Last updated: October 5, 2026 — we update this page weekly
What is different about traveling to Japan in 2026? More than most guides say. Prices and rules changed all year: a new departure tax rate, a run of new accommodation taxes, a castle ticket that more than doubled, the end of JR round-trip tickets and, on November 1, a new way to shop tax-free. Each change is spread over a different official site, often only in Japanese.
So we keep one dated list. 15 changes, each with its effective date and the official page it comes from, newest first. One, tax-free shopping, starts on November 1, 2026; the other 14 are in effect. Changes that are announced but start later sit in their own section, never in the main list.
The short version: you now pay ¥3,000 to leave Japan, 7 places started or raised an accommodation tax, and those taxes follow the date you stay, even if you booked earlier.
Japan travel changes in 2026 at a glance
Newest first. The date is the one the official source gives for the change to apply. Each source is linked in the last column and again under Sources.
| Date | What changed | Who it affects | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coming November 1, 2026 not yet in effect | Tax-free shopping switches to a refund system: pay the tax-inclusive price in the store, get the tax back after customs confirms the goods leave Japan | Everyone shopping in Japan | Official |
| October 1, 2026 | Japan Rail Pass rises at overseas agencies: 7-day ordinary adult ¥50,000 to ¥53,000. The official online price stays ¥50,000 for now | Anyone buying a JR Pass before the trip | Official, 2 |
| July 1, 2026 | Departure tax (International Tourist Tax) rises from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per departure | Everyone leaving Japan (infants under 2 exempt) | Official, 2, 3 |
| June 1, 2026 | Nagano Prefecture starts an accommodation tax: ¥200 per person per night for the first three years (¥300 after that); local taxes added in Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Achi, Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen | Anyone staying in Nagano, including Matsumoto, Hakuba and Karuizawa | Official, 2 |
| May 29, 2026 | Weather warnings get level numbers in their names, with a new Level 4 Urgent Warning below the Level 5 Emergency Warning | Everyone traveling in typhoon or rainy season | Official, 2 |
| April 1, 2026 | Hokkaido starts a prefecture-wide accommodation tax: ¥100 / ¥200 / ¥500 per person per night (under ¥20,000 / ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000 / ¥50,000 and over) | Anyone staying anywhere in Hokkaido | Official |
| April 1, 2026 | Sapporo starts its own accommodation tax on top of Hokkaido’s: ¥300 / ¥400 / ¥1,000 combined per person per night | Anyone staying in Sapporo | Official |
| April 1, 2026 | Hakodate starts its own accommodation tax: ¥200 to ¥2,500 combined with Hokkaido’s per person per night. Its bathing tax for hot springs falls from ¥150 to ¥100 | Anyone staying in Hakodate or using its hot springs | Official, 2 |
| April 1, 2026 | Hiroshima Prefecture starts an accommodation tax: ¥200 per person per night when the rate before tax is ¥6,000 or more | Anyone staying in Hiroshima or on Miyajima | Official |
| March 28, 2026 | Hiroshima Station streetcar platforms swap: Line 2 to Hiroden-miyajimaguchi moves from Platform B to Platform D; Line 1 to Hiroshima Port moves from D to B | Anyone taking the streetcar from Hiroshima Station toward Miyajima | Official |
| March 14, 2026 | JR East revises fares for tickets bought from March 14 | Anyone buying JR East tickets (Tokyo and eastern Japan) | Official |
| March 14, 2026 | All JR companies stop selling round-trip and continuous tickets; the 10% round-trip discount for trips of 601 km or more one way ends. Buy two one-way tickets | Anyone buying paper JR tickets for a return trip | Official |
| March 1, 2026 | Kyoto raises its accommodation tax to five bands, up to ¥10,000 per person per night for a room-only rate of ¥100,000 or more | Anyone staying in Kyoto, above all at ¥20,000+ a night | Official, 2 |
| March 1, 2026 | Himeji Castle admission goes from ¥1,000 to ¥2,500 (18 and over); under-18s enter free; castle and Kokoen Garden combined ticket ¥2,600 | Visitors to Himeji Castle | Official, 2 |
| January 13, 2026 | Sendai starts an accommodation tax: ¥300 per person per night (city ¥200 + Miyagi Prefecture ¥100) when the room-only rate before tax is ¥6,000 or more | Anyone staying in Sendai | Official, 2 |
That is 15 rows: 14 in effect and one coming on November 1, 2026. 7 of them are accommodation taxes, which makes 2026 above all a year of new taxes on hotel stays.
