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¥ Japan Trip Math

2026 rule changes for travel in Japan

Changes to taxes, fares and entry rules, in date order. Each entry shows its status, the official source and the date we checked it.

Showing 12 of 12 rule changes.

  1. In effectPayments

    Welcome Suica Mobile: a Suica in your iPhone, valid 180 days

    JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile app issues a Suica IC card inside the app on iPhone. The balance expires after 180 days and cannot be refunded.

    • Compatibility per the listing: iPhone with iOS 17.2 or later, and Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
    • Payment method: Apple Pay only; top-ups use the credit card registered to Apple Pay.
    • The balance expires 180 days after issuance; refunds are not available, so spend any remaining balance before leaving Japan.
    • The earliest version shown in the App Store version history (1.0.2) is dated 03/06/2025.
    • Source: Welcome Suica Mobile (App Store listing) (East Japan Railway Company (listing on Apple App Store)) · Verified on · JR East's own pages (jreast.co.jp) returned HTTP 403 to our reader on 2026-10-26, so the developer's App Store listing was used. The launch date is not stated in words; the earliest version in the listing's version history is 1.0.2 dated 03/06/2025.
  2. In effectAccommodation

    New and higher accommodation taxes across Japan in 2026

    Several prefectures and cities started charging an accommodation tax in 2026, and Kyoto City raised its rates on 1 March 2026. The tax is paid per person per night, usually to the hotel.

    • Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City: from 13 January 2026, 300 yen per person per night when the room-only, tax-excluded rate is 6,000 yen or more (in Sendai: 200 yen city + 100 yen prefecture).
    • Kyoto City: new rates from 1 March 2026 - 200 yen (under 6,000 yen), 400 yen (6,000 to under 20,000), 1,000 yen (20,000 to under 50,000), 4,000 yen (50,000 to under 100,000), 10,000 yen (100,000 yen or more), per person per night.
    • Hokkaido: from 1 April 2026, 100 yen (under 20,000 yen), 200 yen (20,000 to under 50,000), 500 yen (50,000 yen or more) per person per night.
    • Hiroshima Prefecture: from 1 April 2026, 200 yen per person per night for room-only, tax-excluded rates of 6,000 yen or more.
    • Nagano Prefecture: from 1 June 2026, 300 yen standard, but 200 yen for the first three years (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029); not charged under 6,000 yen; Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Achi, Hakuba and Nozawaonsen may levy their own tax, so amounts there can differ.
  3. In effectAttractions

    Himeji Castle: 2,500 yen for non-residents, 1,000 yen for Himeji residents

    From 1 March 2026 Himeji Castle charges adults (18+) 2,500 yen, while adults who live in Himeji City pay 1,000 yen with proof of address.

    • General admission (18 and over): 2,500 yen; Himeji residents (18 and over): 1,000 yen.
    • Groups of 30 or more: 2,000 yen general, 800 yen residents. Himeji Castle + Kokoen combined ticket: 2,600 yen. Annual pass: 5,000 yen.
    • Under 18 (including those until the first 31 March after turning 18): free.
    • Residents prove their address with an official photo ID showing name and address, such as a My Number card, driver's licence or residence card.
    • The city says the fees were set from estimated costs of maintenance, restoration and upkeep over the next ten years.
  4. In effectRail

    JR East raises fares and ends cheaper Tokyo-area fare tables

    JR East's first fare revision since 1987 (excluding consumption-tax changes) raised fares by 7.1% on average and abolished the cheaper Yamanote-line and Tokyo-area fare tables.

    • Average revision 7.1% (8.7% excluding the station barrier-free surcharge); ordinary fares +7.8%.
    • Minimum fare on main lines: 150 yen to 160 yen; on the former Tokyo-area / Yamanote-line tables also to 160 yen.
    • The 'densha tokutei kukan' and 'Yamanote-sen nai' fare tables are abolished after the revision.
    • Shinkansen limited express charges are unchanged.
    • JR Central's matching rule amendment for the JR East fare revision takes effect on 14 March 2026.
  5. Under reviewAttractions

    Japan Tourism Agency studies pricing at tourist sites, including resident/visitor pricing

    The Japan Tourism Agency held the first meeting of a study group on pricing for tourist facilities and services on 27 April 2026. How guidelines will treat resident/non-resident ('dual') pricing was still under consideration.

