Travellers from Canada face steep fee hikes at popular Asian destination starting July 1
For travellers in Canada hoping to see Mount Fuji or visit Senso-ji temple, a trip to Japan will cost more as new fee hikes take effect.
Starting July 1, Japan is increasing its international tourist tax and visa fees, raising travel costs for foreign visitors. Here’s a closer look at the new changes affecting travellers and how much more you can expect to pay.
International Tourist Tax
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All tourists travelling to Japan must pay the mandatory international tourist tax. Starting July 1, the fee is set to triple from JPY1,000 (around C$9) to JPY3,000 (approximately C$27).
The fee is charged to visitors leaving Japan by plane or cruise, and since it’s collected on departure, it has been nicknamed the “sayonara tax,” a reference to the Japanese word for “goodbye.” Children under the age of two are exempt from the fee.
Funds will go towards maintaining infrastructure and airports, restoring historical assets, and creating online tourist resources. Travellers don’t have to pay the fee separately, as it’s automatically added when booking a ticket online.
Japan Tourist Visa
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Canadian citizens with valid passports can travel to Japan visa-free and stay in the country for up to 90 days; however, some residents may need a visa.
“If you hold a passport of a country with a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan, you do not need a visa to enter Japan for a short-term stay. Otherwise, you need one,” states the website for the Consulate-General of Japan in Montreal.
Currently, visa fees cost C$28 for a single entry and C$56 for double or multiple entries. Starting July 1, those fees will increase to C$140 and C$280, respectively. The C$28 extension of the re-entry permit will remain at C$28. Also, starting July 1, the country will no longer issue a transit visa, which costs $7. Instead, travellers must apply for a temporary visitor visa.
Indian passport holders are exempt from the fee increase, and visas for single entry and double or multiple entries will remain at C$8.
Embassy of Japan in Canada
The country remains one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, welcoming a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). And according to the Government of Canada, 688,000 Canadian visitors visited the country in 2025.