Japan has implemented a fivefold increase in visa fees for all foreign nationals, the first adjustment since 1978. From 1 July, a single-entry visa will cost 15,000 yen (US$90), up from 3,000 yen, while a multiple-entry visa rises from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters the revision was made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations” and to bring Japanese fees closer to those of other G7 economies. The government stated it does not anticipate an immediate impact on inbound tourism, noting that citizens of visa-exempt countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and European Union member states — remain unaffected for short-term stays. Travellers from China, Russia, much of the Middle East and Africa, as well as those entering Japan for work or study, will bear the higher costs.

In a parallel move, the mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, has proposed raising the day-tripper access fee from €5 to between €30 and €50, a potential increase of up to 900%. The proposal, to be put before the Italian parliament, would apply on days when booking thresholds are exceeded. Venturini said the charge is currently the “only practical instrument” to manage daily visitor flows and that a higher price would act as a “stronger deterrent during periods of peak tourist pressure”. Overnight guests remain exempt. Venice first introduced the entry levy in April 2024; the fee rises to €10 if paid less than three days before arrival.

Viewed from Tokyo, the visa fee revision is one component of a broader recalibration of immigration-related charges under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative government. In May, the Upper House enacted legislation raising the statutory ceiling for permanent residency applications to 300,000 yen, thirty times the current cap, and increasing fees for residency status changes or extensions to up to 100,000 yen. A tripling of the international tourist tax attached to departing airfares also takes effect on 1 July. Authorities argue the additional revenue will cover administrative costs linked to a growing foreign population, as Japan hosted a record 42.7 million international visitors last year amid a persistently weak yen. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations, however, has described the scale of the residency fee increases as “radical”, warning that the financial burden, imposed without consulting affected foreign residents, would have a serious impact on their livelihoods and on businesses that employ them.

Both the Japanese and Venetian measures reflect a wider pattern of destinations using pricing mechanisms to manage tourism and immigration flows, though their legal architectures differ. Japan’s visa fees are set by cabinet decision and take immediate effect; Venice’s access charge requires parliamentary approval and is calibrated to peak-day thresholds. The Japanese residency fee increases are scheduled to be phased in before the end of the fiscal year in March 2027. The Venice proposal is expected to be debated in the Italian parliament in the coming months, with no implementation date yet fixed.