Japan has taken a new step in its strategy to reshape international tourism from July 1, 2026, it tripled the departure tax for international travelers and, at the same time, confirmed the construction of a new ferry and cruise terminal in Yumeshima, Osaka, designed to support the future MGM Osaka, the country's first integrated resort with a casino. The combination seeks to manage mass tourism, improve infrastructure and attract higher-spending visitors.
Hirofumi Yoshimura
The Japanese government raised the International Tourist Tax from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per passenger, a 200% increase that applies from July 1 to travelers leaving the country by air or sea, regardless of nationality. Children under two, crew members, diplomats, passengers in transit for less than 24 hours and certain emergency cases remain exempt. The measure is expected to generate around ¥130 billion during fiscal year 2026, almost 2.7 times the previous level. The proceeds will fund tourism infrastructure, overtourism mitigation, cultural heritage preservation, transport modernization, destination digitalization and promotion of regions beyond traditional tourist circuits. The Executive also plans to raise visa fees and introduce the electronic JESTA travel authorization system around 2028.
In parallel, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Yasushi Kaneko, added the construction of a ferry and cruise terminal in Yumeshima to the Port Plan for Osaka Port and the Basic Plan for Specified Port Facility Development Projects for Fiscal Year 2026. The project includes new quay walls, berthing areas, a passenger terminal and the relocation of Toyo Ferry services, which currently operate from Osaka Nanko, linking the city with Shinmoji, Fukuoka, and Toyo, Ehime. The infrastructure is scheduled for completion by the late 2020s, before the planned opening of MGM Osaka in autumn 2030.
Yasushi Kaneko
The development is backed by Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, who are promoting the conversion of Yumeshima into an international district for tourism, conventions and entertainment after Expo 2025. The resort, developed by MGM Resorts International and ORIX Corporation, requires an estimated investment of ¥1.27 trillion and will include a casino, hotels, convention center, theater, restaurants and retail.
With a higher fiscal burden on volume tourism and infrastructure aimed at cruises, ferries and high-spending international travelers, Japan is positioning itself for a more profitable and sustainable tourism model over the next decade.
