🚬 Heated Tobacco Tax Hike! Apr & Oct

❓ What's changing?

Heated tobacco has carried a lighter tax burden than cigarettes, and this gap is being closed. In two stages—April and October 2026—the tax method is revised from a 'weight + price' cigarette-equivalent conversion to a 'weight only' conversion. That means about ¥40–90 more per 20-stick pack in 2026: IQOS Terea rises ¥580 to ¥620, and Mevius for Ploom ¥520 to ¥550. Then each April in 2027, 2028 and 2029 adds ¥0.5 per stick (¥10 per pack), for up to about ¥130/pack more by April 2029. Securing defense funding is also a goal.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Users of heated tobacco like IQOS, glo and Ploom
• ●Travelers buying tobacco in Japan
• ●Cigarette smokers (separate hikes are also underway)
• ●Duty-free shops and convenience stores selling tobacco

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

For foreign residents who use heated tobacco, yearly hikes will slowly squeeze the budget—a pack-a-day habit could cost several thousand to over ¥10,000 more per year. Travelers who find Japanese tobacco cheaper than at home will see that gap narrow. Since hikes generally land each April, knowing the timing helps. Many may take it as a nudge to quit.