Heading to Japan in the second half of 2026? Three rule changes will affect your trip and your wallet. From 1 July, the departure tax triples from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 (~S$26) per person, baked into your ticket. From 1 October, the nationwide JR Pass bought via overseas agents like Klook and KKday goes up about 5–6%. And from 1 November, tax-free shopping switches to a 'pay first, refund later' system — you pay the full tax-inclusive price in-store and claim the refund at the airport, with the annoying sealed bags and the ¥500,000 cap gone. Here's what each change means and how to plan around it.