Accommodation tax changes for travel in 2026
Japanese accommodation taxes are charged per person, per night, and most are set by the price band of your stay. In several cities the prefecture and the city each charge one, so two taxes add up. Your hotel collects them. Here are the 2026 changes, in date order.
Sendai: from January 13, 2026
Sendai began taxing stays on January 13, 2026. The rate is ¥300 per person per night when the room-only rate before tax is ¥6,000 or more, and the city says the ¥300 is made up of ¥200 for Sendai and ¥100 for Miyagi Prefecture. Below ¥6,000 there is no tax.
Kyoto: new rates from March 1, 2026
Kyoto’s new rates apply to stays from March 1, 2026, in five bands by the room-only rate per person per night: under ¥6,000, ¥200; ¥6,000 to under ¥20,000, ¥400; ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000, ¥1,000; ¥50,000 to under ¥100,000, ¥4,000; ¥100,000 or more, ¥10,000. The city defines the rate as the room and service charge only, without meals or consumption tax.
Hokkaido, Sapporo and Hakodate: from April 1, 2026
Hokkaido now taxes stays across the whole prefecture: ¥100 under ¥20,000, ¥200 from ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000 and ¥500 from ¥50,000, per person per night. Sapporo began its own tax the same day and says guests pay both the city’s and Hokkaido’s. Combined, that is ¥300, ¥400 and ¥1,000 in the same three bands.
Hakodate also started on April 1, 2026, with four bands. With Hokkaido’s tax added, the city lists ¥200 under ¥20,000, ¥400 from ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000, ¥1,000 from ¥50,000 to under ¥100,000 and ¥2,500 from ¥100,000. One price went down: Hakodate’s bathing tax for general hot spring users, overnight or day visit, is now ¥100, against ¥150 for use through March 2026.
Hiroshima Prefecture: from April 1, 2026
Hiroshima Prefecture began its tax on April 1, 2026: ¥200 per person per night when the rate per person per night, excluding tax, is ¥6,000 or more. Under ¥6,000 is not taxed. That covers Miyajima and Hiroshima city.
Nagano Prefecture: from June 1, 2026
Nagano taxes stays from June 1, 2026: ¥300 per person per night, but ¥200 for the first three years. Stays under ¥6,000 (room-only, before tax) are not taxed. In Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Achi, Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen the prefecture charges ¥150 (¥100 for the first three years) and adds each town’s own tax. Matsumoto’s own rate is ¥200 per person per night from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2029, on top of the prefecture’s ¥100. We have not opened the other four towns’ pages yet, so we give no figure for them.
Coming on November 1, 2026: Niseko. Niseko Town switches from fixed amounts (¥200 to ¥2,500 per person per night, Hokkaido’s tax included) to 3% of the room rate, Hokkaido’s tax included, for stays from November 1, 2026 (Niseko Town). It is not counted in the 7 above until it applies.
Want the total for your own dates? Our accommodation tax calculator gives it for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido and 30+ other places from your room price, guests and dates, with the 2026–2027 changes.
Rail, ticket and departure tax changes
What changed for JR tickets on March 14, 2026?
Two things. First, every JR company stopped selling round-trip and continuous tickets after March 13, 2026. The JR Group notice says the 10% round-trip discount for trips of 601 km or more one way also ended, and asks travelers to “purchase two one-way tickets” (our translation) from March 14. Second, JR East revised its fares. Its FAQ says the new fares apply to tickets bought from March 14, and that tickets bought by March 13 were sold at the old fare even for travel on or after March 14 (our translation). For what a bullet train costs now, see our Shinkansen price guide.
How much is the departure tax now?
¥3,000 per departure. The Japan Tourism Agency’s English leaflet reads: “JPY 3,000 per departure from Japan (From July 1, 2026)”. It also says: “There is a transitional measure under which the previous tax rate (JPY 1,000) applies if you depart using eligible tickets issued on or before June 30, 2026.” Infants under 2 are exempt, and the National Tax Agency adds transit passengers who leave within 24 hours of entering.
Did the JR Pass price change?
Yes, but only where you buy it. For purchases from October 1, 2026, “The local time at the location of the purchase” counting, the exchange order from an overseas agency costs more: the 7-day ordinary adult pass is ¥53,000, up from ¥50,000. The JR Group says “prices via the online purchasing service will remain unchanged for a limited time”, so ¥50,000 online for now, and it has not announced an end date. Our JR Pass price guide has the full table.
