Japan has long dominated Aussies’ travel lists – and more so over the last couple of years due to the strong Aussie dollar. Today, the plunging Japanese Yen opened the door for Aussies to continue to enjoy bargain holidays with one Aussie dollar buying 112 yen.A few weeks ago it also dropped to its lowest level against the US dollar in nearly 40 years, with the greenback worth 162 yen, driven largely by Japan’s historically low interest rates and a broad weakness of its currency.But as Aussies continue to visit the thriving nation in record-numbers, the country has been forced to make a big change to help combat over-tourism. As of July 1, it tripled its international departure tax.It’s the first increase since the tax was introduced in 2019 and will see what is known as the “Sayonara tax” go from $8.80 to around $26.50.Brett Mitchell, managing director ANZ at Intrepid Travel, said the move is the latest sign of growing pressure on Japan’s most-visited destinations to rethink how tourism is managed as visitor numbers continue to climb.“For most Australians, this isn’t going to change whether they book a trip to Japan,” he told news.com.au.“The departure tax has applied to everyone leaving the country since 2019, citizens included, and it’s built into the price of your airfare rather than something you’re stopped and charged for at the airport.“What it does signal is that Japan is taking a considered approach to managing its own popularity, and that’s a good thing.”Mr Mitchell said the revenue goes toward tourism infrastructure, the upkeep of heritage sites and visitor resources.He said this all matters when you’re seeing the kind of visitor numbers Japan is experiencing right now. Japan had a record-breaking year in 2025 after it welcomed around 42.7 million international visitors. It marked the first time the country’s inbound tourism surpassed the 40 million mark in a single year, representing a huge increase over the previous record of 36.9 million visitors set in 2024.Between January and September in 2024 visitors from Australia totalled a record 637,300, which was an increase of 42 per cent over the same period for the previous record in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).With hotspots like the traditional Golden Route – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka – dominating most Aussies’ travel lists, the country has since urged tourists to explore other regions. “Just like in Australia, the real magic often lies in exploring the hidden gems of cities and popular destinations, where you’ll find the true essence and diversity of the culture,” JNTO’s Australian office’s executive director Naoki Kitazawa previously told news.com.au.“Don’t just stick to the postcard sights – venture out and uncover the stories that aren’t always on the tourist trail.”Mr Mitchell said Japan’s most iconic cities have been feeling the pressure of record visitor numbers for a while now. “Kyoto has raised its accommodation tax, Hokkaido introduced a new levy, and now the departure tax has tripled,” he said.“Individually these are small changes. Together they tell a clear story: Japan is actively investing in how it manages tourism rather than just absorbing it. “For Australians who travel thoughtfully, that’s not something to be put off by. It’s a signal the destination is looking after itself, and that’s exactly the kind of place worth continuing to visit.”He advised shoulder season and destinations beyond the big three cities are where the best experiences are right now – quieter, more rewarding, and without the crowding or cost pressure of peak season in the hotspots. “Intrepid’s Classic Japan still covers Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima properly for those who want the icons done well. For a mix of both, Premium Highlights of Japan keeps Tokyo and Kyoto on the itinerary but balances them with quieter time in Kanazawa and the snow monkeys of Yudanaka,” Mr Mitchell said.“And for travellers wanting to go further off the beaten path, the Southern Japan Experience heads to, places like Naoshima, Matsuyama and Nagasaki, well away from the crowds and cost pressures everyone else is contending with.”Meanwhile, there’s another tax change Aussies must be aware of when taking advantage of the country’s tax-free shopping system.Currently, international visitors can purchase goods tax-free on items over ¥5,000 (about $44) by presenting their passport at the point of sale. But from November 1, travellers will instead pay the full retail price in-store and claim the 10 per cent consumption tax refund at the airport before departing Japan.“It’s a bit more admin, and travellers will need to hold onto receipts and go through a refund process at the airport, but the benefit itself is fully intact,” Mr Mitchell explained.“The government is actually simplifying some of the fussier rules alongside it too, scrapping the old sealed packaging requirement and the spending cap on consumables. “So it’s a change in process, not a loss of the perk, and it’s not something that should factor into anyone’s decision to travel.”