    • First meeting of the study group on pricing for tourist facilities and services: 27 April 2026, 13:00-15:00.
    • The group analyses precedent pricing cases and shares them as reference for other facilities.
    • At the March 2026 press conference the agency said prices, including whether to use 'dual pricing', should primarily be set by each facility's operator.
    • The treatment of dual pricing in the guideline, and the guideline's schedule, were described as 'currently under consideration'.
  6. In effectTax

    Japan's departure tax rises from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen

    The International Tourist Tax charged on each departure from Japan is 3,000 yen from 1 July 2026. It is normally added to your airfare or ship ticket.

    • Rate: 3,000 yen per departure from Japan for departures on or after 1 July 2026.
    • Transitional rule: departures on or after 1 July 2026 under certain transport contracts concluded before that date are charged 1,000 yen; the JTA leaflet describes this as certain tickets issued by 30 June 2026.
    • Exempt: children under 2, and transit passengers who leave within 24 hours of entering Japan, among others.
    • Airlines and shipping companies usually add the tax to the ticket price and pay it to the government.
  7. In effectNature

    Mt. Fuji: 4,000 yen per climber on all four main trails

    During the 2026 season both the Shizuoka trails and Yamanashi's Yoshida Trail charged 4,000 yen per person per climb, with night-time entry limited to climbers staying at a mountain hut.

    • Shizuoka trails (Fujinomiya, Gotemba, Subashiri): entry fee 4,000 yen per person per climb; climbers register in advance in the 'Shizuoka-ken FUJI NAVI' app and get an entry pass (QR code).
    • Shizuoka 2026 season: Subashiri from 1 July 9:00, Fujinomiya and Gotemba from 10 July 9:00, all until 10 September 17:00. Details for next year will be announced once decided.
    • Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi): passage fee 4,000 yen per person per climb, collected 1 July to 10 September; payable on site or via the Yoshida Trail reservation system.
    • Yoshida Trail: the 5th Station gate closes 14:00-03:00 and the daily limit is 4,000 climbers; mountain-hut guests are exempt from the time and number limits.
    • Shizuoka trails: starting a climb between 14:00 and 03:00 requires a mountain-hut stay.
  8. In effectRail

    Japan Rail Pass: higher prices at overseas agents, online price unchanged for now

    For purchases from 1 October 2026 (local time at the place of purchase), Japan Rail Pass prices at overseas agents rose, e.g. the 7-day Ordinary pass to 53,000 yen. On the official online purchasing service prices stay at the old level for a limited time.

    • Overseas agency, adult, new prices: 7-day Ordinary 53,000 yen, 14-day 84,000 yen, 21-day 105,000 yen; Green 74,000 / 116,000 / 147,000 yen.
    • Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation), adult: 7-day Ordinary 50,000 yen, 14-day 80,000 yen, 21-day 100,000 yen; Green 70,000 / 110,000 / 140,000 yen - unchanged for a limited time.
    • JR Group says it will announce the end of the online price freeze as soon as it is decided.
    • Children are those aged 6 to 11 at the time of use; 7-day Ordinary child pass: 27,000 yen at agents, 25,000 yen online.
  9. ScheduledTax

    Tax-free shopping switches to a refund system

    For purchases from 1 November 2026, visitors pay the tax-inclusive price in tax-free shops and get the consumption tax back only after customs confirms at departure that they are taking the goods out of Japan.

