In July, Japan significantly reduced passport application fees. A 10-year passport previously cost ¥15,900 (approximately $102) online and ¥16,300 ($105) at counters, but both fees dropped by ¥7,000 ($45). However, the departure tax increased from ¥1,000 ($6) to ¥3,000.
A survey by Ceres Inc. found that 80% of respondents had no plans to travel abroad, partly due to rising costs. Conducted in mid-June among 20,000 people, it revealed that 55.7% had no intention of obtaining a passport. Of those with a passport, only 14.0% planned to travel this year.
Rising costs notably influenced travel preferences: 60% reported being affected, with 37.9% traveling less frequently and others opting for cheaper destinations, cutting spending, or opting for less expensive accommodations. Moreover, many expressed shrinking travel budgets, with 42.9% saying they’d spend less than ¥50,000 ($320) on a trip.
In summary, while passport fees have decreased, rising costs continue to deter many from traveling.
