Japan's 5-Fold Visa Fee Increase Sparks Outrage Among Chinese Netizens; Some Call it 'Pig Liver Red' Passport Sanction

Japan's decision to quintuple its visa fees for Chinese visitors, effective July, has ignited widespread anger among Chinese netizens. The announcement has led to a surge of complaints on social media platforms, with many users decrying the move as a targeted sanction against China.

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The 5x increase in Japanese visa fees is completely targeting our 'pig liver red' passports.

Users on platforms like Threads have voiced their frustration, with comments such as, "The 5x increase in Japanese visa fees is completely targeting our 'pig liver red' (referring to the dark red color of Chinese passports) passports." Some express a willingness to pay but object to the policy, while others inquire about precedents for fee reductions.

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It's not expensive, those who can travel can afford it, but it doesn't mean we are willing to pay for such a policy.

However, not all Chinese citizens share this sentiment. Some frequent travelers believe the impact will be negligible. They point to the significant depreciation of the Japanese yen, which has substantially lowered the overall cost of traveling to Japan. For these individuals, visa fees are a secondary concern compared to currency exchange rates.

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Theoretically, it will have an impact, but in practical experience, I don't think it will. For most people who travel abroad, visa fees are the last thing they consider.

This visa fee hike comes at a time when tourism between China and Japan has already seen a significant decline. Official data from May shows a 60.4% year-on-year decrease in Chinese visitors, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline. Despite this, China remains Japan's fourth-largest source of tourists, following South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, all of which benefit from visa-free entry for short stays.

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Compared to the 5x increase in visa fees, the fall in the Japanese yen has significantly reduced the cost of traveling to Japan. The travel cost to Japan now is about 80% of the past.