"Hotel Rates Drop to $23 per Night, But... Japan to Triple Departure Tax Next Year"

Japanese hotels have lowered accommodation prices as group tourists from China have declined, leading to a rapid increase in demand from Korean travelers. However, the Japanese government plans to triple the departure tax starting next July, which is expected to offset the savings from cheaper hotel rates.
According to the travel industry on the 27th, Hanatour's package bookings for Japan have recently increased by 25 to 30 percent compared to the previous year. Reservations for major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka have doubled, while bookings for regional cities like Shikoku and Southern Kyushu have surged up to fivefold. Other major travel agencies have also confirmed a similar trend of growing demand for Japan.
Industry experts attribute this surge directly to Japanese hotels significantly lowering room rates for the Korean market as group demand from China has waned.
Nevertheless, the Japanese government has decided to raise the International Tourist Departure Tax for all travelers leaving Japan from the current 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen starting next July. This marks the first increase since the tax was introduced in 2019, and for a family of four, the departure tax alone will exceed 100,000 KRW.
The government explained that the tax hike aims to address overtourism issues such as traffic congestion, waste management, and inconvenience to local residents caused by the surge in tourists. The increased tax is expected to generate approximately 130 billion yen in revenue for the 2026 fiscal year.
Additionally, starting in 2028, Japan will introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), requiring pre-arrival online screening for visa-free travelers. With the addition of processing fees, the total cost of entering and leaving Japan is expected to rise further for travelers.
going@fnnews.com Choi Ga-young Reporter