NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Visitors from far and wide have been traveling to Japan — and now government officials will be raising their tourist tax in an effort to curb overtourism.
Japan will be tripling its international tourist tax of 1,000 yen, or about $6, per person — to 3,000 yen, or about $18, per person — starting July 1.
Hokuto Asano at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital the change is part of the government’s efforts to carefully calibrate its tourism goals.
TRAVELERS MUST PAY FEE, PASS SCREENING BEFORE VISITING POPULAR DESTINATION UNDER NEW RULE
“[Japan] is targeting 60 million inbound visitors and 15 trillion yen in inbound tourism spending by 2030 — while balancing the expansion of tourism with the quality of life for residents and promoting regional destinations,” Asano said.
He said the flow of American tourists who are visiting Japan is “performing very strongly” — noting that there were 220,000 visitors in February of this year, for a 15% increase from 2025.
Visitors from far and wide have been traveling to Japan — and now government officials will be raising their tourist tax in an effort to curb overtourism and the issues it brings. (iStock)
“While the number of visitors from China to Japan has declined, the increase in tourists from a wide range of other countries has more than offset this trend,” said Asano.
As a result, overall inbound travel to Japan continues to exceed last year’s levels, he noted.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Asano said the country is continuing to closely monitor the impact of the situation in the Middle East on tourism issues for Japan.
Cherry blossom season is a major attraction in Japan, drawing tourists from around the world.
A boat is shown sailing in Japan as cherry blossoms bloom between April and May. (iStock)
But this year, officials have canceled a popular festival that was meant to attract visitors due to overtourism.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fujiyoshida canceled its cherry blossom festival, with multiple reports saying the call was made due to tourist pollution, such as traffic jams and littering.
Asano noted these problems are not unique to Japan and are seen in many other countries.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“The Japan Tourism Agency will continue to enhance its tourism policies by balancing the acceptance of tourists with maintaining the quality of life for local residents, while also promoting travel to regional destinations,” he added.
In early 2022, a family is shown taking photos with blooming cherry blossoms just behind them. (Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Japan recently launched a new procedure for all incoming visitors in an effort to streamline the travel process — plus to beef up security.
Travelers to Japan could be required to sign up for the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) and pay a fee of about $19 (3,000 yen), as Fox News Digital reported earlier.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Visitors must apply for the “single-entry short-term stay visa for the purpose of tourism for a period of up to 90 days” online prior to their trip, according to a government website.
Asano said the relevant legislation is currently under examination, “and the establishment of the system has not yet been finalized. Details such as fees and collection methods have not yet been determined.”