    • You pay the tax-inclusive price at the shop; the refund comes from the shop or a refund agent it contracts with after the customs check.
    • Customs confirmation must happen at departure within 90 days of purchase, at a tax-free kiosk or terminal, before checking in your baggage.
    • Minimum: 5,000 yen (tax-excluded) per store per day; general goods and consumables are no longer separated, and the 500,000 yen cap on consumables and the special sealed packaging are abolished.
    • If even one item on a receipt is missing at departure, nothing on that receipt is refunded; consumables used up in Japan are not refunded.
    • There is no transition period running the old and new systems side by side.
  10. ScheduledRail

    Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen: higher Nozomi and Mizuho reserved-seat charges

    JR Central and JR West will raise the limited express charge for reserved seats (ordinary and Green Car) on Nozomi and Mizuho trains for tickets bought from 1 July 2027. The calculators on this site use the current (pre-increase) amounts.

    • Applies to tickets bought on or after 1 July 2027. The increase in the reserved-seat charge depends on the section, from 10 yen up to 880 yen (e.g. Tokyo-Hakata +880 yen), for one adult, one way, normal season.
    • Sample one-way totals (fare + charge, Nozomi/Mizuho ordinary reserved seat, one adult, normal season), current to revised: Tokyo-Nagoya 11,300 to 11,880 yen; Tokyo-Shin-Osaka 14,720 to 15,420 yen; Tokyo-Okayama 17,770 to 18,530 yen; Tokyo-Hiroshima 19,760 to 20,620 yen; Shin-Osaka-Hiroshima 10,950 to 11,210 yen; Shin-Osaka-Hakata 16,020 to 16,300 yen.
    • The limited express charge for non-reserved ordinary seats on Nozomi and Mizuho is not revised. The release covers Nozomi and Mizuho only; it does not announce a change to Hikari, Kodama or Sakura reserved-seat charges.
    • Trips continuing onto the Kyushu Shinkansen are covered when the Tokaido/Sanyo part is ridden in a Nozomi or Mizuho reserved seat.
  11. ScheduledRail

    Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen: higher Green Car charges on all trains

    JR Central and JR West will raise the Green Car charge on all Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains for travel from 15 December 2027, alongside new Green Car seats and lounges. The calculators on this site use the current (pre-increase) amounts.

    • Green Car charge by operating distance, one way per person (adults and children pay the same), current to revised: up to 100 km 1,300 to 2,100 yen; up to 200 km 2,800 to 4,500 yen; up to 400 km 4,190 to 6,700 yen; up to 600 km 5,400 to 8,400 yen; up to 800 km 6,600 to 10,400 yen; 801 km or more 7,790 to 12,300 yen.
    • Sample one-way totals in a Nozomi/Mizuho Green Car (one adult, normal season, including the July 2027 Nozomi/Mizuho charge rise), current to revised: Tokyo-Nagoya 14,960 to 18,050 yen; Tokyo-Shin-Osaka 19,590 to 23,290 yen; Tokyo-Okayama 23,840 to 28,400 yen; Tokyo-Hiroshima 27,020 to 32,390 yen; Shin-Osaka-Hiroshima 14,610 to 17,380 yen; Shin-Osaka-Hakata 22,090 to 26,170 yen.
    • Trips continuing onto the Kyushu Shinkansen are covered when the Green Car is used on the Tokaido/Sanyo part.
    • Planned alongside: new Green Car seats on N700A and N700S cars 8-10 (rolled out from 15 Dec 2027), and lounges for Green Car and Supreme Class passengers inside the gates at Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Kyoto, Kokura and Hakata from 15 Dec 2027.
  12. PlannedEntry

    JESTA: Japan's electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors

    Japan plans to require visa-exempt short-term visitors to obtain an online travel authorization (JESTA) before each new entry. The government aims to introduce it in fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029).

    • The Immigration Services Agency's plan says: 'Aim to introduce JESTA in FY2028, ahead of the original schedule for introduction in 2030.'
    • The amending law was enacted on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026; the JESTA provisions take effect on a date set by cabinet order no later than 31 March 2029.
    • Covered: visa-exempt foreign nationals coming for short stays such as tourism, cruise passengers landing for sightseeing, and some transit passengers; authorization is required for each new entry.
    • A fee set by cabinet order will be charged; airlines and shipping companies must report passenger names when issuing tickets.