Japan will end tax-free shopping for foreign visitors in November 2026 and before that, it will introduce dual pricing, visa pre-approval, and visitor caps at major attractions this year, according to official announcements and media reports.
The changes are part of a broader effort by Japan to address overtourism and preserve cultural and environmental sites, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Under the revised system, tourists will no longer benefit from point-of-sale tax exemptions. Instead, from 1 November 2026, they will pay consumption tax up front and be eligible for a refund at designated airport counters, the JNTO said in an official update published earlier this year.
In addition, a new dual pricing model is set to roll out in 2025, under which foreigners will pay higher entry fees than domestic visitors at museums, temples, ski resorts, and amusement parks. Some theme parks already charge international guests 25% more, according to Essential Japan, a travel and policy news site.
Japan’s Ministry of Justice is also preparing to introduce a Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) visa system, which would require travellers from visa-exempt countries to obtain online pre-approval before entering the country. According to TravelPirates, citing official government plans, the system is scheduled for implementation by fiscal year 2028, with preparatory steps beginning in 2025.
Meanwhile, Mount Fuji has introduced a cap of 4,000 hikers per day, with a mandatory ¥2,000 fee ($13.6) per visitor, as part of new access restrictions aimed at limiting environmental damage. The measure was reported by International Traveller in July 2024.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not attend the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 8 February, citing the distance to the venue as the main reason.
Firefighters were clearing the charred ruins of a Karachi shopping mall in Pakistan on Tuesday (20 January) as they searched for people still missing after a fire that burned for nearly two days and killed at least 67 people, police said.
Iran will treat any military attack as an “all-out war,” a senior Iranian official said on Friday, as the United States moves additional naval and air assets into the Middle East amid rising tensions.
The claim that U.S. President Donald Trump's intervention stopped the execution of 800 detainees is "completely false", said prosecutor-general of Iran, Mohammad Movahedi on Friday (23 January). According to him, the number cited by Trump does not exist and the judiciary has made no such decision.
Belgium has banned aircraft transporting weapons and military equipment to Israel from using its airspace or making technical stops, the Foreign Ministry confirmed to Anadolu on Friday.
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Dozens of beaches along Australia's east coast, including in Sydney, closed on Tuesday (20 January) after four shark attacks in two days, as heavy rains left waters murky and more likely to attract the animals.
A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted the morning commute for roughly 673,000 passengers on Friday (16 January) as two main lines with some of the world's busiest stations were halted after reports of a fire.
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China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a formal advisory urging Chinese tourists to refrain from travelling to Japan in the near future, citing growing safety risks and recent political tensions.
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