Sightseeing and safety changes for travel
How much does Himeji Castle cost now?
From March 1, 2026, ¥2,500 for anyone 18 or over, against ¥1,000 for adults before. The city made entry free for visitors under 18, and a ticket covering the castle and Kokoen Garden is ¥2,600. Our Himeji Castle guide covers the visit itself.
Which streetcar platform goes to Miyajima from Hiroshima Station?
Platform D since March 28, 2026. Hiroden swapped Lines 1 and 2: Line 2, which runs to Hiroden-miyajimaguchi, moved from Platform B to D, and Line 1 to Hiroshima Port moved from D to B. The notice adds that some services may use a different platform (our translation). See our Hiroshima map for the stops.
What are the new weather warning names?
From May 29, 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency puts the alert level number in the name of each warning. Its English material lists, for example, “Level 4 Urgent Warning (Heavy rain)” and “Level 5 Emergency Warning (Heavy rain)”. The Urgent Warning is new. If you see Level 4 on a news alert or app during a typhoon, it sits one step below the highest level. More in our typhoon season guide.
Coming November 1, 2026: tax-free shopping changes
Not yet in effect on October 5, 2026. For purchases from November 1, 2026, the Japan Tourism Agency says tax-free shopping moves to a refund system. In place of paying the tax-free price at the counter, you pay the tax-inclusive price in the store. The tax is refunded after customs at the airport or port confirms you are taking the goods out of Japan.
What are the conditions under the new system?
From the agency’s page: purchases of ¥5,000 or more (before tax) at the same store on the same day qualify, and you need the customs check within 90 days of the purchase. The special sealed packaging for consumables ends, but food, cosmetics and other consumables used up in Japan do not get a refund. At seven busy airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha) the procedure can also be done online with Visit Japan Web.
Shopping before November 1 follows the current system. Our tax-free shopping guide explains both.
Announced travel changes not yet in effect
These were announced in 2026 but have not started. They are not 2026 changes, and we will move each one into the main list only once it applies.
| Planned date | What is announced | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2027 (stays from that date) | Tokyo accommodation tax becomes 3% of the rate; stays under ¥13,000 per person per night exempt | Official |
| April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2029 proposed — not yet law | Consumption tax on food and drink would drop from 8% to 1% for two years, under an outline the Cabinet approved on September 15, 2026. The National Tax Agency says the 1% covers the same food and drink as today’s 8% rate. Proposed — not yet law: it applies only if a bill passes the Diet | Official |
| February 1, 2027 (stays from that date) | Okinawa Prefecture accommodation tax of 2% of the room-only rate, capped at ¥2,000 per person per night; where a city or town also charges one, the two together still come to 2% | Official |
| Fiscal year 2028 (target) | JESTA, an electronic travel authorization; the government says it will “Aim to introduce JESTA in FY2028” | Official |
The food and drink tax cut is proposed — not yet law: the National Tax Agency says its material explains the proposal in the Cabinet’s September 15, 2026 outline, and that it applies only if a bill is submitted to the Diet, debated and passed.
When does the Tokyo 3% accommodation tax start?
For stays from April 1, 2027. Tokyo’s tax bureau announced on June 30, 2026 that the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications had given consent. Under the new system, stays under ¥13,000 per person per night are exempt and the rest pay 3% of the rate. Until then, the current rates of ¥100 (¥10,000 to under ¥15,000) and ¥200 (¥15,000 and over) apply.
Is Okinawa adding an accommodation tax?
Yes, for stays from February 1, 2027. Okinawa Prefecture’s page gives 2% of the room-only rate per person per night, capped at ¥2,000. Where a city or town also charges one (Motobu, Onna, Chatan, Miyakojima, Ishigaki and Nago), the prefecture takes 0.8% and the municipality 1.2%, so the total is still 2%.
What is JESTA, and when does it start?
JESTA, written out in the source as “Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization”, is a planned pre-travel check for visitors who come without a visa. The Immigration Services Agency’s plan says: “Aim to introduce JESTA in FY2028, ahead of the original schedule for introduction in 2030.” That is a target, not a start date. No fee or country list is published, and nothing changes for your trip yet.
Stay date or purchase date: which counts for these changes?
This is the part most travelers get wrong. The official sources split into two groups, and the rule is different in each.
Do accommodation taxes follow the booking date or the stay date?
