Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Against a backdrop of frustration with inbound tourism and immigration, the hike was welcomed as bringing fees "finally in line with overseas." But the dominant note was criticism of government negligence: fees had sat untouched since 1978, and many saw the revision as decades overdue. A more hardline strand wanted far steeper figures—"100,000 yen," "make it a million"—on public-safety and inflow-control grounds, reading the modest fivefold step as another example of timid policymaking. (For accuracy: the fee applies to foreigners who require a visa, not to all foreign nationals uniformly.)

Key Reaction Themes

  • "Too late" — Criticism of leaving the fee frozen since 1978.
  • "Still too cheap—go higher" — Calls for far steeper fees citing security and "quality control."
  • "Finally about right" via overseas comparison — A view that, given the weak yen, the fee remains low by global standards.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

A fivefold hike welcomed with "too late" and "still too cheap" complaints

The increase itself was welcomed, but it triggered criticism of 50 years of inaction and demands to raise fees even further.

Sources: livedoor news, 2ch, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Why was it frozen for 50 years? Did they forget, or was it on purpose?"
  • "Nice, keep it coming."
  • "Make it at least 100,000 yen."
  • "Even so, it's still way too cheap."
  • "Truly a country that can't do anything bold—timid and gun-shy about everything."
  • "Honestly, this just brings us in line with overseas."
  • "Given the exchange rate, it's practically free."
  • "With the weak yen, they could add a couple more digits."
  • "Even with the weak yen, hiking the single-entry visa this much is too far. Is there any country that expensive?"
  • "I'm a Croatian living in Japan, and when I went to study in the US they charged me 50,000 yen. Anyone with the money to study abroad can easily pay it."