Japan tightens measures against overtourism

Japanese authorities intend to tighten oversight in the tourism sector due to the growing problem of overtourism. This initiative is a response to a significant increase in the flow of foreign tourists in early 2025. From January to April, the number of foreign travellers rose by 24.5% compared with the same period the previous year.

As part of efforts to address this problem, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party formed an expert panel on 21 May 2025 to ease public concerns over the growing number of foreign nationals. Later, on 4 June, sources close to the government reported that authorities plan to tighten controls over unpaid medical bills incurred by foreign tourists. These changes will be included in the annual basic policy on economic and fiscal management, soon to be approved by the Cabinet, and involve a review of the health insurance system for foreign visitors to the country.

The government is also considering making private health insurance mandatory for foreigners. This move is based on the results of a nationwide ministry survey, according to which 11,372 foreign tourists received medical care in Japan in September 2024, 0.8% of whom did not pay their bills. Total unpaid debt amounted to approximately 62.35 million yen (about €375,979).

At the same time, foreigners officially residing in Japan or staying in the country for more than three months are generally required to join the National Health Insurance system, unless they have other public insurance coverage.

In addition, lawmakers are considering changes to the duty-free shopping programme for foreign tourists. Tightening it, or even abolishing it entirely, is under discussion. The programme, which has existed for decades, allows tourists to purchase goods without paying the 10% consumption tax, provided the purchases are taken out of the country. In practice, however, the system is often used for resale and tax evasion. From November 2026, tourists will pay the tax in full at the time of purchase, with the option to reclaim it at the airport after declaring the goods, similar to procedures already in place in France and Italy.

Earlier in 2025, Japanese authorities doubled the fee for visiting Mount Fuji to reduce pressure on the area. In March of the same year, a shrine in the city of Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, closed access to visitors due to inappropriate tourist behaviour and disregard for local traditions. These measures underscore Japan's consistent efforts to protect its traditions and combat overtourism.