The stay date. Kyoto’s FAQ says the tax amount is set by the date of stay, and that if you paid the old amount when booking, you must pay the property the difference for a stay on or after March 1, 2026 (our translation). Sapporo says the tax applies to stays from April 1, 2026 “even if the booking was made before April 1, 2026” (our translation). Osaka Prefecture, whose rates last changed on September 1, 2025, asks guests who prepaid at the old rate to pay the shortfall, and notes that a price prepaid on a booking site may not include the tax (our translation).
Do JR fares and the departure tax follow the travel date?
No, the purchase or issue date. JR East sold tickets bought by March 13 at the old fare even for travel from March 14. The JR Pass change applies “For purchases made on or after October 1, 2026”. And the old ¥1,000 departure tax applies to “eligible tickets issued on or before June 30, 2026”, in the Japan Tourism Agency’s words. Tax-free shopping is set by the purchase date too: “purchases from November 1, 2026” (our translation).
In short: a hotel booked last year for a stay in 2026 pays the 2026 accommodation tax at the property. A train ticket or JR Pass bought before the change keeps its old price.
Hotel-level changes in 2026
Smaller changes we found on hotels’ own pages while checking our hotel articles. Where the page states a date, we give it. For three hotels the page shows only the current price, so we show that and do not claim a change date.
| Hotel | Date | Change or current price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo | June 1, 2026 | Some luggage storage fees: “effective Monday, June 1, 2026, some fees will be applied to our luggage storage service.” | Official |
| Yaesu Terminal Hotel | July 21, 2026 | Breakfast from ¥1,500 to ¥1,800, from meals served on July 21, 2026 | Official |
| Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo | October 1, 2026 | “Tokyo Buffet” breakfast from ¥2,800 to ¥3,200. The notice has a separate line for guests who already booked stays from that date; read it on the hotel’s page | Official |
| Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo | October 1, 2026 | Parking: “Overnight guests: JPY 2,000 per vehicle, per night”, “Effective for parking use from Thursday, October 1, 2026” | Official |
| Hotel Okura Kyoto | Current price | Breakfast at Orizzonte: adult ¥4,500, child (age 4 to grade 6) ¥2,300 | Official |
| Almont Hotel Nippori | Current price | Breakfast: adult ¥2,200, child ¥1,100 (tax included) | Official |
| Hotel Universal Port | Current price | Breakfast: adult (13 and over) ¥3,600, ages 7–12 ¥2,100, ages 4–6 ¥1,100 | Official |
Why do some hotels show only a current price?
Hotel Okura Kyoto, Almont Hotel Nippori and Hotel Universal Port show their breakfast price on their own pages as of October 5, 2026, without a date for when it took effect. We list what each page shows, so you can budget with it.
How we keep this travel changes page up to date
Every week we check the official pages for new changes, add each one with its date and source, and move items from “Coming” into the main list on the day they apply. Tax-free shopping will move into the main list in the first update after November 1, 2026.
- October 5, 2026: page rebuilt from official sources: 15 changes (14 in effect, one coming November 1), 4 announced (one of them the proposed food and drink tax cut), 7 hotel-level entries. The entries logged in August are kept under “Earlier entries”.
- August 12, 2026: page first published (last updated August 18, 2026).
Earlier entries (logged August 2026)
The entries below were logged on this page between August 12 and August 18, 2026, each read on the operator's official page at that time. They are kept as they were logged, with their own dates and wording. We have not re-checked them for the October 5, 2026 update, so treat each one as accurate on the date it was logged, not as current, and confirm on the official page before you rely on it.
