxed?

Japanese and foreign tourists (except 2 years old and below or transit in Japan within 24 hours) leaving Japan either by plane or ship.

What is the new tax for?

The new tax will be used to boost investment in tourism as Japan is having record-breaking number of foreign visitors. It follows the similar taxes implemented by other countries such as Australia and United States of America.

How do you pay the tax?

The 1000 yen will be added to the airfare or ship fares.

We will be visiting Japan again and it has been an annual affair for the past few years. You can read our stories about Japan here for destinations such as Okayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Akita, Tokyo and more.

Wilson Ng