"Another 100,000 Won in Departure Tax? Japan Is Getting Expensive Too"... Four-Person Families Face Tough Travel Choices

Japanese Airlines Raise Fuel Surcharges
Increase Applies to Tickets Issued in November and December

Japan's major airlines will raise international fuel surcharges from next month due to rising global oil prices.

A street in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Unsplash

According to Jiji Press and other outlets on the 15th, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) will increase international fuel surcharges for tickets issued from next month.

For one-way flights from Japan to North America and Europe, ANA's fuel surcharge will rise from 55,000 yen (about 470,000 won) to 62,000 yen (about 530,000 won), while JAL's will increase from 50,000 yen (about 430,000 won) to 62,000 yen (about 530,000 won).

Surcharges will also increase on routes to South Korea. ANA will raise its surcharge by 600 yen from the current level, while JAL will raise its by 1,200 yen; both airlines will charge 7,100 yen (about 60,500 won) each way. These amounts apply to itineraries originating in Japan.

JAL's fuel surcharge for routes to Hawaii, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka will rise from 30,900 yen (about 263,000 won) to 38,500 yen (about 330,000 won) each way. The surcharge for routes to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and other destinations will also increase from 26,000 yen (about 220,000 won) to 33,200 yen (about 280,000 won).

Japan Airlines (JAL) website

Jet Fuel Prices Rise Amid Middle East Unrest

The increase reflects rising jet fuel prices. After soaring oil prices amid instability in the Middle East drove a sharp increase in surcharges for tickets issued from May, they reached a record high in July and August. They then declined for tickets issued in September and October as oil prices temporarily fell, but are now rising again just two months later.

Japan Raises Departure Tax, Increasing Costs for Tourists

Travelers are already facing higher costs, as Japan has also raised its departure tax. Effective July 1, the Japanese government tripled the International Tourist Tax levied on departing passengers, from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per person. The tax is collected as part of the price of an airline ticket or passenger-ferry ticket and applies to Japanese citizens as well as foreign nationals.

A family of four traveling to Japan would have to pay a total of 12,000 yen (about 102,000 won) in departure tax alone. However, children under the age of two and transit passengers who depart within 24 hours of arrival are exempt.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.