Canada Day travellers face steep fee hikes in Japan from July 1
Japan is tripling its international tourist tax and raising visa fees for Canadians. The "sayonara tax" jumps from $9 to $27, while visa fees triple.
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Canadians heading to Japan will pay significantly more starting July 1, as the country raises its international tourist tax and visa fees.
The international tourist tax — collected when visitors leave Japan by plane or cruise — is tripling from ¥1,000 (around $9 CAD) to ¥3,000 (approximately $27 CAD). Children under two are exempt. The fee, nicknamed the "sayonara tax," will fund infrastructure maintenance, airport improvements, and restoration of historical assets.
Visa fees are climbing even steeper. Canadian citizens who require a visa will now pay $140 for a single entry (up from $28) and $280 for double or multiple entries (up from $56). The re-entry permit extension remains $28. Japan is also eliminating the transit visa, requiring travellers to apply for a temporary visitor visa instead.
Canadian citizens with valid passports can still travel visa-free for up to 90 days if they hold a passport from a country with a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan. Indian passport holders are exempt from the fee increase.