Transport: fares and route changes (logged August 2026)
| Effective | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2026 | Shuri Castle's rebuilt Seiden main hall opens to the public — and admission rises from ¥400 to ¥1,000 the same day | Visit by Nov 22 for the ¥400 restoration-era ticket; from Nov 23 the finished hall opens at the new price — details in our Okinawa guide. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Ueno Zoo's last giant pandas left for China — the zoo currently has none, with no new arrival announced | Panda-centered Ueno plans need rethinking — what the park still offers is in our Ueno Park guide. |
| Mar 14, 2026 | JR East fare revision took effect — e.g. Tokyo–Kamakura now ¥1,040; IC fares set below paper fares; round-trip paper tickets discontinued (Mar 13) | Every pre-2026 JR fare in guides is stale — current numbers in our Tokyo-to-Kamakura and Haneda guides. |
| Oct 2025 | Enoshima revised its attraction prices: Escar ¥500, Sea Candle ¥800 — and the Cocking Garden became free by day | The ¥360/¥500/¥200 figures in circulation are outdated — details in our Enoshima guide. |
| May 10, 2026 | USJ's Sesame Street Fun World and its attractions closed | Ride lists including the area are obsolete — the current single rider roster is in our guide. |
| Dec 9, 2025 | Park Hyatt Tokyo reopened after a 19-month full-building renovation (now 171 rooms; Girandole relaunched by Alain Ducasse) | Articles calling it closed are outdated — current bar rules and dining in our Park Hyatt guide. |
| Mar 31, 2025 | "Fantasy Springs Magic" 1-Day Passport ended — any Tokyo DisneySea guest can now enter Fantasy Springs; Standby Pass no longer applies there | 2024-era entry strategies are obsolete — the current system is in our Fantasy Springs guide. |
| Jul 1–Sep 14, 2026 | 1-Day Park Hopper holders may use the Fantasy Springs Entrance from 11:00 (summer 2026 measure) | A new third way into the area besides hotel-guest access — details in our guide. |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Tombori River Cruise fare revised: adults ¥2,000 (students ¥1,000, children ¥500) | The widely quoted ¥1,500 is the old fare — current prices in our Dotonbori guide. |
| Mar 2026 | JR group fare revisions (incl. JR East) | Train fares quoted in pre-2026 guides are stale — check official JR channels. Our transport guides deliberately omit unverified fares. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Japan Rail Pass price rise: 7-day ¥50,000 → ¥53,000 (14-day ¥84,000, 21-day ¥105,000) | Buy before the change if your trip allows. Details in our rail-pass math. |
| Aug 1, 2026 | Kusakaru DirectLine bus suspended (Karuizawa–Kusatsu express; driver shortage, official notice) | Only ~5 local buses/day remain on that route — see Kusatsu access. |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Willer's Japan Bus Pass discontinued (sales ended; all passes since expired) | The famous unlimited-ride pass no longer exists — budget rides individually, see our Willer guide. |
| Jan 19, 2026 | Tokyo Mizube Line water bus suspended (official notice; restart "aimed for" but unannounced) | Ryogoku-based water-bus routes are offline — use Tokyo Cruise instead, see our bay guide. |
| 2026 (current) | Seibu Manza–Kusatsu section suspended; Alpico Narita/Haneda–Hakuba airport buses not operating (seasonal, 2026–27 TBA) | Two more “standard routes” in old guides that don't currently run. |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Lake Chuzenji cruise fares revised: hop-on circuit now ¥2,000 regular / ¥2,200 busy season | Pre-April prices circulating online are dead. See Nikko guide. |
Attractions: closures and reopenings (logged August 2026)
| Dates | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2026 → Aug 31, 2027 | Akechidaira Ropeway (Nikko) closed for renewal | The classic Kegon-Falls-plus-lake viewpoint is offline for the officially published suspension window (last day of service Jan 15; reopening planned for September 2027 and may be extended, per the operator's official notice). |
| FY2026 | Lake Motosu "Moguran" boat suspended (low water levels) | Fuji Five Lakes itineraries relying on it need rerouting. |
| Jul 17, 2026 | New Kawaguchiko boat line launched: Oishi Park Line "Ensoleillé" (¥1,000) | New traffic-free route to the flower park — Kawaguchiko guide. |
| 2025 (final edition) | Kawaguchiko Herb Festival discontinued | The lavender still blooms at Oishi/Yagizaki parks; the festival itself is officially over. |
| Renamed | "Kachi Kachi Yama Ropeway" → Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (new official name and website) | Old links point at an expired domain. |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo reopens | After its renovation closure — Pokémon Center guide. |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Hotel Gajoen Tokyo ended operations (property temporarily closed from Oct 1, 2025, official notice) | Its famed restaurants still appear on "best kaiseki" lists — they are closed. Current options in our kaiseki guide. |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Pass ends (official FAQ: "no longer available after August 31, 2026") | The free timed-entry pass disappears — details in our TDR app guide. |
| Oct 22, 2026 | Meiji Jingu Stadium turns 100 — official centenary games & goods | A once-ever ticket — Tokyo baseball guide. |
Food and retail: price and status changes (logged August 2026)
| Effective | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2026 | Jojoen service charge unified at 5% across all branches (was mixed 10%/5%) | Guides warning of "10% service" are out of date — yakiniku guide. |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Mikawa Zezankyo omakase revised to ¥30,000 +tax (from ¥27,000) | Even the shop's own English page lagged — tempura guide. |
| Current | Tsunahachi Shinjuku honten closed for rebuilding (annex operating); Kinshicho branch closes Aug 31, 2026 | The most-recommended tempura address in guidebooks is a construction site. |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Ginza Tenkuni menu prices revised (lunch tendon now ¥1,700) | Current values in our tempura guide. |
| Sep 10, 2026 | IMADEYA KAKU-UCHI TOKYO opens (Yaesu, Tokyo Station) — sake by the glass | New easiest sake-tasting stop — sake guide. |
| Through Sep 17, 2026 | Sailor Moon "petite" pop-ups (Umeda/Hiroshima/Fukuoka/Kumamoto) end | Sailor Moon store guide. |
| Nov 2026 | Japan's tax-free system switches to refund-style (national change) | Affects every tax-free shopping guide — tax-free guide. |
Corrections: things the internet keeps getting wrong (logged August 2026)
| The claim | The officially verified reality |
|---|---|
| "Wanaka has an Asakusa branch" | Wanaka's official store list covers Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido only, and states no other shops exist — takoyaki guide. |
| "Omoide Yokocho has 300 bars" | The merchants' association counts ~60 eateries among ~80 businesses — yakitori guide. |
| "NIKKO PASS costs under ¥5,000" | The ALL AREA pass is officially ¥8,000 (4 days) — Nikko guide. |
| "Hakuba's valley shuttle is free" | Officially ¥800 (online tickets only) unless you hold a valid lift pass — Hakuba access guide. |
| "Henn na Hotel is unmanned" | Official FAQ: staff are on site 24 hours a day — robot hotel guide. |
| "Dinosaur robots greet you at every Henn na Hotel" | Tokyo-area dinosaurs are at Maihama and Nishikasai only. |
Frequently asked questions
What changed for travelers to Japan in 2026?
How much is the Japan departure tax in 2026?
I booked my hotel before the tax changed. Do I pay the old rate?
Is the Tokyo 3% accommodation tax in effect now?
Does Japan require JESTA now?
When does the new tax-free system start?
Did the JR Pass price go up?
How often is this page updated?
Bottom line (2026): The departure tax is now ¥3,000 per departure from July 1, 2026. 7 places started or raised an accommodation tax, charged per person per night by the date you stay, even if you booked earlier. JR round-trip tickets ended on March 14, and JR fares and the JR Pass change by purchase date. Tax-free shopping becomes a refund system on November 1, 2026. Tokyo’s 3% tax starts only in April 2027.
Sources
Each entry was read on the official page on October 5, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm with the official source before you rely on them.
- Sendai City: accommodation tax
- Sendai City: accommodation tax (2)
- City of Kyoto: accommodation tax
- City of Kyoto: accommodation tax (2)
- Himeji City: Himeji Castle admission
- Himeji City: Himeji Castle admission (2)
- JR East FAQ: fare revision
- JR Group: end of round-trip and continuous tickets (PDF)
- Hiroden: Hiroshima Station platforms
- Hokkaido: accommodation tax
- Sapporo City: accommodation tax
- Hakodate City: accommodation tax and bathing tax
- Hakodate City: accommodation tax and bathing tax (2)
- Hiroshima Prefecture: accommodation tax
- Japan Meteorological Agency: new warning names
- Japan Meteorological Agency: new warning names (2)
- Nagano Prefecture and Matsumoto City: accommodation tax
- Nagano Prefecture and Matsumoto City: accommodation tax (2)
- National Tax Agency, Japan Tourism Agency and Japan Customs: International Tourist Tax
- National Tax Agency, Japan Tourism Agency and Japan Customs: International Tourist Tax (2)
- National Tax Agency, Japan Tourism Agency and Japan Customs: International Tourist Tax (3)
- Japan Rail Pass: price changes
- Japan Rail Pass: price changes (2)
- Japan Tourism Agency: tax-free system from November 1, 2026
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government: accommodation tax revision
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Okinawa accommodation tax (PDF)
- Immigration Services Agency: JESTA target (PDF)
- Osaka Prefecture: accommodation tax
- Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo (June 1, 2026)
- Yaesu Terminal Hotel (July 21, 2026)
- Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo (October 1, 2026)
- Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (October 1, 2026)
- Hotel Okura Kyoto (Current price)
- Almont Hotel Nippori (Current price)
- Hotel Universal Port (Current price)
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